Showing posts with label Awaken the Senses. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Awaken the Senses. Show all posts

Thursday, September 24, 2015

International Editions & Reflections

Today was an international day.

I received some German editions of one of my Silhouette Desire books - Craving Beauty. These international edition author copies appear without warning, so it's always fun to open the box and see what's inside.

Also, as an aside, while shirt dude is very nice, I still ADORE the original cover. It was an unusual cover for a Silhouette novel when it was first published, and I think it's stood the test of time.

I'd have this as a poster on my office wall if I could. (I actually do have a poster of one of my original Desire covers: Awaken the Senses. I think I purloined it from a conference when no one was looking ;-)).

So the German editions arrived before lunch, then later in the day, I instagrammed this post of the new Turkish hardcover edition of Angels' Blood. Isn't it pretty?! I can't wait to get my author copies so I can pet it and ooh and aah over it.

And, just now, I answered a question for a reader who was asking about the Italian edition of Archangel's Blade. If you're curious to see the other international covers for Dmitri and Honor's book, follow the link, then open the Other Editions tab.

I also had to find the French cover of the recent release of Heart of Obsidian, for the website.

As I was doing that last, it suddenly struck me just how incredible it is that I have readers around the world. It's a surreal, beautiful, wonderful thing that just hit me hard in the heart and brought me near to tears.

I could never have imagined this when I was a struggling writer getting rejection after rejection. Back then, the idea of seeing Nalini Singh on a book cover was just a crazy dream. The reality was letter after letter saying my manuscript wasn't what the publisher was looking for. Self-publishing wasn't even a gleam in anyone's eye, so that wasn't an option.

The rejections broke my heart, but I never considered stopping. Writing is as much a part of me as breathing. Cut me and you'll see words pouring out along with my blood. And you all know I plan to keel over the keyboard - one day far in the future, when I'm a cheerfully wizened old lady.

So to all of you who have your own crazy dreams - don't ever give up. You never know what the next day, the next door will bring. Fight for your joy.

And to my readers: thank you. Without you, none of this would be possible. I wish I could hug each and every one of you.

Tuesday, November 18, 2014

Harlequin Ebook Reissue: Australia and New Zealand

The short contemporary books I wrote for my previous publisher, Harlequin, are getting a cover facelift and being reissued in Australia & New Zealand come December.

This will be in ebook format, as they weren't previously all available in this region as ebooks.   

Readers in the USA & Internationally: These are likely all already available in your region as ebooks. If not and you'd like them to be, leave a comment and I'll pass it on to the publisher.

Below are the new covers, with blurbs and links to excerpts. As I said with the previous reissue, I love these books and always will, but they were written at the start of my career, so just keep that in mind. I was going to title this post, Vintage Nalini but that makes me feel oooooold! I hope you enjoy the books if you decide to try them.

There is a more recent paranormal in amongst the reissues. That would be Lord of the Abyss. No, I don't know why he is wearing a tie. I don't think ties exist in Micah's world and even if they did, he'd probably feed his to the hungry little dragon at the end. Just go with it. ;-)

LORD OF THE ABYSS
Excerpt Link

http://nalinisingh.com/lord.phpOnce upon a time…the Blood Sorcerer vanquished the kingdom of Elden. To save their children, the queen scattered them to safety and the king filled them with vengeance. Only a magical timepiece connects the four royal heirs…and time is running out.…

As the dark Lord who condemns souls to damnation in the Abyss, Micah is nothing but a feared monster wrapped in impenetrable black armor. He has no idea he is the last heir of Elden, its last hope. Only one woman knows—the daughter of his enemy.

Liliana is nothing like her father, the Blood Sorcerer who'd cursed Micah. She sees past Micah’s armor to the prince inside. A prince whose sinful touch she craves. But first she has to brave his dark, dangerous lair and help him remember. Because they only have till midnight to save Elden.

