CHOCOLATE, DIY, READING AND VIEWING...

I hope you all had a wonderful Easter! I was good. Honestly. No eggs, no bunnies, but I did make a chocolate mousse cake with 100% Venezuelan Black chocolate courtesy of my daughter (who sent the chocolate) and the slightly batty Willie and his Wonky Chocolate Factory (who grew it on his estate and gave us the recipe). Seriously, seriously good stuff!

We had a slight hiatus in the DIYing over the holiday weekend. We’d got as far as we could until the new wardrobe was fitted. It was finished today and tomorrow we’ll be back on the paintbrushes – there should be a law against skirting board in cupboards! After that it’s the floor, the curtains (which need shortening, mumble, mumble) and the removal of industrial quantities of dust that have seeped into every other part of the house. I’ve done my best to stay on top of it, but until we’ve finished it’s like Canute trying to stop the tide coming in.

I spent a little of my spare time reading – there’s a surprise. One of the fun things about having a reprint in an anthology is reading the other two books. I’d never read a Lindsay Armstrong and really loved her contribution, When Enemies Marry. Her ingénue heroine was just a hoot, especially when she handcuffed a youthful tearaway to the table leg. I enjoyed The Hasty Marriage by Betty Neels, too. The slightly grim Dutch doctor, the jolly decent heroine and her frightful family were classic BN fare; much the same pleasure as reading one of my aunt’s Sunday School prize books when I was a little girl. (Has anyone else read “Molly Rufus”?)

Television hasn’t been terrific lately, but The No 1 Ladies Detective Agency is pure delight. And last night I watched a film I’d recorded, Raising Helen. Worth it just for Helen Mirren. But then there was Pastor Dan…

And finally, in case you missed it, Harlequin is getting some serious coverage on the networks these days. Here’s what ABC had to say yesterday.

There’s an interview with Donna Hayes, Harlequin’s CEO and some readings from a range of books (sensible, sincere, no dreadful music); Harlequin Romance author Michelle Douglas had Martin Bashear reading from her book The Aristocrat and the Mom.

IT'S BEEN A HUNDRED YEARS...

It was quite a party...

Flaming torches and "flamingoes" on stilts greeted us at the entrance to the Walker Collection in Manchester Square, London on Thursday night.

This wonderful art gallery was the most beautiful setting for Mills & Boon Centenary party, at which editors -- past and present -- guests from Harlequin in the US, and the truly yummy Alan Titchmarsh were present to celebrate this amazing anniversary. Alan made a charming speech in which he said very nice things about Mills & Boon.

Then there were the "Butlers in the Buff"... Not stripped to the waist as they are for less refined parties, but looking for all the world like those sexy guys on the covers of our books. Bow ties pulled loose, shirts unbuttoned. And this one was handing out roses to the authors.




There was an opera singer to serenade us, delicious canapes, chocolate dipped strawberries, ice cream cones -- and after an hour or so, we needed them! -- and Bellinis, pink champagne.

So what did we do?

We talked, of course.






Here is Carol Townend, Donna Hayes (President and Publisher of Harlequin) and Michelle Styles.






Here is Natasha Oakley and Fiona Harper.












Here is one of the very hot "butlers".














Here I am with Jessica Hart.

And here I am with both hands full of more of those gorgeous guys.








Whew! (Pause to fan myself...)







Oh, and before I forget, Jackie won the signed copy of ENGLISH LORD, ORDINARY LADY from Fiona Harper.

And you've still time to enter the HERE COME THE GROOMS competition and win copies of books from Kate Walker, Anne McAllister and my own The Bride's Baby.

HERE COME THE GROOMS...

For full details you'll have to scroll down the page, but here are all three questions again -- you'll find the answers on our websites and if you send all three answers to each of us, you'll have three chances to win all three books.

My addy is liz @ lizfielding.com (no gaps); you'll find contact details of Kate and Anne's blogs.

The books are:

Anne McAllister's ONE NIGHT LOVE CHILD

Flynn's Question: What story did he come to Montana to cover when he met Sara in the first place?

Kate Walker's SPANISH BILLIONAIRE, INNOCENT WIFE

Raul's Question: What are the full names of the hero and heroine of Spanish Billionaire, Innocent Wife

And my own THE BRIDE'S BABY.

Tom's Question: What colour silk did he become intimately acquainted with?