PARTY DAY 2!

I can't have a celebration without a little cake. Just a mouthful.

Can someone tip Reynaldo out of that hammock and get him to pass them round?

Kate Walker ... just the woman for the job. I'll leave you to handle that while I introduce today's guests.



So, today I have great pleasure in welcoming one of Harlequin's newest authors to the party.  Soraya Lane is a woman made of the right stuff. She delivered a book and then, scarcely pausing for breath, she delivered a baby! As if that isn't enough, she's also being shaken to bits by earthquakes on a daily basis back home in New Zealand.  Romance authors are not made of pink and fluffy; we're Steel Magnolias!

Her book The Army Ranger's Return is about a soldier's second chance…

As nervous as a teenager about to go on her first date, Jessica Mitchell waits for Special Forces Ranger Ryan McAdams—her best friend for the past year— whom she's never met! They've been pen pals while Ryan was away fighting for their country and Jessica was secretly fighting her own demons back home.

She knows widower Ryan's fears of returning to civilian life and his hopes of reconnecting with his son. Now she can't wait to meet him face–to–face—to hear his voice and see his smile…

The returning soldier is so much part of our experience these days and I can't wait to read this story.  And if you'd like the chance to win a copy all you have to do is leave a comment.

Truth, dare, kiss or promise, remember?

Tell us about a kiss from someone special you haven't seen in a long time. A parent, a child, your grandmother, the love of your life.

And meanwhile, back to Kate, if she's finished with Reynaldo! Oh, right, she's brought Jake Gyllenhaal with her, so Reynaldo is going to have to make his own amusement.

I've known Kate almost as long as I've been writing for Mills and Boon and she's the warmest, kindest person you can imagine. Every year we indulge in a "Here Come the Grooms" contest, along with Anne MAllister, definitely one to look out for.  Today she's brought a copy of her most recent book, The Proud Wife, to the party.

Marina thought her dreams had come true when her husband placed a wedding band on her finger. But their marriage was not the fairy tale she'd hoped for, and eventually Marina walked away, her heart broken.  Two years on Pietro D’Inzeo no longer haunts Marina's dreams. She knows the time has come to move on, and even a summons to join him in Sicily won't deter her.

However, with his wife standing before him, about to sign on the dotted line of their divorce papers, Pietro wonders why he ever let her go?

Kate writes the most amazing Mediterranean heroes and you won't want to miss this one.

For a chance to win a copy, tell me which of the great exotic hero types you dream of being swept away by?  A Greek tycoon? A Sicilian Conte? A hot Italian or fiery Spaniard?  Nothing but the truth now!

I've just spotted another guest arriving.

I met Lesley Cookman when she was studying for her Creative Writing MA here in Wales. It started as a cyber-connection but we're now on hugging terms!

A glass of Chianti, Lesley? (Snaps fingers for Reynaldo to deliver!)

While she's distracted by Reynaldo, I'll mention that Lesley writes the "Libby Serjeant" crime series - cosies set in the Kent countryside and I think it's about time they kicked Misummer Murders into touch and moved east! She's the go-to girl if you want to write a pantomime, too, but the multi-talented Lesley is also a long standing member of the Romantic Novelists' Association, writing as Rosina Lesley for Accent Press and she has two of those eBooks to give away, Running Away and A Will to Love.

Catherine Long, in RUNNING AWAY, has a habit of running away from her problems - and one of the biggest problems she's ever had to face goes by the name of James Grant. He was a great support to her and her younger sister Felicity when their father passed away, but when Catherine started developing feelings for this older, married benefactor, she fled to take up residence in her grandmother's country cottage. Except now James has arrived in the village to redevelop his uncle's grand house into a hotel and their lives suddenly seem so intertwined, there's no place left to run for Catherine.

 

It's time for another dare!  For a chance to win one of Lesley's books tell me what you have dared for love. Have you defied your family? Gone to a new country? Run away?  Or do you think that love itself, the risk of your heart, is the greatest dare of all?


Oh, and if you want to see me talking about TEMPTED BY TROUBLE, click on the link at the top of the sidebar!

KATE WALKER'S MASTERCLASS

My dear friend Kate Walker is holding a masterclass here on her blog on the subject of heroes -- more specifically the much maligned "alpha" hero.

Anyone who writes, or would like to write, needs to go and see what the guru has to say on this subject. Also for the pictures of Hugh Jackman.

