Showing posts with label The Secret Life of Lady Gabriella. Show all posts
Showing posts with label The Secret Life of Lady Gabriella. Show all posts

Monday, February 04, 2013

February Foreigns...

MILIONARIO DA PRIMA PAGINA

di LIZ FIELDING
Chi lo ha detto che i milionari devono essere sempre solo belli e dannati? Esistono anche quelli romantici e sognatori e ve lo dimostreremo!
Questo è il momento che aspettavo! Claire Thackeray non sta più nella pelle: probabilmente è sul punto di scrivere il pezzo che le spalancherà le porte di qualche prestigiosa testata giornalistica nazionale. La proprietà di Cranbrook Park, appartenente da secoli alla stessa famiglia, sta per essere messa all'asta e lei potrebbe sapere prima di tutti chi sarà il fortunato che se l'aggiudicherà! Claire vive lì da quando è nata, lì ci lavoravano i suoi genitori e ora lei ci abita con la sua piccola. Quando scopre che il futuro proprietario sarà Hal North, il ragazzo ribelle che le ha rubato il cuore di adolescente, decide che oltre allo scoop deve avere anche lui.

Harmony, Italy



STJÄRNKLARA NÄTTER/Min nye chef/SÅ NÄRA

STJÄRNKLARA NÄTTER
Joanne Winslow blir helt kall när hon inser att systern förälskat sig i sin chef och är beredd att offra sitt äktenskap för att åka med honom till Norge. Utan att tänka sig för söker hon upp Brad Lancing och erbjuder sig att ta systerns plats. Att han verkar vara ute efter mer än en sekreterare bekymrar henne inte. I alla fall inte till en början ...

Min nye chef
Han är lång, mörk och snygg ... och allt en kvinna kan önska sig. Jag har svårt att sluta tänka på vår natt tillsammans, men Samos är ju min chef! Problemet är att han vill fortsätta träffas, och som vd är han inte direkt van vid att någon säger nej. Vad ska jag göra?

SÅ NÄRA
Jacqui är på flykt – från jobbet som barnflicka. Hon vill inte komma ett barn nära igen bara för att i nästa sekund behöva skiljas från det. Men en natt tvingas hon ta hand om föräldralösa Maisie, och natten blir till dagar ... veckor ... Snart är Jacquis hjärta återigen i fara. Och det klappar inte bara för Maisie utan också för husets herre: den underbare Harry.

Harlequin, Sweden


Amores olvidados-Su vida secreta


Fleur Gilbert y Matt Hanover se habían casado en secreto, creyendo que el amor que sentían el uno por el otro podría acabar con la disputa que enfrentaba a sus familias. Pero se habían equivocado. Seis solitarios años más tarde, Fleur había dejado de soñar con volver a ver a Matt. Sin embargo, Matt no había podido olvidarla… ni perdonarla.

Lady Gabriella March era la perfecta diosa de la clase alta... o al menos eso era lo que pensaba el editor de la revista para la que trabajaba. En realidad era sencillamente Ellie March, limpiadora y aspirante a escritora, que estaba utilizando como inspiración la mansión en la que trabajaba. La repentina llegada del propietario iba a poner en peligro su carrera como escritora. Pero lo más peligroso era él, el guapísimo doctor Benedict Faulkner. Su jefe no se parecía en nada a la imagen de viejo académico que se había hecho de él…


Harlequin, Spain

Sunday, June 07, 2009

Reading: An ARC of The Tenth Case by Joseph Teller; great so far. I know there's going to be a twist. I'm trying to work out what it's going to be.
Listening: Dolly Parton
Watching: Kingdom

GIVING AWAY BOOKS


I've been giving away a ton of my books this week. French, Greek, Spanish and a whole hussle of various language translations to a library.

The request for an Indonesian one was frustrating -- I have editions out there, my latest royalty statement showed some new ones, but I haven't had my copies. They may turn up. I've kept a note.

And that's not all. Every month I give away a book at The Romance Studio in their Book a Day giveaway. This month it was The Secret Life of Lady Gabriella which is on its way to Mildred this week.

Someone is giving away a book every day, there so do drop by and take part at Book a Day.

