GUEST BLOG: Ali Ahearn

Today I'd like to welcome the fabulous Ali Ahearn (who you may know as Amy Andrews, Harlequin Medical & Riva author, and new Entangled author.) She's here to tell us about her first mainstream novel, SISTER PACT, which I'm dying to read!

Thanks Nic for having me here to talk about Sister Pact.

My sister Ros and I wrote this book in 2009 and its very exciting to finally see it on the shelves – to see it in a Big W catalogue!! To have sold out at our book launch!!

The book is about two estranged sisters having to play nice to win a million pounds each on a Survivor style reality TV show and it was an utterly enjoyable experience for both of us. We laughed and laughed, we got a bit weepy from time to time and we shared incredible moments of synergy. We’ve not long finished the second Joni and Frances instalment and I’m happy to report it was just as good second time around!

Whilst the subject matter in Sister Pact is dealt with in a funny, irreverent kind of way, it does deal with some big issues – infidelity and addiction being two but the most heart wrenching of all is the sister’s estrangement. Well, at least it is to me because the thought of being estranged from Ros makes me feel physically ill. We’ve always been close, but even more so as adults with children of our own and I couldn’t even begin to imagine what could possibly happen to tear us asunder.   

Just the thought is unbearable.  She’s my other half. She completes me.

So in honour of that I thought share a little of the sister love around with ten things I love about my sister. In no particular order.

She’s an incredible mother – trust me on this. For someone who I thought was going to be a perpetual career woman she has embraced mother hood with the fiery loins of a true Earth mother!

She has an incredible social conscience – go to the Sisterlit website www.sisterlit.com and go to the sister love page. You’ll see what I mean. She lays awake at night for hours worrying about famine in Africa or Indigenous health here in Australia.

She’s smart – she had 4 degrees including a law degree and a PhD.

She’s witty – she can verbally eviscerate the unsuspecting and do it all with a smile.

She’s politically passionate – she’s actively involved and really cares about what goes on politically around her.

She’s an incredible writer. Her first book blew me away and I know, I just know, some forward thinking publisher is going to pick it up one day. She’s fast and can write a log line or a blurb in about ten minutes flat! And a whole chapter in about 2 hours!!!

She’s an advocate for the underdog. She works in a department that looks after women, poor people and indigenous members of our society when she could be earning mega bucks in a white wig.

She knows how to work a room. Actually, thanks to our mother we both do.

She’s a juggler extraordinaire – part-time work, 3 kids and one on the way, writing sister books, footy, ballet, school, kindy, tuckshop, P&C meetings, fundraisers, home bake etc etc etc

She’s kind. Otherwise she’s just say no to all that stuff and be sane instead!

And I guess her kids and hubby think she’s pretty wonderful too – check out this cute video they uploaded to YouTube for her!

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oQ58sFIY7KI

Love you Ros!

Ali and Ros are amazing women.

Go grab SISTER PACT now!

WEEKEND BOOK CLUB: Exclusively Yours

I adore contemporary romance so was intrigued to read Shannon Stacey for the first time after hearing her Carina Press e-book Exclusively Yours hit the NYT bestseller list.

Once this book landed on my kindle, I was hooked! Shannon's voice sucked me into the story completely and made me laugh out loud several times.

Here's the blurb:


When Keri Daniels' editor finds out she has previous carnal knowledge of reclusive bestselling author Joe Kowalski, she gives Keri a choice: get an interview or get a new job.

Joe's never forgotten the first girl to break his heart, so he's intrigued to hear Keri's back in town--and looking for him. Despite his intense need for privacy, he'll grant Keri an interview if it means a chance to finish what they started in high school.

He proposes an outrageous plan--for every day she survives with his family on their annual camping and four-wheeling trip, Keri can ask one question. Keri agrees; she's worked too hard to walk away from her career.

But the chemistry between them is still as potent as the bug spray, Joe's sister is out to avenge his broken heart and Keri hasn't ridden an ATV since she was ten. Who knew a little blackmail, a whole lot of family and some sizzling romantic interludes could make Keri reconsider the old dream of Keri & Joe 2gether 4ever.

I'm a huge fan of contemporary romance authors like Susan Elizabeth Phillips (SEP novels rock!) and now have another author I will keenly follow.

Shannon Stacey's Kowalski family are addictive.
I read this book late at night in bed on my ereader after meeting deadlines of my own, and ended up getting little sleep because I couldn't put it down.