Note from Nalini: Micah and Lily are seriously adorable together. ADORABLE. Micah is a big, bad, dangerous hero who has somehow retained his innocence -  and though this was part of a series written with three other authors, Lord of the Abyss can be read on its own without problems.

http://nalinisingh.com/desertwarrior.phpDESERT WARRIOR
Excerpt Link

The fabled desert kingdom of Zulheina was Tariq's birthright, and he was a man who held tightly what belonged to him. And that meant he had to reclaim a very special woman—the woman who had broken his heart years before in New Zealand. And once he had lured her to this distant land, he meant to keep his new bride here forever…

But Jasmine Coleridge was not as easily tamed as he had imagined. Her beguiling blend of untouched innocence and dazzling sensuality threatened, once again, to bring the haughty sheikh to his knees—and made him wonder who was the true prisoner…

Note from Nalini: My very first published book! I think of this as my sheik fairytale romance.


AWAKEN TO PLEASURE
Excerpt Link

http://nalinisingh.com/awaken.phpThe proposal was as unexpected as her feelings for the man whose dark good looks rivaled an even darker past. 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 wounded… deeply… by a woman. Yet he'd protected her at a personal cost, if his restrained ardor in deference to her virginal apprehension was one indication. Suddenly, for Jackson's sake, Taylor wanted to replace pain with pleasure. Only, she'd never imagined what sensations—and secrets—she would awaken…

Note from Nalini: Jackson is a gorgeous caretaker alpha - a big, tough guy who's a sweetheart to the heroine.

http://nalinisingh.com/senses.phpAWAKEN THE SENSES
Excerpt Link

 He knew her every fantasy…

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 was 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 fantasized 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…

Note from Nalini This book was written as part of a 12 book continuity series. So 12 authors, 12 stories, with an interconnected backstory. The romance stands on its ows and there is a happy ever after in this book, but there are some backstory elements that connect to stories by the other 11 authors.

CRAVING BEAUTY
Excerpt Link

http://nalinisingh.com/beauty.phpMarc was dangerous to her in the way that only a strong, sexy male could be to a woman. 

Even knowing that, she'd agreed to marry him. Hope blossomed in Hira's heart. Perhaps she'd married a man with whom it might just be worth building a life. 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.

Note from Nalini: I really wanted to go back to Zulheil, my fairytale sheik kingdom from Desert Warrior, and I kind of did that in this book. The heroine is from Zulheil and the hero from Louisiana - the first time I set a book in the state. As evidenced by Angel's Wolf, it clearly became a lifelong love affair. :-)
 
SECRETS IN THE MARRIAGE BED
Excerpt Link

http://nalinisingh.com/secrets.phpEvery marriage has its secrets.

They were reconciling. That was all Caleb Callaghan could focus on when his estranged wife, Vicki, shared the news of her pregnancy. He was determined that this time, the marriage would succeed, no matter what it took.

But was Vicki’s price too high? She wanted more than his love and support…she demanded honesty between them, starting with his secrets. But there was something in Caleb’s past he could not—would not—share. For the truth would only destroy them.

Note from Nalini: I wrote this because I wondered what would happen if the story began after the happy ever after - what if the perfect fairy tale had a few cracks?

BOUND BY MARRIAGE
Excerpt Link
http://nalinisingh.com/bound.php 
A Deal With The Devil...

How else to describe the pact Jessica Randall had made with wealthy New Zealand rancher Gabe Dumont? In exchange for marriage and an heir, he would save her family property. The agreement was calculating, completely devoid of any tenderness, just like the man himself.

Their relationship was supposed to be a simple arrangement. Instead, it was fraught with secrets and mistrust, jealousy and ultimatums - emotions that wouldn't allow her to maintain the distance she needed. Worse, the sizzling attraction between them made this marriage of convenience decidedly inconvenient.

Note from Nalini: This will make you cry. It still makes me cry. It's angsty and angry and emotionally dark. So grab some tissues if you decide to read this one.

If you have any questions, let me know!!


Thursday, March 27, 2014

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).


Tuesday, February 04, 2014

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