THE SHEIKH'S UNSUITABLE BRIDE

Liz, who is apparently busy sorting out some other guy's life, has asked me to drop by and tell you that the story of how Diana and I became the luckiest people alive -- her 50th book, don't forget -- is now sold out at Mills & Boon's website.

There may be a few copies left in the shops -- but only until Friday when the February books will be on display. Diana urges you not to miss out, she doesn't want you paying outrageous postage charges to get it from Amazon!

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 GIVEAWAY

DAY TWENTY-FOUR

DECEMBER 24TH

"Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the house..."

Actually I saw a mouse the other day. It nipped up on to the stoop, bold as brass, and helped itself to a snack from the crumbs left out for the half-tame robin that visits every day. He should look out for the neighbourhood cat who's also started dropping by looking for tasty snacks!

Catching up with the news, Elsje in South Africa won THE BABY PLAN. I posted a load of books yesterday to winners not just for the Advent Calendar giveaway, but for Kate Walker's Christmas Stocking, too. I hope they all arrive safely.

Behind the door today is THE SHEIKH'S GUARDED HEART. A grieving man, a desperate woman saved from certain death, and a beautiful garden. Lucy owes her life to Sheikh Hanif and sets about healing his heart, as he has healed her body.

And Hanif's young cousin, Sheikh Zahir, makes his first appearance, too. This is the moment when his feet are set on the path that will eventually take him to London and his meeting with Diana Metcalfe, a highly unsuitable bride for a sheikh...

For a chance to read this story, email me at liz @lizfielding.com with Day Twenty-Four in the subject line and your name and address in the body. And tell me the most memorable Christmas gift you ever received.

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!

THE GREAT ADVENT CALENDAR GIVEAWAY

DAY 17

December 17th

Hi, sorry I've been leaving Liz to get on with the competition, especially since she's been so busy. But I've needed time to think.

I've been letting my life drift on without me for the last couple of years, but now I realise that I have to take control, drive my dreams. Reach for the stars. But I'm going to miss this beautiful place.





So, back to business. Laurie in Canada won the copy of BITTERSWEET DECEPTION and the book is on its way to her. The answers, of course, were Eloping With Emmy and The Secret Life of Lady Gabriella (no, Liz didn't suddenly start writing historical romances -- it was an "experimental" title, getting away from the brides, babies, thing.)


Anyway, today we've got another of Liz's Rita short-listed books, CITY GIRL IN TRAINING. This one was a bit of a ground-breaker. Her first "first-person" book. (A Surprise Christmas Proposal was the other.)


In this Philly, levered out of the nest by her globe-trotting parents, waves a reluctant goodbye to the boy next door and heads for the city lights, a new job and new flatmates and immediately gets into trouble.

And then more trouble.

And then again...

Fortunately, she's met Cal. Another "boy next door" -- except Cal isn't a boy. Far from it. He's a great big hunk of a man. Not that he's ever going to be interested in Philly because he's gay.

This is the book that Presents author Susan Stephens famously burned the Sunday lunch when she couldn't put it down.

You have been warned.

You want to win this book? Of course you do. Just send an email to liz @lizfielding.com with Day Seventeen in the subject line, your name and address in the body of the email and the answer to this question. Liz has won three awards for her books. Two of them were RITAS, what was the other one? It's on the website!

THE GREAT ADVENT CALENDAR GIVEAWAY

DAY FIFTEEN

December 15th

Diana sent me a picture she took on her cell phone. The lily pool, just a glimpse of the pavilion deck, can't see the fig tree though -- have you ever had fresh figs for breakfast? Scrummy...


And no Zahir.


He's struggling with the needs of family, duty, tradition. He's already gone his own way in his career -- commerce was always more appealing than diplomacy. Now, in the question of marriage he has committed himself to the path of duty.


But that was before he met Diana and while his cousin Han eased his path once before, this time he's on his own.


Meanwhile, he's made a bit of a hit around the blogs. The Pink Heart Society even featured him as their Male on Monday this week. Enough to gladden a sheikh's heart, wouldn't you say?



Oh, and I have a correction to my previous post. It wasn't Snookie who has read nearly all my books, it's Penn. (Although Snookie has read a lot!) Hopefully, now Miranda and Jago's story has left my desk, the brain will return to normal function.

You all got yesterday's question right and the winner of yesterday's draw, is Jennifer, from Georgia who wins the copy of The Billionaire Takes a Bride. It's on its way, Jennifer!


So on to Day 15, and behind the door is another early Liz Fielding, BITTERSWEET DECEPTION. Kate has been offered a job that's the answer to her prayers, but you just know it's not going to be that easy, don't you? The nice old lady who interviewed her as a nephew. Kate has already met Jay Warwick and is in no rush to repeat the experience...