One of those wonderful romances you wish wouldn't end.

A seriously hot hero Joe (who's an author) and a career-driven heroine Keri (his first love) go camping with his family.
The results are hilarious and warm and lovely.

Looking forward to reading the sequels.

What are you reading this week?

Hot Nights with an Australian

I'm not usually a fan of 'leg' covers but have to say I love this one! (and no, not just saying it because my name's on the cover! Along with mega authors Emma Darcy and Lindsay Armstrong, yay!)

This anthology features a reprint of OVERTIME IN THE BOSS'S BED (Callum the brooding CEO and Starr the dancer, who have a one night stand in Sydney, only to have her so desperate for a new start she takes him up on a job offer in Melbourne.)

It's out in July and you can pre-order here (AU$8.33 for 3 full length category romances, plus free worldwide postage, bargain!)

Romantic Book of the Year finalist!

I'm absolutely thrilled to announce BUSTED IN BOLLYWOOD is a finalist for RWAustralia's Romantic Book of the Year!

It's the first time I've been a finalist in this prestigious award and to have it happen with this book is extra special for me.

The winners are announced at the awards dinner at the RWAus conference on the Gold Coast in August.

I have too much on my plate to attend the conference this year but now I'm oh so tempted to fly up for the awards...

For a full list of nominees (including fab author buddies Fiona Lowe, Kelly Hunter, Sarah Mayberry, Robyn Grady, Marion Lennox, Anna Campbell and Barbara Hannay) and a squiz at the gorgeous trophy, check here

GUEST BLOG: J. Lynn

Today I'm thrilled to welcome J. Lynn to my blog (you may also know her as fab YA author Jennifer Armentrout).
She's here to tell us about her first adult release, TEMPTING THE BEST MAN, a category romance just released with Entangled Publishing's Indulgence series.
I've started reading it and...WOW. Jennifer has an amazing voice that sucks you into the story instantly.
Read to the end for a chance to win copies of this book!


Now, over to Jennifer.

Tempting the Reader/Writer

I’m the kind of reader that’s tempted by a hot romance story, an alpha male… or two, and laugh out loud moments. Any book that has those three elements, I’m sold. Hey, what can I say? I’m easy like that.

In fact, she’d take an asteroid with “Earth’s My Bitch” emblazoned on it and headed her way over this.

So it seemed only natural that I’d write what I enjoy reading. Just like with reading, any story I write has to tempt me. It has to get under my skin, make me hot, and make me laugh. If not, I can’t get into writing it. See, I bore easily and, on top of that, I get distracted by shiny Internet things all the time. Shiny things like this

Heh.

Moving on…

TEMPTING THE BEST MAN is my first category romance book. I’m more of a paranormal/urban fantasy author, but there’s something fun and relaxing about digging into the world of normal, everyday people who aren’t fallen angels or mutant llamas.

Mutant llamas—they DO exist. And they smoke cigars and wear tuxedos. Who knew?

In TEMPTING THE BEST MAN, you’ll meet 25 year old Madison Daniels, who has had the hots for her brother’s best friend for as long as she can remember. Who hasn’t been in a situation like that? If it’s not a brother’s BFF, it’s your own best guy friend. There’s that line you know you shouldn’t cross with that person, which makes its oh-so much more fun to cross.

Chase was the Antichrist to her.

A really, unbelievably hot Antichrist…

Chase Gamble, one of three notorious brothers, does put the “awt” in “hawt” and he can be a little, er, demanding when it comes to certain things.

“Open your legs for me,” he ordered.

Well, okay Mr. Bossy Pants.

Okay, let’s get to the good stuff. Who do I see as Chase Gamble?

And just because I stumbled across this:

Holy hotness, Batman.

Hot guys and relatable female leads aside, I was also inspired by the TV show Doomsday Preppers. I kid you not. True story. I was watching it one night and thought to myself, I need to write characters one day that are somehow like the Doomsday Preppers. 

And so Madison’s parents were born.

Not even her semi-lunatic parents, who owned and operated a very profitable online store called DOOMSDAY “R” US and would likely be hawking gas masks to the guests, were the problem.

“I know, Dad, but I haven’t had a chance to get a new spare tire yet.”

“You should always have a spare. Have we not taught you anything about preparedness?”

Well, wasn’t that a moot point right now? And it wasn’t like a comet had struck her car.

