RIVA LAUNCH

STOP PRESS - Winner of Kimberly Lang's book is Sunnymay!

LIVE LIFE TO THE FULL - GIVE IN TO TEMPTATION!

I hope you have been - giving into the temptation of these fabulous books, that is - whether ordering online, picking them up at your favourite store (there's a special Pop-Up store in Selfridges for those of you lucky enough to be within striking distance of Oxford Street) or, those of you who found an eReader under your tree, downloading them for instant satisfaction.

My final guest for this launch party, and one of my own favourite authors, is the wonderful

Jessica Hart, who had a huge hit with her bestselling book OH-SO-SENSIBLE SECRETARY last year which brought this praise from Wendy, the Super Librarian reviewing on The Good, The Bad and the Unread...

"I loved this story. I loved it so much I want to marry it, have babies with it, and toss all my other books out the window so I can reread again without feeling TBR Guilt. I firmly believe that category romance, done right, is one of the most joyous reading experiences a romance reader can have. That’s what I felt when I finished this story. Pure, unadulterated joy. It’s simply, breathtakingly wonderful."

Those of you who read OSSS, will remember Phin's work-obsessed older brother, Lex.  For her launch book for Riva, Jessica has brought him back, taking him way out of his comfort zone with JUGGLING BRIEFCASE AND BABY.  But I'll leave her to tell you all about it.

Welcome, Jessica -

January is all about fresh new starts: new year, new resolutions (or in my case, old ones that I never got round to keeping last year, mostly involving getting fitter, dropping two dress sizes and being more disciplined on all fronts) - and now a new imprint from Mills & Boon, too.

Thanks to Liz, you’ve already heard from Kelly, Nicola and Kim, and seen the new covers – and here’s mine, the last in the launch month. I’m not mad about the pink, I must confess, and my hero, Lex, would never wear a pink tie (he’s much too buttoned up for that) but otherwise, this cover does what it’s supposed to do: it tells you what kind of romance you’re going to get.

The RIVA covers shout contemporary stories, with contemporary settings. In the case of Juggling Briefcase & Baby, there’s a hint, too, of the story’s hooks, the elements of a story that readers either love or loathe: the shoes and the glimpse of a teddy bear tell you there’s going to be a baby, while the briefcase in the title and the tie (maybe) point to the office setting. Actually, Juggling Briefcase & Baby is also a reunion story, and it has a ‘marriage of convenience’ hook. Excessive? Moi????

When I start writing a book, I usually begin with the hooks, but in the case of Juggling Briefcase & Baby I already knew my hero. I love reading (and writing!) stories with linked characters, and Lex first appeared as Phin’s stern, workaholic brother in Oh-So-Sensible Secretary. He was supposed to have an off-stage role, but somehow he became a character, and all the time I was writing Phin and Summer’s story, I was thinking about how much Lex, too, deserved a happy ending, and wondering what had made him the kind of man he was.

Juggling Briefcase & Baby is Lex’s story at last. Lex is a man who has learnt to keep his emotions well-hidden. Only once has he let his guard down, for one passionate week with free-spirited Romy, and he has vowed never to leave himself that vulnerable again. Now Romy is back, and she’s not alone: she has a baby daughter, Freya, and between them they’re going to turn Lex’s carefully ordered world upside down ...

What makes you pick up a story? Do you love sheikhs but pass over any story that features a baby or an older heroine? Hate royals and offices romances but pick up anything with an exotic setting? What about cowboys, reunions, friends into lovers, secret babies, city girls, Christmas or, my own personal favourite, the ‘marriage of convenience’ hook?

You can read an extract of Juggling Briefcase & Baby below, and if you’d like to win a copy of the whole book, why not leave a comment telling me about your favourite hooks?

‘HELLO,’ said Lex, dropping the credit card statement he’d been studying onto the worktop. There was no mistaking the coolness in Romy’s voice, and he eyed her warily. ‘How did you get on today?’

