Geli meets her destiny...

Vettori's Damsel in Distress is the third in books about the Amery sisters (Elle - Tempted By Trouble; Sorrel - Anything But Vanilla) whose lives were changed forever by the arrival of an ice cream van called Rosie (and the man driving her!)

Geli - who collects stray animals and went to art college - has turned down a full time job in the family business and traveled to Milan to indulge her love of fashion and art and to remind herself that life isn't all about ice cream. Things do not start well.

It's snowing - who knew? There's a stray kitten - nothing changes. She can't find her apartment and  this is Italy, where the love affair with ice cream began. And then she comes face to face with Dante Vettori...

Amazon
iBooks
Barnes and Noble
Kobo
Harlequin
Mills and Boon 
Mills and Boon, Australia

There's more ice cream on the way...

With Elle and Sorrel happily settled and up to their eyes in ice cream and babies, Geli strikes out on her own Things don't go according to plan....

Christmas around the world

It's December, and here's a roundabout of a few of my Christmas titles available around this world this year!

Gekust met kerst / Verliefd in de sneeuw

Als Lady Rose toevallig haar lookalike tegenkomt, aarzelt ze geen moment. Zo kort voor haar huwelijk met de uiterst verstandige Rupert lokt de vrijheid, dus ruilen ze voor een weekje

Harlequin, Holland

Hamupipőke tűsarkúban

Amikor Lucy rádöbben, hogy dúsgazdag vőlegénye becsapta őt és megtévesztette a közvéleményt, elhatározza, hogy leleplezi. Az üzletember biztonsági őrei azonban a nyomában vannak, és ő egy áruház karácsonyi forgatagában keres menedéket. Futás közben elveszíti a cipőjét, amelyet Nathaniel talál meg. Elhatározza, hogy megvédelmezi a halálra rémült lányt… 

Harlequin, Hungary

ALL' IMPROVVISO UN MILIONARIO

Lucy Bright si trova in un mare di guai: inseguita dagli scagnozzi del fidanzato non sa dove rifugiarsi. Il suo volto è troppo noto. Non le resta che confondersi tra la folla dei grandi magazzini più esclusivi di Londra, dove di certo nessuno guarderà una donna in cappotto rosso e con le scarpe in mano.
Nathaniel Hart è proprietario e direttore generale dei grandi magazzini Hastings & Hart. Tutto ciò che succede nei suoi locali non sfugge al suo occhio vigile, così non può fare a meno di notare il comportamento insolito di quella bellissima e misteriosa bionda. Chi è e perché si guarda intorno con aria impaurita? Ma la vera domanda è: perché dopo un solo fugace incontro lui non riesce più a togliersela dalla testa?

Harlequin, Italy

Idylle dans le désert

Ressembler trait pour trait à Lady Rose a toujours été un atout pour Lydia. Un atout qui se transforme même en conte de fées quand la princesse lui demande de passer, à sa place, une semaine de rêve dans le désert. Seulement, dès que Lydia croise le regard de jais de Kalil al-Zaki, le prince chargé de l'escorter à Bab el Sama, elle sent le trouble la gagner. Comment, dans ce décor des Mille et une Nuits, résister à cet homme fabuleux ? Comment, alors que tout son être brûle de mieux le connaître, ne pas lui révéler la femme qu'elle est vraiment ?

Harlequin, France

Lucy Bright nie wierzyła własnemu szczęściu, gdy ona – zwykła sekretarka – została narzeczoną multimilionera. Niestety okazało się, że ich związek to jedynie trick medialny. Na konferencji prasowej Lucy zrywa z „narzeczonym”, a uciekając przed dziennikarzami, wpada w ramiona przystojnego Nathaniela Harta. Kiedy Lucy znika w tłumie, Nathaniel postanawia za wszelką cenę ją odnaleźć. Czy pomoże mu w tym jej zgubiony czerwony pantofelek?

Harlequin, Poland

Lucy Gordon/Liz Fielding 

Från att ha varit modeoraklet Rupert Henshawes sekreterare är Lucy Bright nu plötsligt innefolkets favorit – och det stundande äktenskapet med honom har verkligen fört henne till himmelriket. Men då Lucy upptäcker att Ruperts intresse för henne egentligen bara är en väl genomtänkt pr-kupp inser hon att hon är grundlurad. Efter en presskonferens hon helst av allt vill glömma flyr hon förkrossad fältet, och var kan man bättre gömma sig än på ett varuhus där julhandeln pågår för fullt? Lucys hjärta är krossat, men när hon av en slump hamnar i famnen på en annan man verkar det som om det finns en chans till ett lyckligt slut ...

Harlequin, Sweden

Ein Traummann zu Weihnachten?