Next month I'll be giving away a copy of my first ever sheikh romance, HIS DESERT ROSE, so look out for that one.

And don't forget that I draw a name from my list of Newsletter subscribers each month and the lucky winner gets the book of her choice from my backlist.

And if you're already downloaded The Bride's Baby for free and wondered if there was a backstory for architect Mark Hilliard, the answer is yes. His story is The Perfect Proposal -- a marriage of convenience that doesn't turn out quite the way he expected. As his new bride puts it, far from peace and tranquility, he'd got Bob the dog, mud all over the kitchen. And no dinner.

Monday, January 14, 2008

SOME NEWS...


The 50th Year is certainly starting in a blaze of excitement.




THE SECRET LIFE OF LADY GABRIELLA, having been shortlisted by Romantic Times as Best Harlequin Romance of 2007 and won a Catanetwork Reviewers' Choice Award, has now been shortlisted for the

ROMANCE PRIZE

and the Betty Neels' Rose Bowl which is awarded annually by the Romantic Novelists' Association.

This is such a thrill and even better, one of my dearest writing chums is also on the list, but I'll leave her to make her own announcement. The winner will be announced at the RNA's Award Lunch at the Royal Garden Court Hotel in London on 4th February.

You'll find the full list of finalists here on Thursday afternoon.



... A WINNER...

The winner of Annie West's book, The Greek Tycoon's Unexpected Wife, is Michelle L (deseng). Annie is on holiday at the moment, Michelle, so if you'd like to email me with "Annie West winner" in the subject line and your name and street address, I'll pass it on to her as soon as she's home.


...AND MY SECOND GUEST, MELISSA JAMES

My guest this week, Sydney-born author, Melissa James, believes that “A life lived in fear, is a life half-lived...” a tenet she lives by. As a novelist, however, she can leave the risks to her characters and just dream about flying, scuba diving and abseiling down cliffs, much to the relief of her family!

Her warm, wonderfully entertaining books are fan favourites, her Harlequin Romance, HER OUTBACK KNIGHT, winning a Reviewers Choice Award.

But here's Melissa to tell you about herself and her latest book A MOTHER IN A MILLION...

When I began writing for Mills & Boon, I was lucky enough to be told to write about whatever topic I wanted, within limits, of course. So when I saw a show about the long-term effects of missing persons on their families, I got the germ of an idea for this story, pitched it to my editor, who to my surprise, loved it.

This is a story about a single dad trying to raise three kids, two troubled, while trying to find his runaway wife, and a woman who can't have a family of her own, longing for just that. A love story that seems impossible for so long because of one child's promise to his missing mother...

Jennifer's trapped in past grief, and then trapped by a love that can't happen, until she's set free by the one person she doesn't expect. Noah's in desperate need of a mother for his damaged, suffering kids, and when he meets Jennifer, he knows he's found the perfect mother - a mother in a million - but Jennifer can't be his...and when he's finally set free, she still can't be his.

And here's the excerpt...

He dragged in a breath before he made the confession, took the biggest personal risk of his life. "Then I saw you, and even from a distance, I knew I was in trouble."

The soft, glowing eyes turned back to him at last. She took in his face, slowly, every part of it. Her lips were already parted; her chest heaved with every breath. "I’ve never been the ‘in trouble’ kind of woman."

He smiled, a little. "Who’s playing games now?" He moved closer to her, until the warm current of wanting grew to heat, fuelling their bodies.

She bit her lip over a grin: the kind of warm, sensuous curving of lips that told a man exactly what he needed to know. "This kind of game is…" Her tongue ran over her lips again, her gaze glued to his mouth. Her hand half-lifted, waiting in the middle of that hot, swirling current.

"Yeah," he breathed, lifting his hand, twining his fingers through hers. "It is."

"I can’t do this if you’re still married in your heart," she whispered.

He’d expected that. For answer he reached back with his free hand, and passed her the papers he’d signed. "I had to tell you before I sent them. It’s for me, not you," he said quietly. "Meeting you made me see the truth. I can’t hang onto something that’s no more than a memory. Part of me will always love her…but she’s gone. I can’t keep living a half-life for Tim’s sake, for my in-laws. Living a lie doesn’t help anyone. It doesn’t keep her alive, except in their minds."