This is the book I set in Norfolk (UK), using the lovely Blickling Hall, owned by the National Trust, as the basis for my fictional stately home. We used to live in a lovely old house on the estate, and some of the details of the garden in this book were based on my own.


To win this book send me an email at liz @lizfielding.com with Day Fifteen in the subject line, your name and address in the body of the text with the name of one of my books with a girl's name in the title. (Hint, there's more than one!)

THE GREAT ADVENT CALENDAR GIVEAWAY

DAY THIRTEEN

13th December

In my culture a man marries from the women his family choose for him. Someone who will be the mother of his sons. Who he will respect, honour, insh'Allah grow to love. I have kept my father waiting too long for the grandson he desires. My sisters email me daily with details of the brides my mother believes will be suitable. They have each have their favourites but so far none of them has chestnut curls, green eyes, a smile that would torment a saint....


Oh, good grief, the man is bewitched. Go choose your bride, Zahir. Shula al-Attiyah, educated, smart... Your mother knows what she's doing. By the way, I found a review for The Sheikh's Unsuitable Bride on Romance Readers at Heart, today. They said your story was "sublimely entertaining", doesn't that make you feel good? And your picture is turning up all over the blogs. Your sister is right, by the way, Adina al-Thani does have have lovely hair...

Okay, back to the real world, where we're more interested in who won Day Eleven of the draw. THE ORDINARY PRINCESS is right now on its way to Snookie in Hawaii. Of course we're into the Christmas blockage so who knows when it will arrive. The answer, by the way -- Eddie Albert was Gregory Peck's partner in deception in Roman Holiday.

Today, behind the little door, is THE BILLIONAIRE TAKES A BRIDE. The one with the totally incompetent cat-burglar, a billionaire who can be distracted from seven-denier black stockings by problems in A computer program, a friend who will get you into trouble at the drop of a hat. And dedicated to the eHarlequin Writers Circle and Hamster Auxillary. Hector, aka the Trojan Hamster, was a big hit on the eHarlequin Message Boards.

Want to win this book? Email me at liz @ lizfielding.com with Day Thirteen in the subject line, your name and address in the body of the email and the answer to this question. How many titles have I published that begin with the word "Her"!

I'm on the last scene in the wip. Tomorrow, finished or not, it has to be on my editor's desk.

Confidence is high...

Say it often enough and I might even believe it.

THE GREAT ADVENT CALENDAR GIVEAWAY

DAY ELEVEN

11th December

Okay, guys, Zahir is trying to do the honourable thing, Diana is lying low and Sadie is under siege so you're just going to have to put up with me today. Or you could take a peek at the Harlequin Romance Authors Blog where there's a Spotlight on Lucy Gordon. But not, of course, before you've checked out the Advent Calendar.

First, you'll want to know the winner of Day Nine, AND MOTHER MAKES THREE. The book went to Cryna, in Calgary. Congratulations, Cryna, the book is on its way.


Behind the door today is THE ORDINARY PRINCESS.

I'm always being asked where I get my ideas from and mostly it's a bit of this and bit of that. But with this one there's no doubt. Audrey Hepburn, Gregory Peck -- ROMAN HOLIDAY.

Of course there's a twist. In this story it's the heroine who's telling the prince he needs a break from royal duties. Of course she has An Ulterior Motive. You just know it's all going to end in tears.

For a chance to win the book and find out what happens, send me an email at liz @lizfielding.com with Day Eleven in the subject line, your name and address in the body of the text and oh, the name of the other actor in Roman Holiday, Gregory Peck's partner in deception.

See you tomorrow!

THE GREAT ADVENT CALENDAR GIVEAWAY

DAY TEN

10th December

I am Zahir al Khalid and Liz has asked me to reassure you that Diana is safe. She is! I swear it!

Look, I know what you're all thinking. That I'm some kind of unresconstructed nineteenth century throwback who's kidnapped Diana and carried her off and installed her as part of my hareem.

Oh, please. That word. Peel your eyebrows off the ceiling...


I'd stay and give you a language lesson, but I don't have time. I'm in London to launch my new airline. Diana and I... Well, I have to go home and choose a suitable bride. As for Diana, she's made it clear that she has her own life. Which is good. I'm happy for her. Really... And she'll be home as soon as all the fuss has died down. On my honour.

Since she's busy Liz has also asked me to draw the winner of the Day Eight question. The answer was The Temp & the Tycoon -- it's right there on the sidebar of the blog, except apparently the picture has disappeared for some unaccountable reason -- and it was Christy, in Utah, whose name I drew from the hat. Congratulations, Christy. Liz will post the book first thing on Monday morning.

Behind Day Ten in this Advent Calendar I have found this book.