Lucy fühlt sich wie im Märchen. Verkleidet als Cinderella, findet sie sich plötzlich an der Seite eines reichen Geschäftsmannes wieder. Doch dann entdeckt sie: Es ist alles eine Publicity-Maßnahme, um dessen schlechten Ruf aufzupolieren. Schockiert will sie den aufdringlichen Reportern entkommen – und läuft dem attraktiven Londoner Unternehmer Nathaniel Hart in die Arme. Vom ersten Moment an lässt er ihr Herz höher schlagen. Aber kaum glaubt Lucy, endlich ihren Traummann gefunden zu haben, muss sie ausgerechnet an Weihnachten fürchten: Nathaniel sucht nur eine Affäre
… 

Harlequin, Germany

A SURPRISE CHRISTMAS PROPOSAL

Her Christmas gift came in a small velvet box...

"Isn't it strange how things turn out? A week ago I was virtually jobless, almost homeless, and had totally sworn off men--a sad way to be before Christmas, don't you think? Now I'm not only working for the most gorgeous man alive, but I'm living in his house!"

Meet sassy, smiley Sophie Harrington. Read in her own words how a much-needed job brings her up close and personal with rugged bachelor Gabriel York. Although Sophie is hardly a waif or stray, Gabriel ends up taking her in as a temporary lodger in his exclusive London home. How long before he realizes Sophie isn't just for Christmas--but for life...?

Harlequin, North America

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

Tema:Amores prohibidos

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

ITALIAN FOOD

I promised you food to go with my Italian book and here Sarah and Matteo share lunch, starting with one of my favourites - antipasto.
Most cuisines have this lovely pick and mix starter - I had some wonderful mezza when I lived in the Middle East.
But wonderful spicy meats, sun dried tomatoes, artichoke hearts, olives and creamy cheese served with fresh ciabatta on a shady terrace - perfect bliss.


There was a pause while Graziella brought antipasto for them to graze on and Matteo opened a bottle of the golden sparkling wine that was the pride of the Serrone vineyard.

‘You must taste this,’ he said, pouring a little into a second glass before she could refuse. ‘The grape variety was bred by my grandfather. It was his lifetime’s work.’ He swirled the wine around his own glass to release the aromas, encouraging her to do the same. ‘There is a scent of herbs…’ — he took a mouthful, taking his time to allow the flavours to develop — ‘… and a honeyed aftertaste, enriching the peach and melon flavours of the classic Frascati. It reflects everything that is Isola del Serrone.’

‘You a clearly passionate about it.’

‘A man must be passionate about something. My grandfather produced the flavour, my task is to improve yield and disease resistance for the next generation.’ If only on a part-time basis. ‘The Serrone vines have always been grown organically.’

She took a sip – how could she possibly refuse after that? – and her smile was unforced. 

‘It’s delicious. Like drinking a summer’s day.’

She couldn’t have said anything more calculated to charm him. He would need to be very careful.

‘I’d have to pay an advertising agency a fortune to come up with something that good.’  He picked up the servers and piling cold meat, artichoke hearts, sun dried tomatoes, olives onto her plate.  ‘How much will it cost me to quote you?’  

‘A piece of that bread?’  Then, as he cut into the freshly baked ciabatta, ‘I thought the vineyard was run by a co-operative.  I looked up Isola del Serrone on the internet,’ she explained, as she picked up a fork.  ‘Maybe I misunderstood?  I clicked on the translation device but the language was a bit mangled.  Or perhaps there’s more than one vineyard?’

‘You didn’t misunderstand.’ He filled his own plate. ‘My great-grandfather set up the co-operative after the war.  He wanted to rebuild the community. Give the villagers a share in what it produced after all they had suffered. Give the young men a reason to stay on the land rather than join the stampede to the factories in the north.’

‘Was he here?  During the war,’ she asked.
Again, not the kind of question he expected...


Next time it will be the pasta.

So what is your favourite Italian food? Spicy sauces, fabulous ices?  Do you have a favourite recipe? Do share!

WRITING ITALY

I've been so busy the last couple of weeks, mentoring my New Voices finalist, putting the final finishing touches to THE LAST WOMAN HE'D EVER DATE and getting stuck into a non-fic project I'm working on.  More of that later.

But I have new book on the blocks. FLIRTING WITH ITALIAN is now available online from Mills and Boon (you can read the first chapter here) and from Harlequin in paper and eBook format.

You'll probably have to wait a couple of weeks for delivery from any of the other online outlets, or retail, but I thought it was time to make you better acquainted with the setting. Well, there's Rome. Hard to say anything about the city that's new. It is just, amazing.

The secondary location in the book, Isola del Serrone, a large village in a wine-producing area south east of Rome, is a figment of my imagination based on my own visits to the area.

I love this picture, which seems to encapsulate those large villages and small towns I visited when I was in Italy. Narrow alleys, beautiful golden squares, so much unimaginable age.

In Italy, history is not so much a tourist destination as part of life.  And the Romans, in many places, are just Johnny-come-lately types.  Where I stayed with friends, they speak a dialect which is an older language than Latin.