So I was tempted to write a story that had a good, steamy romance, a hot and sometimes demanding (wink wink) alpha male, with a dash of snark and humor. Hopefully, you’ve been tempted to check it out.

About Tempting the Best Man

Madison Daniels has worshipped her brother's best friend since they were kids. Everyone thinks she and Chase Gamble would make the perfect couple, but there are two major flaws in their logic. 1) Chase has sworn off relationships of any kind, and 2) after blurring the line between friends and lovers for one night four years ago, they can't stop bickering.

Forced together for her brother's wedding getaway, Chase and Madison decide to call a truce for the happy couple. Except all bets are off when they're forced to shack up in a tacky 70’s honeymoon suite and survive a multitude of "accidents" as the family tries to prove their "spark" can be used than for more than fighting. That is, if they don't strangle each other first…

Get your copy at Amazon or Barnes & Noble!

About J. Lynn

Jennifer L. Armentrout writes adult romance as J. Lynn. She lives in Martinsburg, West Virginia. All the rumors you've heard about her state aren't true. When she's not hard at work writing, she spends her time reading, working out, watching really bad zombie movies, pretending to write, and hanging out with her husband and her Jack Russell Loki. Her dreams of becoming an author started in algebra class, where she spent most of her time writing short stories....which explains her dismal grades in math. Jennifer writes young adult paranormal, science fiction, fantasy, and contemporary romance. She also writes adult romance under the name J. Lynn. She is the author of the COVENANT Series (Spencer Hill Press), the LUX Series (Entangled Publishing), and the upcoming YA contemporary mystery/thrillers DON'T LOOK BACK (Disney/Hyperion Fall 2013) and yet untitled book (Disney/Hyperion tentative Fall 2014)

Connect with J. Lynn at her website, on Facebook, and Twitter

Jennifer is giving away 2 e-copies of TEMPTING THE BEST MAN.
To be in the running, leave a comment!

COVER REVEAL: Marrying the Enemy

I love it when the cover fairies get it right and that's what has happened here, with a scene straight from MARRYING THE ENEMY.

When asked their favourite book, authors often can't choose, likening it to choosing between their kids.

For me, I can categorically say this is my favourite Harlequin book I've written.

There was something special about Jax and Ruby from the moment they strutted into my imagination and then translated onto the page.

(and Ruby's currently putting in another pushy performance in the book I'm writing, the follow up to Marrying the Enemy, with her sister Sapphire's story.)

I can't wait for this book to release in the US in September!

Here's the blurb:

How far would you go to save your family business?

Jewellery designer and heiress Ruby Seaborn will do anything to save her family's company from financial ruin. And she means anything.  Including proposing a strictly business marriage to diamond mine magnate Jax Maroney - the only man able to restore the Seaborn jewellery empire to its former glory!

She needs his money; he needs her socialite credentials-it's a win-win solution. And if they indulge in certain…fringe benefits of their marriage along the way, that's fine. Because luckily Ruby's heart is as unbreakable as the precious gems she works with...isn't it?

Brenda Novak's auction for diabetes research

It's that time of year again, when super author Brenda Novak runs her auction to raise funds for diabetes research.

I've been involved with this for several years now and it's a wonderful cause.

This year, along with other Entangled Publishing authors, I'm donating a Kindle Fire preloaded with loads of books including Busted in Bollywood.

The auction launched May 1st and we're already up to $70 so please go bid for your chance to snaffle this great item before the end of May.

Hot Italian cover

INTERVIEW WITH THE DAREDEVIL is out this month in Italy.
Details here

Oh my, how sexy is that guy on the cover? *fans self*

Love Knows No Bounds

As if my publisher ENTANGLED PUBLISHING wasn't awesome enough, they have just realised an anthology supporting autism, where 100% of net profits are being donated to Autism Speaks.

The stories are:

TWEET by Boone Brux

When ultra-shy pushover Faye Albert decides to live a little, she inadvertently binds her soul to Satan by following him on Twitter. And overnight, her dreams of being confident, beautiful, and adored by men are coming true. No longer is she overlooked, pushed out of her place in line, or just plain pushed over.

But it comes at a price: if she doesn’t figure out how break the contract, she’ll lose her soul to the Dark Prince forever.