WILD JUSTICE, Liz tells me was the first book of three longer books about the Beaumont sisters. There was supposed to be only one, but her publisher liked Fizz's story so much she asked her to write stories about her sisters, too (WILD LADY and WILD FIRE). This, apparently is Liz's last spare copy of all three volumes and she's offering it to you.

She's asked me to set the question and so I'll ask you this. Liz tells me that she has written two previous novels with a sheikh as the hero. I would like you to tell me what they are called.

Please send your answer to liz @lizfielding.com with Day Ten in the subject line and your name and address in the body. And if you'd like to receive the first chapter of my own story, tell Liz and she'll email it to you.

Now, if you will forgive me, I have a press conference to attend.

THE GREAT ADVENT CALENDAR GIVEAWAY

DAY SEVEN

7th December

You all think Sheikh Zahir is hot...

You are so right. He’s hotter than bird’s eye chillies. And funny, too. And oceans deep. And last night… Well, last night I realised that I’ve got to stop this right now. Whatever this is.

Best chauffeur uniform. Hat on straight. No more talking. Or anything else. I might be the nearest thing to Cinderella that Sheikh Zahir has ever met, but there are no fairy godmothers going to fix this one for me. I’m a mother. I have responsibilities. It’s making a life for Freddy that’s important and I need this job.

Right. So where was I?

Day Five. You all got Sophie Harrington as the heroine of A SURPRISE CHRISTMAS PROPOSAL and congratulations go to Therese, whose name came out of the hat. Your prize, THE BEST MAN & THE BRIDESMAID is on its way to you in Australia, Therese; have fun with the ducky Daisy and the totally gorgeous Robert.

And now it’s time to open the door to Day Seven. Here we go and it’s -- A NANNY FOR KEEPS.

Ah, now, this book is a good old-fashioned fairy story. Jacqui Moore is on the run from the job she loves. She can’t bear the thought of getting close to another child only to lose that love in the space of a heartbeat. But she’s conned into doing one last “universal aunt” run for her friend's nanny agency, delivering Maisie to her grandma on her way to the airport.

The child is a total princess, the grandmother is not there and, having climbed the big nasty hill in her precious, but aged, “Beetle”, Jacqui finds herself faced with the magnificent, scarred (and scary) local giant, Harry Talbot.

Here’s a little quote from the front of the book:

“He was beautiful. Lean to the bone, hard , sculptured, his was the kind of body artists used for their life classes.

“Which made the scars lacerating his back, scars which he hadn’t moved quickly enough to hide from her, all the more terrible.

“Without thinking, she reached out as if to touch him, take the pain into her own body.”

Mmmm… Liz said, “Jack & the Beanstalk”. I’m thinking maybe “Beauty & the Beast”.

For a chance to win the book and make up your own mind about that, email Liz at liz @lizfielding.com with Day Seven in the subject line, your name and address in the body and the answer to today’s question, which is: Which fellow "Harlequin Romance" author designed and maintains Liz's website? You'll find the answer here.

THE GREAT ADVENT CALENDAR GIVEAWAY

DAY SIX

6th December

Liz insisted that you’re all dying to know what Sheikh Zahir looks like; that I can’t be greedy and keep him to myself.



Actually, what she really said is that you only come here to ogle pictures of good looking men. I can’t believe that’s true. Honestly.

Oh, go on then!

How Liz managed to get a photograph of Sheikh Zahir I have no idea -- and she's not telling -- but if she thinks she’s getting back, she can think again. I’ve got a little memory box where this is going be right at home.

It doesn’t mean anything, of course, but…

But enough with the drooling. I’m here to keep you posted on the latest happenings in the Advent Calendar draw.


Amanda Edmond’s name was drawn as the lucky winner of HIS RUNAWAY BRIDE. She’s living on her own paradise island out in the middle of the Indian Ocean -- I wonder how long the post takes to get there?

Not won yet? Do not worry – there are still twenty days, and twenty books, to go. Plenty of time. And today, behind the little door is INSTANT FIRE.

Oh, whew. Fanning myself here. Did I mention how, back in the days when all the covers were different colours, you could tell just how steamy a book was by the colour?


Well, in the UK, this book had a purple cover. This, I have to tell you, is the book that wasn’t released in Australia because it was too steamy for “Romance”.

Joanne, whose story this is, is a civil engineer. Clay Thackeray is a dangerously good looking entrepreneur and the question Jo needs to ask herself is this. Does he want her for herself? Or is it the attraction that nice parcel of shares her father left her? Somehow, when he’s kissing her, it doesn’t seem to matter, but you know what they say? Marry in haste…

If you want to find out what Clay really wants – and whether he gets it -- then email Liz at liz @lizfielding.com, with Day Six in the subject line, your name and address in the body and the answer to today’s question. What is the name of The Trojan Hamster? The answer’s on her website!

