JANUARY 2007

Outback Man Seeks Wife
by Margaret Way

Finally returning to the dilapidated family ranch Clay Cunningham once called home, he intends to restore it to its former glory…and to settle down and find himself a wife.

Local girl Caroline McNevin is as fragile and innocent as Clay is proud and rugged. Yet there is something in her vulnerability that touches Clay. He wants her as his bride, but Caroline cannot be his…

For an excerpt and to buy the book clickhere







The Nanny and the Sheikh
by Barbara McMahon
"BRIDES OF BELLA LUCIA"


Melissa Fox's trip to the kingdom of Qu'Arim is a perk of her job with the Valentine family. When she arrives, she works for Bella Lucia, but when she expertly calms Sheikh Surim's three little children, the handsome sheikh is determined she will stay on as his nanny.

When Melissa realizes how much the children need her, she agrees to stay—she will teach the gorgeous but guarded sheikh how to love and care for them. Only she finds herself in love with a man she could only ever dream of marrying.

For and excerpt and to buy the book click here



The Businessman's Bride
by Jackie Braun

Art photographer Anne Lundy was so independent that when she had to ask for help she could barely get the words out! Especially since the person she found herself needing was none other than the straitlaced, powerhouse attorney she'd told to stay out of her private life.

With his strictly business attitude, she'd never expected family friend Richard Danton to accompany her on the most important journey of her life—finally meeting her Japanese birth mother. But Rick had been doing quite a few surprising things lately, like making her yearn to loosen his tie…and to find out what happened when he lost control.

For and excerpt and to buy the book click here




Meant-To-Be Mother
by Ally Blake

Single-father James Dillon's life is dedicated to his young son. Then a beautiful, stylish stranger appears on his doorstep and he can't ignore the magnetism between them. Siena Capuletti's homecoming was only meant to be fleeting—the mistakes of her past are still ruling her head. Yet as she spends time with gorgeous James and his adorable son, she knows she's losing her heart to them.
Is she the jet-set career girl she's convinced herself she should be…or the bride and mother that she was clearly meant to be?

For and excerpt and to buy the book click here






In Her Boss's Arms
by Elizabeth Harbison


Laurel Midland is ready to throw her heart into her new job as nanny to a motherless girl whose wealthy single father is distant. But when she arrives for work, Charles Gray immediately tells her she won't do. She's too young—his daughter has already lost so much that he wants an older nanny, who isn't likely to leave…

Sparks fly as Laurel brings light and fun into a house that has been serious and quiet. Charles feels as if Laurel doesn't understand his wishes for his child's upbringing, even while he begins to fall under Laurel's spell himself.

For an excerpt and to buy the book click here



Falling for the Frenchman
by Claire Baxter

It has taken Beth a long time to get over Pierre Laroche, and now—just as she starts the fight of her life to stay in control of her beloved Barossa Valley winery—he's back. This time it's all business!

Beth knows she should hate Pierre—after all, he has come to take away her winery. But there are tantalizing glimpses of the man she'd once loved….
As the sun sets on the beautiful Barossa Valley, Beth and Pierre begin a journey of discovery into the past…and as the sun rises they glimpse the future they could share…

For an excerpt and to buy the book clickhere





Her Ready-Made Family
by Jessica Hart

As a successful businesswoman, she has millions in the bank, but Morgan Steele has decided her life is empty…. So she's giving up her career and moving to the country!

When handsome Alistair Brown meets his new neighbor he believes she's another spoiled city girl playing at country life—just like his ex-wife. But his twin daughters seem captivated by Morgan's warmth—and her huge swimming pool!
Slowly, as Morgan gets closer to Alistair and his girls, she begins to realize that what she's been looking for in life is right under her nose—a ready-made family!

For an excerpt and to buy the book clickhere

Rescue at Cradle Lake
by Marion Lennox



Top surgeon Fergus Reynard abandoned city life in Sydney for a GP's life at Cradle Lake, hoping to soothe his broken heart. And indeed it is soothed—by the laughter, dedication and caring nature of local emergency doctor Ginny.
Ginny knows she cannot enter a relationship with this wonderful man in the midst of her own struggles. But Fergus will not let her run from their love of a lifetime—even though it means also giving his heart to the little niece in her care, and taking on a role he thought he could never face again—being a father.

For an excerpt and to buy the book click here

DECEMBER 2006

Avaiable online this November, all of Harlequin and Silhouette's Romance titles for December!

HARLEQUIN ROMANCE...

The Bride of Montefalco
by Rebecca Winters

Ally Parker has come to Italy with questions about her past only Gino, Duc of Montefalco, can answer.