She read the divorce papers, and closed her eyes as she let them fall. "This is why you bought the kids the presents."

He nodded.

She gave a little sigh. "Everything about us seems to have irony in there somehow. Is there a message in that?"

He leaned closer to her, and captured her other hand. "There’s no timetable, Jennifer. There’s no right time or way. It’s happening, no matter what we do. We either ignore it and regret it later, or we take what we both want, and accept the consequences."

She looked at him, her eyes shimmering, uncertain. She wet her lips as she gazed at his face. He’d never felt so strong, so glad to be a man in his life as now, when Jennifer looked at him with all that longing.

"I want the consequences, Jennifer," he murmured huskily. "I want you. I want you."

"Noah." Her voice cracked; her eyes drifted closed, and she fell into him. "Don’t make me wait any more."

Jennifer had waited for him. Though he’d known it from the first night, he’d treasure the words until his dying breath.

Tender and a touch clumsy in first-kiss anxiety, they bumped each other’s noses. He opened his eyes, drew back a little and smiled at her. Jennifer laughed, low and soft and throaty: a rich, sensuous laugh, and he knew she’d laugh just like that when they made love.

He unlaced their hands and twined his fingers through her loose plait. "Come here," he said huskily, drawing her against him.

For the first time in half a lifetime, the sense of fatality filling him was beautiful. He knew this would be the kiss of his life.

Holding her flush against him, he hovered just over her mouth, waiting, teasing, loving the impatient little moan coming from her, the way her hands threaded through his hair and drew him down to the blanket so he was half-lying on her.

She moaned again and moved against him. "Noah," she whispered, aching with wanting. She wanted him so badly she was shivering.

Then her mouth covered his, tender and hungry; and rightness filled his soul at the same moment his body’s insistent beat took over everything and shut down every other sense.

The responses of her warm, generous body filled him with her sweetness and urgency. She kissed him gently, but when he took it deeper, she went with him; her hands were threading through his hair, fingers trailing down to his neck. The tiny, whisper-soft sighs between each kiss held a half-plea. "More, Noah…more…"

More was fine with him. Right now he never wanted to stop.


I have a signed copy of A MOTHER IN A MILLION to give away. Writers are always being asked "Where do you get your ideas from?" Well writers have their own version of that question. What would you most like to read in a storyline?

Oh, oh, oh... I want to read this book now! Thanks so much, for sharing that with us, Melissa. And great question. Enquiring minds want to know what you'd rush and buy!

In the meantime, if you can't wait to read A MOTHER IN A MILLION, it's available at eHarlequin and Mills & Boon (links oppposite) and at Amazon, US

It's also available as an eBook.

Friday, December 28, 2007

JUST WHEN YOU THINK 2007 IS ALL OVER...

...someone leaves a message about an award nomination. Well, when I'd checked my inbox I discovered what it's all about.

THE SECRET LIFE OF LADY GABRIELLA has been shortlisted by Romantic Times as Best Harlequin Romance of the year, along with Ally Blake, Trish Wylie, Claire Baxter and Cara Colter. What great company!

And -- there's more. I'm also nominated for a Career Achievement Love & Laughter Award. I'm in great company there, too, with Teresa Southwick also nominated for a Career Achievement award -- although not in the same category, so that's extra good!

Other great nominations are Michelle Douglas for her First Series Romance, HIS CHRISTMAS ANGEL, which you can still catch if you're quick. And Natasha Oakley for her Niroli series Presents, The Tycoon's Princess Bride.

Thursday, December 20, 2007

THE GREAT ADVENT CALENDAR GIVEAWAY

DAY TWENTY-FIVE

DECEMBER 25th

MERRY CHRISTMAS!


A very merry Christmas to everyone on this special day; I'm delighted to share a moment of the day with you.

Diana and Zahir also asked me to send their best wishes. They hope to drop by next month to help me celebrate 50 books, but for now they need a little time on their own.

So many of you wrote and told me what your own special Christmas gifts would be, from the simplicity of sleep -- I think we can all sympathise with that one! -- to the most touching one, the relief from pain for a loved one. I hope you are all granted your heart's desires.
One of you, Lois, does have THE SECRET LIFE OF LADY GABRIELLA to look forward to. It'll be in the post straight after the holiday, Lois.