Here's one to be going on with!

Romantic Novelists vote Richard Armitage Sexiest Thing On Two Legs

British actor Richard Armitage has leapt from last year's 4th place to this year topping the ratings in the Romantic Novelists' Association 2009 Valentine's poll, to take the title of Sexiest Thing on Two Legs, beating top Hollywood stars to the number one spot.

Johnny Depp, who topped last year's poll, was pushed firmly into second place, with Hugh Jackman and George Clooney mere also-rans. Richard Armitage took 20% of the vote, more than double the count of any other male on the list, said the RNA pollster. He was a clear winner from the off.

The RNA is not alone in admiration of the actor, as numerous online Richard Armitage fan sites will testify. The ardency began with North and South, grew by leaps and bounds with the leather-clad baddie in Robin Hood, and shows no sign of diminishing as Spooks takes to the airwaves.

It's a coup for Britain, said one starstruck writer, not just for sexy Richard.

According to romantic novelists, the sexiest male celebrities of 2009 are:

1 Richard Armitage

2 Johnny Depp

3 Hugh Jackman

4 George Clooney

5 Daniel Craig

6 Sean Bean

7 Alan Rickman

8 David Tennant

9 Pierce Brosnan

10 Gerard Butler

And for those of you who have never heard of or seen Richard Armitage check him out on You Tube

HUGH IN A TOWEL DAY

It's Hugh-in-a-Towel day at The Pink Heart Society

The fabulous Anne McAllister has written an essay on what his image means to the romance author. His iconic status as a hero figure. His all round scrummyness.

Here he is as Ivo Grenville, hero of Reunited: Marriage in a Million.

To check on all his other roles, click on the link and enjoy!

COMPUTERS, DEADLINES, REVIEWS AND READER RESPONSE...

My computer died. I thought it was just sick, but it went to the shop and Andy said it was terminal. I should be getting the replacement he's building me sometime this week, but I've been forced to work on my laptop for the last four weeks and -- close your ears, honey, I love you really -- it's driving me crazy.

The dining table is too high for comfort, it doesn't fit on the keyboard slide on my desk and I have to FINDABO today!

This novella was the hardest book to start ever. It took me more attempts to get it going than my lawnmower. The middle, when I finally did get going, eventually went down fairly quickly, but the ending... The problem is that it's a novella that has aspirations to be a full length book. I've got enough ending for another 25,000 words and all I have is 5,000. Something, or someone, is going to have to go. Memo to brain. SAY NO TO NOVELLAS.

But The Sheikh, the Girl in the Bathrobe and the Fancy Bit of Cutlery is in the future. This month it's Reunited: Marriage in a Millions's all too brief sojourn in the sun. Well, there's next month, too, in Australia and New Zealand, and now I have that cover, I thought -- since it's so excellent -- that I'd treat myself by posting it again.

I had another review last week, too. This time from Once Upon a Romance and since it's rather lovely, I thought I'd share it with you. (There are quotes from earlier reviews at my website.) Interesting, they and the readers who've written to me -- thank you, guys! -- all fell for Ivo. I can't think why...

Anyway, here's what they said: --

"Belle Davenport is the belle of England. Host of a popular morning show and married to billionaire Ivo Grenville, she appears to have it all. With a fabulous husband, the perfect marriage, the darling of morning TV—who could want more? Unfortunately, nobody really knows that their marriage is a sham. Nothing more than a business relationship with great sex. She needed security and he needed somebody who understands that he doesn’t "do" emotions or love. It seemed to be a perfect fit at the time, but now Belle wants more.

"Besides, Ivo doesn’t really know a thing about her and her past. Nobody does. But she is desperate to find the little girl she abandoned years ago. Does she have what it takes to leave the security of Ivo and go after what she wants?

"What a great storyline. I felt an instant connection with Belle and wanted her to face her demons. However, I didn’t realize Ivo had things to hide as well. Can the two of them ever tell each other the truth? Can Belle really leave Ivo? This story plays out in many ways like a soap opera. Every time we get one answer, another question pops up. I don’t want to give away too much of the storyline so you can be as surprised as I was as the secrets kept being revealed.

"A totally attention grabbing book. You’ll have trouble putting it down."

Finally, the website has had it's monthly update and I'm running a competition there for a copy of BRINGING UP BABY. Also on sale at M&B and Amazon UK now!