It's a new world for Sarah Gratton who, newly single, is picking up the threads of the life she had abandoned for the "perfect job" the "perfect man".  Travelling, teaching abroad. And her much loved great-grandfather, knowing how much she is hurting, tells her not to look back but forward, and gives her a little advice:

Sarah started as Lex took her hand. 
            ‘It’s not far,’ she told him. ‘I’ll be home for visits so often you’ll be sick of me.  Half term.  The holidays.’

     ‘      What for?  To see an old man?’ His gesture was dismissive. ‘Don’t waste your time or your money.  Enjoy Italy while you have the chance.’

‘I’ll have plenty of time to see everything.’ And could travel with the money she’d been saving for her wedding, for the big dress.  Her share of the deposit they had been saving for a house. One with a garden for the children they would have one day.    

‘There’s never enough time,’ he warned her. ‘Your life goes by in a flash. Enjoy every minute of it.’

‘Of course,’ she said, on automatic.

‘No, I mean really enjoy it.’ He regarded her with that thoughtful gaze that his patients would have recognised when he had still been in practice. The one that saw through the “headaches” to the real problem. 'I prescribe an affair. No falling in love, breaking your heart stuff, mind.  Nothing serious,’ he warned. ‘A just-for-fun romance with some dark-eyed Italian. A memory to make you smile rather than weep. To keep you warm at night when you’re old.’

He's speaking from the heart and when she goes in search of his own memory, she finds Matteo di Serrone.
What do you think? Does he fit the bill?

WEDDED IN A WHIRLWIND

I'm delighted to announce that Trish from Australia is the winner of my website competition for an advance, hardback edition of WEDDED IN A WHIRLWIND, which isn't published in paperback until November in the US and UK and December in Australia. Many thanks to everyone else who took part.


TRANSLATIONS...

It's always fun to have the books translated into another language. Last September, when I was in Italy, it was The Secret Life of Lady Gabriella that was on sale and I was able to stop by the kiosks and say hello.

This year The Bride's Baby will be published in Italy in September. I'll be in Guernsey, doing my mother of the bride bit this year, so if you're lucky enough to be in Bella Italia, look out for it at those little green kiosks and say hello.

NOZZE ALL'INGLESE

Quando si è messa a organizzare un evento speciale come un matrimonio fiabesco non credeva che la sposa sarebbe stata lei!

Allestire eventi è la specialità di Sylvie Smith e inscenare un matrimonio da sogno le pare una buona idea per raccogliere fondi per una causa benefica. Certo, impersonare la parte della sposa lo rende un po' più personale, anche perché Longbourne Court, la dimora ancestrale teatro dell'avvenimento, un tempo apparteneva proprio a lei. Prima di diventare appannaggio di Tom McFarlane.

Bello, affascinante e ricchissimo Tom ha più di una cosa in comune con Sylvie. Entrambi amano la campagna inglese ed entrambi credono nella chimica immediata tra uomo e donna. Come è successo a loro due, cinque mesi prima...

For more, click here

And on Wednesday, Trish Wylie will be here to talk about her latest book -- don't miss it!

Oh, and it's ...

HUGH JACKMAN DAY!

PIN UPS, HEROES AND ITALY

One of my loops is attempting to compile a list of the fifty most fanciable men. I am ashamed to admit that I didn't recognise a lot of the names, but the serious drooling that was going on over Richard Armitage sent me to his web page hoping that he might just might prove a lookalike for the hero-in-progress.

He's not a match but I thought I'd post a photograph anyway. Just for you. :)



MORE ITALY

This gate is four thousand years old. It was on the dh's "most want to see" list but he wasn't sure where it was, then on a trip to Castell del Cyclope he turned around and there it was. Magic.

That's him looking v. small beneath it. And the walls, glimpsed behind, were all constructed of blocks of stone that size. Four thousand years ago. On the top of a mountain. Amazing.


This is the view from the castle. That's Arpino on the hilltop below -- we went there last year and thought that was pretty high up. It's where Marius and Cicero were born (and Cicero was murdered for those of you who watched "Rome").









And these are some olives in situ on the tree.


Travelling on the train from Rome to Bari we saw millions of olive trees. And thousands of buffalo, too. And both the Mediterranean and the Adriatic. It took five hours but I really enjoyed it. I'd have enjoyed it a lot more if I'd had a decent book.

This one offers a master-class in how not to write dialogue -- even Victorian dialogue.





AND THANK YOU

Finally a huge thank you to everyone who commented on the branding issue. I was overwhelmed by the wonderful things that you all said -- to be compared to chocolate, words fail me. Or maybe not.

"Liz Fielding -- surprisingly better than chocolate..."

It's not exactly snappy is it? I begin to see why they pay experts six figure sums to come up with this kind of slogan.