So, what is behind the door for this very special last day on our calendar. Well, of course it has to be Diana and Zahir's story. THE SHEIKH'S UNSUITABLE BRIDE.

For a chance to win this book just send me an email to liz @lizfielding.com with Day Twnety Five in the subject line and your name and address in the body of the mail. I'll draw the winner on the 27th, since I imagine you'll all be just a little preoccupied today. I'll tell you then who won The Sheikh's Guarded Heart and The Sheikh's Unsuitable Bride.

My turn to wish you all the very merriest Christmas. And someone else to do the clearing up.

Thanks for spending December with me.


THE GREAT ADVENT CALENDAR GIVE AWAY

DAY TWENTY THREE

DECEMBER 23rd


Oh, lord. This is Sadie, covered with blushes here. I can't believe Liz actually dug out that old story where I behaved so badly! I was sixteen!

As if having to cope with the papparazi camped on the company doorstep hoping Diana might turn up wasn't bad enough. I hope I did the right thing when Sheikh Zahir phoned, but he sounded so sincere. So desperate. I wish I had someone who felt that way about me...

Anyway, what have we got here? Oh, yes. A FAMILY OF HIS OWN won the RNA Romance Prize in 2005. Trenda, in the delightfully named Saltillo, was drawn from the hat and the book is on its way.

Today, behind the door, is THE SECRET LIFE OF LADY GABRIELLA. This is the story of Ellie March, aspiring writer, cleaner, house-sitter, who has somehow managed to convince the editor of Milady magazine that she's Lady Gabriella March, domestic goddess, and she's now writing a monthly column on her "lifestyle". The only trouble is that she doesn't have a lifestyle. She doesn't even have a life.

Then Dr Benedict Faulkner, the owner of the lovely house she's "sitting" returns unexpectedly and, since he didn't know he had a house-sitter (sisters!) she's really in trouble. Oh, and one of the neighbours shoots at her. Life, as Ben quickly discovers, is never dull with Ellie around.

For a chance to win a copy of Ellie and Ben's story, email Liz at liz @lizfielding.com, with your name and address in the body of the text and Liz wants to know what you'd most like to find under your Christmas tree on the 25th. No men allowed -- we've already done that one -- not even your husband. And "World Peace" goes without saying!

Monday, June 25, 2007

TITLES & COVERS


Covers can be heaven or hell for an author. Sometimes we scream blue murder and our friends and family clearly thing we’re nuts. To them it appears perfectly okay. Only another author can ever understand that this cover that had been appended to a book that is like a baby to us, is ALL WRONG. That it does not fit our “vision” of what the characters are like. Sometimes has nothing to do with the story we wrote.

Titles can be like that, too.

THE SECRET LIFE OF LADY GABRIELLA, for instance, was a “marketing experiment”. Harlequin, aware of the snickers of derision that titles such as “The Gazillionaire Boss’s Virgin Mistress” (I just made that up!) evoke from people who just don’t “get it”, have been trying to ease back on those “hooky” titles.

It was a nice try.

To be honest I think it sounds more like an historical romance (and I’ve had half dozen titles of my own shot down for that very reason). Obviously that’s not going to be problem for anyone who sees the book on the shelf. But I do wonder about people who just see the title online and think “Okay, Liz has written an historical, I’ll come back when she’s thinking straight...”

I’d have called it THE SECRET LIFE OF ELLIE MARCH, which does all of the above, but is truer to the book, since Lady Gabriella is the “fantasy” – the secret life. But marketing, bless them, unable to quite let go, tried to sneak in the “princess”, just in case. It’s that wanting it all, thing. Innovative, new, fresh – but let’s stick in an aristocrat, just in case in all goes pear-shaped.

It was a kind thought, but it doesn’t work. As any Mills & Boon heroine could tell them, you have to be fearless. You may take a tumble – and in this case it’s the author that pays; no one sacks the marketing guy if the book doesn’t sell – but you have to be brave.