‘Well, I spent most of it accepting commiserations about having to spend three whole days with you,’ said Romy. She moved past him to start clearing up the debris from Freya’s supper. ‘Having seen the way you barely recognised me in that meeting, they all think you ignored me the whole time. If you want word to get round that we’re a couple, you’re going to have to try harder than that!’

Lex wrenched at his tie to loosen it. ‘I thought we’d decided not to make an announcement?’

‘Yes, because we want people to guess and start gossiping. They’re never going to guess if you look through me and have trouble remembering my name! You had the perfect opportunity to hint that you think I’m special, but no! She was very helpful,’ Romy mimicked his austere tones as she scraped the last few pieces of pasta from Freya’s bowl and let the bin close with a rattle. ‘Was that really the best you could do?’

‘What did you want me to do? Throw you across the table and ravish you in front of all your colleagues?’

‘A smile would have done it.’ Romy began closing packets and putting everything away. ‘That would have been so unusual they’d all have twigged straight away that there was something going on. As it was, none of them have a clue!’

‘Well, I’m sorry,’ said Lex stiffly, ‘but it felt awkward.’

‘You can say that again. I’m now the person who can spend three days with her boss without him realising that I even exist!’

Lex rolled his shoulders uncomfortably. ‘I suppose I was thrown,’ he admitted. ‘I knew you’d be there, of course, but it was … odd … seeing you in a work context.’

A little mollified, Romy wrung out a cloth and wiped down the counter. ‘I’d say you’d have to try harder next time, but we’re not likely to have another meeting together, are we? We managed to work in the same office for six months without even seeing each other. I wonder if we should go in together for a few days? Someone is bound to notice that.’

Lex was usually at the office by seven o’clock, but the next morning found him walking into the gleaming reception area with Romy almost two hours later. Normally, he would stride straight to the lifts, with a brief nod of acknowledgement to whoever was on reception. There weren’t many other people around at that time and that was the way Lex liked it.

Now he felt extraordinarily self-conscious. Although no one actually stopped and pointed, he could tell that his arrival with Romy – and a pushchair! – had indeed been noted and would provide food for much comment and speculation by the coffee machines that morning.

‘Well,’ said Romy awkwardly. ‘I’d … er, … I’d better take Freya to the crèche.’ Burningly aware of the covert stares in her direction – why on earth had she suggested this? – she mustered a smile. ‘See you later.’

‘Do you think I should kiss you?’ Lex muttered and her heart promptly performed a back flip that threw out her breathing completely.

‘Kiss me?’

‘We’re making an exhibition of ourselves just by standing here,’ he said, still talking out of the corner of his mouth. ‘We might as well really give them all something to talk about. You were the one keen to get the message across that I know you exist. I mean, that’s what couples do, isn’t it?’ he added when she hesitated. ‘Kiss each other goodbye?’

Romy swallowed. ‘Usually just a peck on the lips.’

‘I wasn’t thinking of sweeping you into my arms!’

Her colour deepened at the sardonic note in his voice. ‘Of course not.’ She cleared her throat. ‘OK, then.’

Lex put a hand at the small of her back to draw her closer and she lifted her face. It was ridiculous. They had kissed before. This would just be a brief brush of the lips.

But still her pulse was booming so loudly that the hubbub in reception faded to nothing in comparison, and when he pressed his mouth to hers, her hand rose instinctively to clutched at his sleeve of his jacket. The polished marble floor still seemed to drop away beneath her feet, and she was still intensely aware of the firmness and warmth of his lips, of the steely strength of his arm.

And when Lex lifted his head, she still felt hot and dizzy.

Lex’s expression was impenetrable as he let her go. ‘See you tonight,’ he said coolly and walked off to the lifts, leaving Romy to make her way to the crèche with burning cheeks.