Swept away to his magical country estate, Ally begins to fall in love with the brooding Italian duc. But will the secrets and sins of the past keep Gino from making Ally the rightful bride of Montefalco?

Read Excerpt

Crazy about the Boss
by Teresa Southwick

When Jack Valentine was rejected by his father, he headed to New York and made billions. Now the proud Valentines need his money, so he returns to London, with his trusted assistant, to make or break the family.

Until London, Maddie enjoyed a professional relationship with her boss. Now something's different. The Jack she knew is nothing like this intoxicating man, with fire in his eyes and pain in his soul. This Jack is definitely someone she could fall for—but this Jack could easily break her heart…

Claiming the Cattleman's Heart
by Barbara Hannay

All rugged cattle-station owner Daniel Renton wants is to build a relationship with his motherless daughter. The demons of his past drive him, but when newcomer Lily Halliday comes breezing into town, she's like a breath of fresh air.

As he and Lily get to know each other it's clear a bond is forming, but Daniel guards his heart closely.

Lily needs to convince Daniel to trust her—because a life with him will be worth the wait….

Read Excerpt

Inherited: Baby
by Nicola Marsh

Riley is a single, successful businessman—and knows absolutely nothing about children! But he sees it as his duty to take care of Maya and her baby.

Maya is doing just fine. She doesn't need a man to hold her hand…or a part-time father for her son. Even so, Riley's nudging his way into their hearts.

So Maya gives him an ultimatum: either he's properly part of their lives, or there's no place for him at all! Riley's about to discover how it feels to have a family of his own!

Read Excerpt


SILHOUETTE ROMANCE

A Vow to Keep
by Cara Colter

Promises could break hearts and ruin friendships, but still Rick Chase found himself promising to step back into Linda Starr's life, to help his old friend get used to her empty nest. He'd offer her a job, and then his duty would be done…at least that was his plan before he met the woman she'd become. Classy, refined, Linda had blossomed into a woman of spirit, passion and unmatched beauty. The kind of woman who made his bachelor lifestyle seem…lacking.

And wasn't that the problem with promises? They required more of a man than he expected to give—with the potential to reward him with more than he ever imagined!

Read Excerpt


Blind-Date Marriage
by Fiona Harper

Serena—loves everything in life, except for blind dates! She's turned her back on her unconventional upbringing, and her deepest wish is to marry Mr. Right….

Jake—is a highly successful and focused businessman. He's worked hard to escape his roots, and now lives by one rule: never get married!

A romantic candlelit restaurant, a dozen red roses, champagne on ice…the scene is set for the perfect blind date!

Read Excerpt

Millionaire Dad: Wife Needed
by Natasha Oakley

Nick Regan-Phillips: a millionaire, whom the world assumes has it all…but he's got a secret that he's kept from the world—he's a single dad. Nick's daughter, Rosie, is deaf. Nick missed the first five years of Rosie's life, but now she's come to live with him he's struggling to communicate with her….

Lydia Stanford: beautiful, courageous, award-Stanford: winning journalist. And seemingly the only person who can help Nick forge a bond with his daughter….

But when their fragile relationship is tested, will Lydia realize how much this millionaire dad really means to her—and needs her—before it is too late?

Read Excerpt


A Mother for His Daughter
by Ally Blake

(Book Three in the St Kilda Stories tilogy. How To Marry a Billioniare available in store now!)

Just as Gracie had run out of money and was about to book her flight home to Australia, she'd been rescued! A gorgeous Italian had hired her to live in his magnificent Tuscan home and be nanny to his little girl!

Luca was just as thrilled—for the first time since he'd lost his wife smiles and laughter were back in his daughter's life. He didn't want Gracie to leave, so he had a proposal for her: would she stay…as his wife?

It was the hardest decision of Gracie's life. She loved both Luca and Mila—but was Luca proposing because he loved her…or because he just wanted a mother for his daughter…?

Read Excerpt

Silhouette Romance novels are available this December in store or online now from eHarlequin!

NOVEMBER 2006

The fifth book in The Brides of Bella Lucia miniseries hits shelves in November!

MARRIED UNDER THE MISTLETOE by Linda Goodnight

Daniel Stephens has just discovered he is related to the famous Valentine Dynasty. He's not convinced that he fits into their world…until he meets beautiful Bella Lucia manager Stephanie Ellison and is captivated by her feisty yet vulnerable spirit.

Stephanie has surrounded herself with barriers to protect her from a devastating past. Now she's slowly warming to Daniel's gentle charm. This really could be a Christmas to remember, but first Daniel must show Stephanie that she can't hide behind her fears forever….

From Linda

Christmas. That magical, mystical season when the world seems a little more beautiful. What better time to fall in love? Well, to my two characters, no time was the right time for love. But did I have a surprise for them . . .