THE GREAT ADVENT CALENDAR GIVEAWAY

DAY FOUR

4th December

HIS RUNAWAY BRIDE

Lovely Snookie said my face was fine – she’s so sweet! -- but my mother always says that we should never overdo a good thing! She’s a flower arranger, by the way and works incredibly hard, especially since my Dad had a stroke.

He’s doing fine now and is great with Freddy – picking him up from school when I’m working -- and I’m having to rely on him a lot this week while I’m driving Sheikh Zahir all over the place. Nine to five it’s not! I’m parked up outside his hotel right now, waiting to take him to some fancy reception this evening.

I wonder if I’ve got time to get a sandwich…

But back to business. No one got the answer to the Day Two question right. (It was Berkshire, btw, and the answer was in the front of the books, guys!) Karen, in Reading , won A STRANGER’S KISS from Day Two and it’s in the post right now. Enjoy, Karen. And when you get to the bit with the pearls I can tell you, in confidence, that Liz based them on the pearl earrings her best beloved bought her when their little girl was born -- also in Bahrain. (That's the same little girl who will be wearing them when she gets married in a few months time!)

Here we are at Day Four already and behind the door today is … HIS RUNAWAY BRIDE.

On the back of the book it says that Willow and Mike can’t decide who’s most relieved when each jilts the other at the altar. I bet that caused a bit of a stir. The bride not turning up is one thing, but the groom doing a runner, too... Eek.

I wonder what happened to all that food. Sorry, sorry, but I’m starving… And I wonder why they ran? I mean they must have been in love if it got as far as a cathedral wedding. Those things take a bit of organising -- my mother does flowers for those things and she could tell you a tale or two. But weddings can be very stressful. At least so I’ve heard.

Anyway, if you want a chance to find out what happens next, send an email to liz @lizfielding.com (no gaps) with Day Four in the subject line, your name and address in the body of the text and the answer to today's question which is: What is the title of Liz's first book? You’ll find the answer on her website -- and while you’re there you can check out my first encounter with Sheikh Zahir. That oops, golly, wotsit moment.

See you tomorrow!

THE GREAT ADVENT CALENDAR GIVEAWAY

DAY TWO

2nd December

First, Liz has asked me to give you some news. Kathleen, in Florida, won the BRIDES FOR CHRISTMAS competition, lucky thing. Congratulations, Kathleen, the book will be in the post today.

My own news is a bit mixed. I've been shopping. With a sheikh. Which had it's moments. But here's the thing. I should have taken him to Harrods. Or Hamleys. Or Aspreys, but you know what parking is like in London and he was short of time so I took him to one of those massive out-of-town stores.

I have to tell you the man has clearly never experienced self-service before. But then he didn't have to. One smile from Sheikh Zahir and that busty blonde at the information desk was falling over herself...

Pathetic.

Anyway, enough of my troubles. I've opened Day Two on the Advent Calendar and found A STRANGER'S KISS.

It was Liz's fourth book. The heroine, Tara, is whisked off to Bahrain by Adam Blackmore on a business trip and she gets in all kinds of trouble, too.

But then she was in trouble the minute she flung herself at him in a restaurant and pretended he was her boyfriend.

Good grief...

Anyway, for a chance to win this book, email Liz at liz @lizfielding.com with Day Two in the subject line, and your name and address in the body with the answer to the following question.

Where was Liz born?

MORE COVER ART...

It's arrived. That gorgeous box of books containing the first edition (the UK hard back library edition) of THE SHEIKH'S UNSUITABLE BRIDE.

Opening the box, getting that first sight of the cover art is always a fraught moment.

Will it be fulfil the image that you have you in your head of your characters?

Will it feel like the story you wrote?

Or will it be a nightmare, so wrong that you want to weep?

Well, this is a bit of a mixed bag. This was my vision of my heroine, Diana Metcalfe.

Not that close, to be honest.

She's a larky girl with curly hair, but it's a lot better than some of my cover images.

Does anyone remember the hideous UK version of the The Bridemaid's Reward. The one where the heroine has a moustache and we're looking straight up her nose?


And this is Sheikh Zahir al Khalid. Okay, all my heroes look pretty much the same on the cover and I wasn't going to get Antonio Banderas as a cover model.

But it is pretty. And it looks like a "sheikh" book. I was a bit concerned I was going to get him in a dinner jacket and her in uniform dancing around Berkeley Square. (You'll have to read the book!)

My real surprise is that, to me, that cover clinch looks more like a Modern/Presents cover than the kind of artwork you usually see on a "Romance". Is this a trend? Or is it simply an attempt to attract "sheikh" lovers from other series to pick it up? I already have a solid following of readers who also love Modern/Presents but if this encourages more to pick a "Romance" and realise what they've been missing, well hooray!

Oh, and I'm blogging over at eHarlequin on What Keeps Me Writing. Debbie Macomber is there, too. Right next to me. How cool is that?