RITA, Silhouette Desire Deal & Eye Candy

I have a story to tell. First up, I'm kind of a night owl, because often, that's when my brain seems to kick into high gear. Last night, I was up till 4am working on ARCHANGEL'S SHADOWS.

So, when the phone rang at 7am, I answered it, had a perfectly rational conversation and hung up. Ten minutes later, my eyes flicked open and I thought: Did she say HEART OF OBSIDIAN has been nominated for a RITA Award?!

I checked the list of finalists on the website and yes, Kaleb and Sahara's story is a finalist in the Paranormal Romance section of Romance Writers of America RITA Awards! Wooho! I ate a peanut butter cupcake with dark chocolate icing for breakfast to celebrate. :D

Alas, I ate it too quickly to take a photo, but here's a photo from the last time I baked a batch. And here's the link to the recipe at Sally's Baking Addiction. (Warning: the site is a vortex - once you enter, you will find it difficult to escape. I say that as someone who looooooves baked goods! Her recipes work really well for me - both the usual version and if I substitute gluten free flour.)

Click the link to see the full list of RITA
nominees.

~

Also, A few hours ago, it was a UK deal, and now I have a North American deal - one of my Silhouette Desire books is on sale for $1.99: SECRETS IN THE MARRIAGE BED.

Check it out if you'd like to get a glimpse of where my career began. The six Desire novels I wrote are all short contemporary romances, no paranormal elements, but they're still me. :-)

So far the deal's showing up at Amazon. I'll keep an eye out for other links but if you spot it first, please leave a note in the comments for other readers.

Here's the excerpt link.

Also, if you're hunting up the Desires in paperback, I've been told two (Awaken to Pleasure and Awaken the Senses) will be reprinted in one volume later in the year in the US, under the title AWAKE.

~ 

And last but not least, some eye candy! This gorgeous, gorgeous photo was brought to my attention by Under the Covers book blog on Twitter. The reviewer asked me if he was a good representation of Vasic. Answer: Oh my goodness, YES! (The model is: Goran Jurenec).

Harlequin Reissue: Wide Awake

Hi everyone! I've had some queries about WIDE AWAKE (see cover to the right).

This is a reissue of three of my Silhouette Desire novels. I wrote these at the start of my career, and while I will always love them (I still reread the books every so often :-)), my writing style has changed and developed since then, so keep that in mind if you decide to pick up this collection.

I've got details of the stories below, along with links to excerpts. If you do decide to dive in, I hope you enjoy!

Also, this is being published by Harlequin Australia, so I'm not sure if you'll be able to access it worldwide - leave a comment if you can and where you bought it, so other readers can share the info. Thank you!

Awaken to Pleasure

Painful experience screamed that Taylor Reid should run far and fast from Jackson Santorini. But keeping custody of her brother meant becoming her former boss's bride. And giving Jackson a baby.

Despite his powerful size and presence, Jackson had been hurt before. Yet he'd protected her at a personal cost, respecting her virginal apprehension. Suddenly, for Jackson's sake, Taylor wanted to replace pain with pleasure. Only, she'd never imagined what sensations — and secrets — she would awaken...

Excerpt on my website || Longer excerpt on Harlequin Australia website (click the Look Inside button on the cover)

Awaken The Senses

Charlotte Ashton had never belonged anywhere — until she met worldly Alexandre Dupree. The winemaker was consulting at her family's vineyard, and soon shy Charlotte had fallen completely under his spell. He seemed to know all her secret desires, all her dreams — as if he'd been put on earth just for her pleasure.

Alexandre seduced Charlotte in all the ways she had fantasised about. He'd read her secret journal and discovered the real Charlotte — the sensual lover, the generous woman, the vulnerable virgin. Was his crime so unforgivable when all he'd wanted was her love? Yet now to maintain her trust, he would have to continue to lie...

Excerpt on my website

Craving Beauty

Marc was dangerous to her in the way that only a strong, sexy male could be to a woman. Even knowing that, Hira had agreed to marry him. Her mother had worried that he was scarred, but the lines on his face did nothing to lessen his raw masculine appeal. If anything, they gave him an even more dangerous male air, enticing the feminine core of her to thoughts that shocked her.

What did a man's face matter anyway? She had no use for handsome men. But for a man with a heart? For such a man, she might risk everything...

Excerpt on my website