With time running out, and no idea how to unfollow Satan, she enlists the help of Christopher White, a gorgeous photographer from work. All the while, Satan’s little helper dogs her every step and offers her things she’s only dreamed of, tempting Faye with a lifetime of earthly treasures. And unconditional love. But will she say yes to a love that knows no bounds?


BITTERSWEET by Brooke Moss

Anna Kirkpatrick isn't looking for love. Being a single mom to Bowan, her eight-year-old autistic son, takes up all of her time...leaving no room for romance. Willing to do anything to help her son come out of his shell, Anna agrees to take Bowan to cooking classes with a world class chef.

Motorcycle-riding pastry chef Leo Mancini isn't exactly searching for "the one", either. After losing every penny he had, his business, and his girlfriend, he's moved to northern Idaho to sulk, restart his career, and pay his sister back for a loan that no amount of money could ever really suffice.

When Anna and Leo discover that Bowan's fondness for the kitchen extends beyond his peculiar cookbook collection, Leo quickly becomes the one person who can break through his barriers. But will Leo and Anna's attraction lead to more than just a weekly cooking lesson?


REMEMBER ME by Nina Croft

Unable to bear the thought of losing his mortal wife, Caden Wolfe steals the Elixir of Life and offers her eternity. But the theft is discovered, his wife is slain, and Caden is stripped of his angel wings and cast down into the Abyss.
Having drunk of the Elixir of Life, Phoebe Little's soul is tied to the earth in a perpetual cycle of death and rebirth. Unaware that she has lived countless lives, Phoebe is haunted by the loss of a love she has no memory of.

Caden has spent a thousand years searching for his wife. Now he has found her, and only Phoebe's love can redeem them both. But Phoebe fell in love with an angel, and Caden is now a demon of the Abyss. Can she see past what he has become, remember the love they once shared, and have a second chance at forever?


BUY HERE 

WEEKEND BOOK CLUB: How to Win the Dating War

I love discovering new authors and becoming hooked on their books.
Aimee Carson is now one of those authors.

I read How to Win the Dating War last week and it blew me away (especially as this is Aimee's 2nd book!)

Here's the blurb:

In the men’s corner.. Cutter Thompson – Miami’s hottest ex-racing car driver – believes that action always speaks louder than words. Participating in a celebrity dating competition, where his every text is analysed to death, is his worst nightmare! 


Flying the flag for the girls... Divorcee Jessica Wilson has built her life – and her dating service! – on the premise that communication is the key to happiness. Cutter might not think he needs her help to flirt successfully, but her professional radar says otherwise... 


But this battle of the sexes gets complicated by an intense, sizzling attraction! Will it be game, set and…match made in heaven?


This was my first book by Aimee Carson and I can sum it up in one word: WOW!

How to Win the Dating War is a sexy read with two mismatched characters that create major sparks.

Cutter has to be the hottest hero I've read in a long while. 
He's brash, blunt and incredibly drool worthy.
Jessica is a little prim and proper, and the perfect foil for his rough around the edges appeal.

The sexual tension sizzles off the page!

I loved every minute of this story and can't wait to read more from Aimee.


Highly recommend.


What are you reading this weekend?

I've sold to a 4th publisher!

In late March, I had a surreal week.
Within 5 days, I had offers from 3 different publishers for 3 different books.

After negotiations, I'm thrilled to announce I've sold a category length contemporary romance to CRIMSON ROMANCE (the new romance division of Adams Media, a long-standing publisher of non-fiction titles including Writers Digest books.)

The tentative title is FALLING FOR FLYNN and it's a returned soldier/reunion romance set in my fabulous home city Melbourne.

Release date to be confirmed (but will be within the next 6 months.)

Stay tuned to hear loads more about this story!

And if you're a writer, Crimson Romance are actively acquiring manuscripts (I'm thrilled I encouraged a friend of mine to submit and she has been contracted too!)

They're after talented authors with fresh voices and engaging stories: smart, heartwarming romances for the sophisticated reader.

So what are you waiting for?
Check out the submission guidelines here

The Prom

Lisa Burstein is celebrating the upcoming release of her contemporary YA novel PRETTY AMY on May 15th by giving away designer evening dresses!


PRETTY AMY starts on a prom night that goes horribly and hilariously wrong. Prom night or any special night doesn’t always go as planned. There is a lot you can’t control: the weather, your date’s breath and sometimes even the whim of a policeman. 