***

Fabulous, Jessica.  I can't wait to read it.  So, have you actually seen one of the new covers?  They have an interesting new gloss/matt finish as I discovered when my copies arrived this week (after a long wait due to the snow!).  You'll find them all on the Mills & Boon website where you'll also find a longer excerpt from JB&BC by clicking on the "browse" link below.  Don't forget to come back and tell Jessica what you think for your chance to win a copy of her book.  (And don't forget to come back and check if you've won!)

From the book: Juggling Briefcase & Baby
By: Jessica Hart
Imprint and series: Harlequin Romance™
Copyright © 2010
By: Jessica Hart
® and ™ are trademarks of the publisher.
The edition published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.
For more romance information surf to: http://www.eHarlequin.c

WINNER!

Thanks everyone, for taking part in last week's competition.  It was great fun reading all the entries;  there is a lot of imagination and talent out there.

Congratulations to Linda S, who  won the draw for a copy of Kate Walker's 12 Point Guide to Writing Romance.  I know she'll gain a lot from this terrific book.

The big news on the book front this week is the launch of Mills & Boon new RIVA imprint in the UK.  The strap line,

"Live life to the full - give in to temptation"

says it all. :)

This is an entirely new range of books that is all about "voice" rather than a prescribed level of sexuality.  About modern young women and their lives.  And in June this year you'll find my "ice cream" book, Tempted by Trouble, appearing in this new livery.

The books are available now at Mills and Boon's website and will be in the stores in January. But I'll bet you can't wait to treat yourself for Christmas to Jessica Hart's follow up to last year's sensational Oh So Sensible Secretary.

RELEASE DAY!

It's always a special day when a book finally leaves the nest and passes into the hands of readers. I know that those of you who are members of the Readers Service clubs in both the US and the UK are way ahead of me here (I get my copies about the same time as you do!), but from today A WEDDING AT LEOPARD TREE LODGE will be available to buy online from Mills & Boon and eHarlequin and also to download.

The eBook revolution has been really good news for Mills & Boon in the UK. The Daily Mail has been reporting - a story picked up by news media everywhere - that there has been a boom in sales fired by young women who adore the books but are intimidated by the sneering attitude so often encountered by the genre. One young women on Twitter was so embarrassed by the attitude of the sales clerk at her book store recently that she now does all her buying online.

Great sales technique, guys. You don't like what I read? Bite me...

But enough with that. Today is for celebrating. And here's the story. Josie Fowler, who first graced the pages of THE BRIDE'S BABY (still available for a free download to your computer or eBook if you missed it at Try Harlequin) is now a partner in SDS Events, although things aren't that great. Everyone still wants Sylvie, but she's on maternity leave and when the celebrity wedding of the year starts to go off the rails and the bride sacks snooty wedding designer, Serafina March, Josie gets her chance.

The world's most famous footballer and his lovely bride have chosen the idyllic Leopard Tree Lodge as the setting for their wedding ceremony. Set beside the Chobe river in Botswana, it is game viewing paradise. And while you're not getting acquainted with the wildlife, there is every luxury to make your vacation special.

All the arrangements have been made. Josie's job is simply to ensure that everything runs without a hitch.

Pause here for hollow laughter.

Hitch number one comes in the shape of Gideon McGrath.

He's the guest occupying the bridal suite and he isn't moving any time soon. Not for want of trying. He doesn't want to be there. His back has other plans.

There's also the difficulty of having more guests than beds due a bust up between the best man and the chief bridesmaid. And then there's the small matter of the... But why am I telling you all this? You don't want me spoiling all the fun. And of course there is an excerpt on my newly updated website along with a picture of that troublemaker Gideon McGrath and of course, Josie.

Just to add to my whoop-de-do mood, here's what Romantic Times had to say about the book.

A WEDDING AT LEOPARD TREE LODGE (4.5) A gorgeous setting, a sigh-worthy hero and a unique heroine who matches him quip for quip add up to a superb read.

* * *

Oh, and while you're online buying the book, if you haven't already bought it you might want to try Jessica Hart's Oh So Sensible Secretary (written in the first person and just the most perfect romance)

And finally, don't forget to vote here for the Authors Blog Awards 2010!