I enjoy digging into the issues that make characters tick and then pushing all the buttons that send them into fight or flight mode. For Daniel and Stephanie, each was the other’s button. Daniel bitterly resents his upper crust birth father, John Valentine, and as such despises what he sees as the false outer trappings of society. Stephanie has dark and terrible secrets she hides behind a cool, perfectionist’s façade. Appearances are everything. Who better to rattle her obsessively ordered world than Daniel?

I think readers are going to fall in love with the Valentine family, not once, but over and over again in each of the books, and I am truly blessed to have taken part in this wonderful new series.

For an excerpt, check out The Brides Of Bella Lucia blog.

Available in October from Harlequin Romance and Mills & Boon Tender Romance and in stores in North America and the UK in November!

MORE IN NOVEMBER...

HER CHRISTMAS WEDDING WISH by Judy Christenberry

Workaholic attorney Richard Anderson's life was turned upside down when he became guardian to his orphaned nephew. He tried his best, but it was up to Molly Soderling, the boy's beautiful nurse, to make this a very special Christmas.

In Richard's mansion Molly could pretend to have the family Christmas she'd always craved. She already loved the boy, but his broodingly handsome uncle was downright dangerous! Molly resisted temptation—till she made one mistake: she got caught under mistletoe….

Read Excerpt

SNOWBOUND REUNION by Barbara McMahon

Watching the snowflakes fall and make everything look perfect, Cath Morgan knows she's made the right decision to spend Christmas alone, far away from the city and her husband, Jake. For six years Cath has dreamed of more from her marriage—a husband who isn't off globe-trotting around the world and a home ringing with children's laughter.

Only Jake isn't about to let his wife go so easily. He has one Christmas to show how much he loves her—to share the secrets that have kept him away.

They just need this one chance to make their marriage beautiful again….

Read Excerpt

PROJECT PARENTHOOD by Trish Wylie

Teagan Delaney has made sure that she's too busy for love…too busy to get hurt! But when she has to become stand-in mom to her sister's tiny kids and enlists the help of her gorgeous neighbor, Brendan McNamara, the rules Teagan has lived by begin to crumble….

Brendan has already proved with ease that he's perfect father material, and, as his newfound family quickly nestles its way into his heart, he has to show Teagan that they can be the perfect family, too.

Read Excerpt

AND FROM SILHOUETTE ROMANCE...

PLAIN JANE'S PRINCE CHARMING by Melissa McClone

For waitress Jane Dawson happily-ever-afters only happen in fairy tales…. So when she approaches sexy millionaire Chase Ryder she's thrilled he'll sponsor her charity. Of course, there's no chance Chase will be interested in a girl like her!

Chase has always dated women like him, focused and controlled. But Jane's passion to help others is like a breath of fresh air. Can Chase let down his guard? Because Jane's a woman in a million and deserves her very own happy ending….

Read Excerpt

THE TYCOON'S INSTANT FAMILY by Caroline Anderson

When wickedly handsome business tycoon Nick Barron recruits Georgie Cauldwell to work for him he also ends up saving her shattered heart. They spend a few gorgeously romantic weeks together. But just when Georgie thinks she has finally found happiness…Nick disappears!

When he returns, as suddenly as he vanished, it is with two young children in tow and a tiny baby cradled in his arms. Experience tells Georgie she shouldn't fall in love with a man with a family. But there's something about Nick and his babies that Georgie doesn't have the power to resist….

Read Excerpt

HAVING THE BOSS'S BABIES by Barbara Hannay

Like the rest of the staff at Kanga Tours, Alice Madigan is nervous about meeting her new boss—but when he walks through the door it's worse than she ever could have imagined! Alice had shared one very special night with him—but now they have to play it strictly business!

How long can they pretend nothing has happened? Especially now that Alice has discovered she's going to be having her boss's babies….

Read Excerpt

HOW TO MARRY A BILLIONAIRE by Ally Blake

Cara Marlowe's new TV job will make her career—as long as nothing goes wrong.

So it's bad news that billionaire Adam Tyler wants the show stopped, and it's worse that Cara can hardly concentrate with the gorgeous tycoon around! Cara doesn't need billions, but she does want Adam the man—and her job, too!

Will she have to make a choice?

Read Excerpt

These Silhouette Romance books available online now at eHarlequin!

OCTOBER 2006

Come October the big smoke meets the Outback in the fourth book in The Brides of Bella Lucia series, Ally Blake's WANTED: OUTBACK WIFE.

Londoner Jodie Simpson needs to land an Australian husband - and quick. But can she and her friends pull this off with only six weeks until her working visa runs out?