Luckily, you can control the way you look and PRETTY AMY wants you to look good.
Designer good. $200 Designer good!
Lisa is giving away 3 Size 8 Phoebe Couture evening dresses, generously donated by Kay Unger and 2 $20 Sephora gift cards.
4 lucky people will win! Contest starts 4/17 and goes until 5/17.

Enter here

To make this even MORE fun, some brave Entangled authors, editors, publicists and interns have given Lisa their prom photos. She will be posting them on her FB page over the next month.
(and yes, me included, complete with pink satin and frizzy hair. While we don't celebrate prom in Australia, graduation dance is the equivalent roughly, so that's the pic you'll see. It's a doozy!)

Getting there

Thanks for being so patient with me.
I'm getting there with my PC stuff...picked up Mac yesterday and I'm in love!

For everyone who told me once I had Mac I'd never go back? Yep, you were spot on!
Even though it's taking me a while to figure everything out, I absolutely adore it!
Utterly fab!

So I will resume normal transmission here soon...as soon as I catch up.

Mac attack

Bear with me a few days while I'm mostly offline.

After being a PC user for years, I've taken the plunge and bought a MAC.

Yes, I'll be clueless for ages but I intend on making the most of my tutorials, just as soon as I make a dent in the mountain of work I have, including starting a book due at the end of May!

Back soon!

Going Brazilian!

Once again through the power of Twitter I've met a wonderful lady who reads and reviews romances.

The lovely Beta is celebrating her blog's 7th anniversary and she asked to interview me.
The result is here

I love seeing her reviews of my books and always hope Google does a good job of translating for me!

Here's a little more about Beta.

Roberta, 33, Brazilian. Journalist. The most unpredictable mix of a Scorpio and a Gemini ascendant - always surprising myself. Starting reading romances at 12, maybe 13 or 14 years old to never stop. I can forget anything but there is always a book around. I prefer romantic and funny books, sometimes sobrenatural ones and never horror. One day I'll travel to Italy, specially Florence - for now, just the romances take me there :)


About my blog: in 2005, I started a blog called Literatura de Mulherzinha (the portuguese translation of "chicklit"). I become tired to research about books I liked to read in internacional sites. I guess it is one of the first blogs about books in Brazil. In the beggining, the idea was just share comments about my books and series I've found. But I found lots of friends, found lots of authors and books and now it is one of most important parts of my life. Abril 16th is the 7th anniversary and I intend to keep it for a long long time.

I hope so too, Beta!

Casting call

If I didn't love Twitter for the general chit-chat and keeping abreast of current affairs and hanging out with friends, I'd love it for the new people I meet.

Danielle Gorman is one of those people and she's celebrating her blogoversary in conjunction with Romancing Rakes, by asking authors who'd they'd cast for their books if Hollywood came calling.

You can check out my leading men at RAMBLINGS FROM THIS CHICK and ROMANCING RAKES FOR THE LOVE OF ROMANCE.

And yes, you can win free books!
-Interview with the Daredevil
-Busted in Bollywood

Good luck!

The Write Tools

Today I'm visiting DAMON YOUNG'S blog.

I met Damon via Twitter and he invited me to take part in his Write Tools series. I love hearing about the processes of other writers so check it out in the sidebar of his blog!

Damon is an Australian author, philosopher and commentator. He has published features in the The Age, The Sydney Morning Herald, The Australian, The Herald, The Australian Literary review and BBC. He's a regular columnist for the ABC and Canberra Times.
Check out his impressive credentials.

And yes, I'm his first romance writer guest!

WEEKEND BOOK CLUB: No Dress Required

NO DRESS REQUIRED summed up in a word? Fabulous!

Part of the shorter 'Flirt' series for Entangled Publishing, No Dress Required packed a powerful punch and left me hankering for more.
No surprise it hit the USA TODAY bestseller list, it's a wonderful story.

Here's the blurb:

After years of ho-hum dating, Noelle Gregory is tired of fooling around. There’s only ever been one guy for her—Jake Conroy, her best friend’s older brother. Now that Jake’s back in town, she’s headed to his sister’s New Year’s Eve party to make her move. Purse full of condoms? Check. Sparkly dress guaranteed to show Jake the sexy woman she’s become? Check. Carjacker that makes off with both two hours before the party? Check.