The reviews were great, everyone who read the book and wrote to me, loved it. But the jury is still out on sales figures and I’m afraid that the readers might just have been plain confused. The one thing that the great Charlotte Lamb taught me, is that you have to keep it simple. Let the reader know what’s going on. And that goes for the title, too. At least with “The Gazllionaire Boss’s Virgin Mistress” you can have absolutely no doubts!

But while titles are a continuing problem for both authors and marketing, there’s really no excuse for getting the heroines mixed up. Coming up in August is the Secrets We Keep trilogy I wrote with Barbara Hannay and Jackie Braun. I’ve already mentioned my confusion over the fact that my heroine, Belle Davenport, appears on my cover with long brown hair when, in fact, she starts out as a “bombshell” blonde and then has her hair cut and re-coloured to something more along the lines of “tawny”. Cut. So that would be short tawny.

Well, Jackie’s just received her October book. She was delighted with the cover – all three are very pretty -- except she couldn’t understand why her heroine has short, um, tawny hair. Probably only us authors will notice that somehow – in the art department – our heroines have switched places.

BLOG PARTIES

And in case you’re not already tuned into the fact that both Kate Walker and Kate Hardy are throwing blog parties (with prizes!) to celebrate the publication of their 50th and 25th book, respectively, do check them out.

AND FINALLY...

ROME. Are you watching this? I’m loving it, but my enjoyment is being sadly undermined by the dh, who just sits there saying “No. This is wrong. It didn’t happen like this...” Honestly. As if. This is blood, sex and feuding females. Dallas (or do I mean Dynasty?) BC. On Wednesday he gets sent to bed early with Seneca.

Monday, June 11, 2007


I'M IN THE LOCAL PAPER!

Once upon a time, an article in the local paper would be read by those people who picked it up at the end of the day. Maybe.

Now, by the wonders of modern communications, it can be read worldwide by clicking here.
They even included an excerpt from THE SECRET LIFE OF LADY GABRIELLA -- bless them -- which is presently on sale in Australia and New Zealand.

Saturday, May 12, 2007

THE GROOMS ARE BACK!


Theo, Dom (yes, we can call him Dom now than Alice has soothed the savage beast) and Max are all back from their honeymoons (some with more baggage than others!), and they had so much fun messing with our blogs last time that they want to do it again.


Over on Anne McAllister's blog, they've drummed up a new competition. Three simple questions, for three fabulous books.


This is just a single hander (Kate is busy organising celebrations for her 50th M&B and I have the purple shoe book to deliver), so just send your answers to Anne and she'll tell us who to send the books to. (I'm offering a copy of Ellie's book, or something from my backlist if -- bless you -- you've already bought THE SECRET LIFE OF LADY GABRIELLA.)

Tuesday, May 01, 2007

THE SECRETS OF WRITING ROMCOM, POSSIBLY...

Just a quick note to let you know that I'm blogging over at eHarlequin this month on the secrets of writing romcom, although any and all kinds of secrets are grist to the mill. But we'll start with Lady Gabriella and see where it takes us.

Friday, April 27, 2007

LADY G, SOME REVIEWS AND A WINNER!

I'm Ellie March -- failed romantic novelist, cleaner, waitress and all round odd-job merchant -- and I'm here to stand in Liz Fielding who's having a bit of bother with some man called Tom McFarlane, and a girl called Sylvie Smith, whose lives are in a bit of a tangle.

I've absolutely no doubt she will sort them out, but in the meantime I'm here to remind you about my book, THE SECRET LIFE OF LADY GABRIELLA, which goes on sale in a couple of days time.

Actually, since I'm the failed writer here how about if, instead of making a fool of myself, I just tell you what some really nice people have said about Ben and my story? Honestly, it's kinder all-round. Besides I need to go and feed the rabbit...


A keeper.
Romantic Times

This is one story you don't want to miss!
Romance Reviewed

It’s simply a warm and sweet romance.
Once Upon a Romance

...a whirlwind romance with wonderful twists and turns that truly delights.
Coffee Time Romance

... this house cleaning heroine and her professor stole this reader's heart.
Epinions.com

Oh, I nearly forgot. Liz asked me to tell you the truly exciting news that Nell Dixon was awarded the RNA's romance prize yesterday at the Savoy for her book MARRYING MAX. If you need any help with polishing the silverware, Nell, just give me a shout...