When Jake finds Noelle stranded on the side of the road—looking sexier than ever in her striped socks and silly holiday shirt, damn it—he’s glad for the snowstorm that cancels his sister’s party. His and Noelle’s friendship has tormented him for years, and now, Jake wonders if he should dare to sample what he’s always wanted…and if he’ll be able to walk away when it’s over.

I devoured this in one sitting!

Absolutely sensational read!

Cari Quinn has a unique voice that sucks you into the story from the very beginning.

For a shorter read, the emotional and sexual tension between Noelle and Jake is top rate.
Love, love, loved the fireworks they created! Steamy yet sweet.
The kind of story I wished could go on forever.

I can't wait to read Jake's sister Alexa's story, in a longer format, yay!

Highly recommend.

FRIDAY FLICKS: Puss in Boots

Kidlet adored movies from the age of 2 but his younger brother not so much.
When PUSS IN BOOTS released last year, it was the first movie preschooler sat through with some interest.
Since then, he has watched Shrek 2 & 3 a hundred times for one reason: Puss in Boots.
He thinks the cat is super cool and I have to agree.
With the movie just being released on DVD (and yes, I had to buy it yesterday) I thought this review is timely.

PUSS IN BOOTS is a prequel to Shrek 2, where Puss first makes an appearance.

In this movie, he teams up with the mastermind Humpty Dumpty and a street-wise cat Kitty Softpaws, to go after the outlaw couple Jack and Jill who have the magic beans he's been searcing for his entire life. 
Beans that can lead to the giant's castle hiding valuable golden goose eggs.

Sounds like fun, huh?
The movie is a rollicking good adventure, made easier on the ears by the dulcet tones of Antonio Banderas who plays Puss.
Salma Hayek is fabulous as Kitty Softpaws.
And Jack (Billy Bob Thornton) and Jill (Amy Sedaris) are seriously scary!

I won't give away any plot points but needless to say, there are many twists and turns in this fun film.
Kids will love it.
And if you're like me and mainly see kids' flicks these days, adults will enjoy it too.

Sold! My Young Adult debut...

Hot off the press from Publishers Marketplace, the announcement I've been dying to shout out:

April 9, 2012



Children's: Young Adult

USA Today bestselling author Nicola Marsh's debut SORORITY OF THE SUN, in which a sixteen-year-old supernatural misfit, bound to the Celtic sun god and his Druid-driven Sorority, enters a boarding school for the freakishly gifted, discovers powers she has no idea what to do with, and battles coming-of-age issues while embarking on a quest to recover an icon that may change her family and the world as she knows it, to Georgia McBride at Month9Books, in a three-book deal, for publication in November 2013 (World).

I adore this book.
Really, truly, adore it.
And I can't wait to share it with readers!!!

Still pinching myself Georgia had the same vision for the series I did...I'm going to be a Young Adult author, woo hoo!!!!!!!!

COVER REVEAL: Greta and the Goblin King

Another fabulous cover reveal for a fellow ENTANGLED PUBLISHING author, Chloe Jacobs.

Chloe Jacobs is a native of nowhere and everywhere, having jumped around to practically every Province of Canada before finally settling in Ontario where she has now been living for a respectable number of years. Her husband and son are the two best people in the entire world, but they also make her wish she'd at least gotten a female cat. No such luck. And although the day job keeps her busy, she carves out as much time as possible to write. Bringing new characters to life and finding out what makes them tick and how badly she can make them suffer is one of her greatest pleasures, almost better than chocolate and fuzzy pink bunny slippers.


GRETA AND THE GOBLIN KING releases November 13, 2012.

Here's the blurb:

While trying to save her brother four years ago, Greta was thrown into the witch’s fire herself, falling through a portal to a dangerous world where humans are the enemy, and every ogre, goblin, and ghoul has a dark side that comes out with the full moon.


To survive, seventeen-year-old Greta has hidden her humanity and taken the job of bounty hunter—and she’s good at what she does. So good, she’s caught the attention of Mylena’s young Goblin King, the darkly enticing Isaac, who invades her dreams and undermines her determination to escape.


But Greta’s not the only one looking to get out of Mylena. The full moon is mere days away, and an ancient evil knows she’s the key to opening the portal. If Greta fails, she and the lost boys of Mylena will die. If she succeeds, no world will be safe from what follows her back…

Goodreads
Barnes and Noble pre-order
Twitter
Facebook
Website

Lucky 7 meme

I got tagged for this by the lovely Kathy Bradey, YA writer and Sydneysider who I love chatting with.

The Lucky 7 Meme Rules

■Go to page 77 of your current MS/WIP

■Go to line 7

■Copy down the next 7 lines–sentences or paragraphs–and post them as they’re written. No cheating.

■Tag 7 authors

■Let them know

So here's mine from NOT THE MARRYING KIND (Entangled Publishing Indulgence series) releasing soon!

She wanted him, wanted this, whatever this was.



He plundered her mouth, long, hot, moist kisses that left her boneless and mindless with desire until all she could do was sag against him, soft and pliant and wanting. So much wanting.


An eternity later his lips eased away, lingering long enough to place a surprisingly sweet kiss on the corner of her mouth.


“So what do you say?” He traced her bottom lip with a fingertip, the residual tingle from his kiss intensifying as he stared at her with the determination of a guy used to getting his own way. “Marry me?”


She wanted to say no.


She wanted to tell him where he could stick his proposal.


Instead, she nodded, a reluctant “yeah” tumbling from her lips a second before he claimed them again.


Tagged:

Natalie Anderson
Liz Fielding
Rachel Firasek
Cathryn Hein
Kate Hardy
Rachel Harris
Rachael Johns

FRIDAY FLICKS: The Bext Exotic Marigold Hotel

I love entering a movie theatre knowing absolutely nothing about the film I'm about to see.
No expectations to fall short.

That was the case last week when I took my folks to see THE BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL. I knew nothing about the film and when my mum mentioned it was set in India, I was hooked!

So that's all I knew: the location.

And what a rollicking good time I had.
I laughed out loud continuously throughout the movie, though it isn't a comedy per se.

It's a poignant 'fish out of water' story about English retirees 'outsourced' to a rundown hotel in India.
Each character has a satisfying growth arc from start to finish, with plenty of romance thrown in for good measure.

With an all-star cast and excellent acting, I dare anyone not to enjoy this feel-good film.

My rating: 8/10

Quickie interview

The lovely Donna Newton invited me to do a quickie 30 second interview over at her blog (which has loads of fab articles.)

Check it out here

True grit as a writer

Great post today at Bob Mayer's blog, discussing the heirarchy of goals in writing.

Having a strategic goal is crucial and Bob has some absolute gems that will resonate.

Go check it out here

(I'm still rapt I got to hear Bob speak at the RWAus conference last year in Melbourne. He really inspired me to become a hybrid author willing to take chances in this ever-evolving publishing industry. He's brilliant! If you ever get a chance to hear him speak, grab the opportunity, you won't regret it.)

My 31st Harlequin book sold!

Funny how many books I write are inspired by one picture, usually of a hot celeb.

In the case of my 31st category romance for Harlequin Mills and Boon, a picture of Brad Pitt inspired my hot surfer dude Archer Flett.

I've just had word WEDDING DATE WITH MR. WRONG (Harlequin Romance) will be released in North America in October this year (with UK release date to be confirmed.)

The brand new excerpt has just gone live too!

I still pinch myself every time I sell a book, because it feels like only yesterday I sold my first.
Time flies and I'm so lucky to have the best job in the world!

WEEKEND BOOK CLUB: Fury

I hadn't heard of this YA novel when I picked it up.

The cover and the blurb sucked me in.

It’s winter break in Ascension, Maine. The snow is falling and everything looks pristine and peaceful. But not all is as it seems...


Between cozy traditions and parties with her friends, Emily loves the holidays. And this year’s even better--the guy she’s been into for months is finally noticing her. But Em knows if she starts things with him, there’s no turning back. Because his girlfriend is Em’s best friend.

On the other side of town, Chase is having problems of his own. The stress of his home life is starting to take its toll, and his social life is unraveling. But that’s nothing compared to what’s really haunting him. Chase has done something cruel...something the perfect guy he pretends to be would never do. And it’s only a matter of time before he’s exposed.

In Ascension, mistakes can be deadly. And three girls—three beautiful, mysterious girls—are here to choose who will pay.

Em and Chase have been chosen.

This book had me riveted. Could hardly put it down.

Intriguing premise, with revenge being the underlying theme.
Revenge with a paranormal twist!

The author nailed the YA voice perfectly too and the teenage angst really sucked me into the story. Excellent characterisation.

Very unusual plot twist at the end to lead into more books in this series.

Enjoyable read.

What are you reading this weekend?