Can they ever! Suddenly this shy British girl finds herself with a line up of assorted males willing to be the other half of her two year marriage deal. Who should she pick? Her neighbour Scott who has a penchant for mesh shirts, Barnaby the visual merchandiser whose favourite gay bar is just around the corner from her apartment, or the funeral director with the gravity defying Adam's apple?

Of course, even though he lives in the Outback, miles from her beloved Melbourne, has more brothers and sisters than she has family in the whole world, and makes her feel that he would rather her two-year project took a lifetime, there is always Heath Jameson...

For an excerpt, check out The Brides Of Bella Lucia blog.

Available in September from Harlequin Romance and Mills & Boon Tender Romance

MORE IN OCTOBER...

PROMISE OF A FAMILY by Jessica Steele

When Leyne Rowberry offers to look after her eleven-year-old niece, Pip, she certainly doesn't expect to get involved in Pip's search for her real father!Leyne's quest leads her to Jack Dangerfield, who is dangerously charming! He treats Leyne and Pip just like a real family, taking them out to lots of lovely places in London, and for picnics in the English countryside.Leyne finds herself falling for Jack, but for Pip's sake she keeps her feelings under wraps—until she discovers Jack's secret.

BUSINESS ARRANGEMENT BRIDE by Jessica Hart

Tyler Watts is rich, gorgeous and at the top of his game—except someone just moved the goalposts! Now Tyler realizes he is sorely lacking the one status symbol that everybody seems to have…the perfect wife and family. Tyler needs help, so he hires a relationship coach.

Single-mom Mary is out of her depth with Tyler… She may be an expert, but not when it comes to her own relationships! And every day she spends with Tyler makes her wish that she could be the one to fill his vacancy for wife….

Jessica says...

The hero of Business Arrangement Bride, Tyler Watts, is named after Wat Tyler, leader of the Peasants’ Revolt of 1381 – a wink to fellow medievalists – but is otherwise a thoroughly modern man, especially in his cluelessness about relationships. I have to say that in writing this book I was able to draw more than usual on the experience of my own relationship and am looking forward to giving John a copy to read, with various bits (e.g. communication) heavily underlined! I had lots of help from friends with this book, too. Selflessly, they helped me down several bottles of wine while deciding what we would most want to teach our men if they were ever rash enough to hire a relationship coach the way Tyler does, and here I am, in full research mode … It’s a tough job, but someone’s got to do it!


LONG-LOST FATHER by Melissa James

What would you do if the husband you thought was dead walked into your life, wanting to pick up where you'd left off? Brett had been gone for six years. Wonderful memories were all Samantha had…she'd also been left to raise their little girl alone. But Brett is alive, and has finally found his wife. Only now he has a daughter who's a stranger to him and who will never be able to see what her daddy looks like. Although Brett knows he can never make up for the missing years, he's still Sam's husband. And although she's changed, and treats him with wary caution, he still loves her with a burning passion…one he hopes will rekindle their marriage!

AND FROM SILHOUETTE ROMANCE...

FOUND: HIS FAMILY by Nicola Marsh

From Nicola:

FOUND: HIS FAMILY started over coffee and cake at Acland Street with my first editor Kimberley Young (out from London for the RWAustralia conference 2005) and fellow Romance authors Ally Blake and Barbara Hannay.

Picture a perfect winter's day in Melbourne: cloudless sky, sun, gentle breeze and the hip vibe of bayside St. Kilda. It's a fabulous suburb filled with cosmopolitan cafes, restaurants, bars and hotels. Any time of day or night, St Kilda is bustling with tourists, locals and Melbournians lucky enough to have this funky suburb on their doorstep.

Acland Street is famous for its amazing cake shops (yes, those mouth-watering displays in the windows taste every bit as delicious as they look!) and while devouring a nougat slice, I thought "wouldn't this be the perfect setting for my next book?"

And Aimee Payet, the heroine in FOUND: HIS FAMILY, was born. Aimee runs Payet's Patisserie in Acland Street in the book, a single mum who is a successful businesswoman and is able to handle anything. Until her precious son Toby falls victim to leukemia and she is forced to contact the one person who can save her son: sexy TV chef Jed Sanderson, Toby's father.

FOUND: HIS FAMILY is my one and only Silhouette Romance release and a favourite book of mine. Here is a quick excerpt:

Aimee Payet loved chocolate.

She loved savouring the melt-in-your-mouth texture on her tongue, drinking its delicious sweetness and kneading the sticky bits of heaven with her nimble fingers as she produced yet another masterpiece for Payet’s Patisserie, the cake shop she’d successfully managed for the last two years since her parents’ death.

Today, however, even chocolate couldn’t ease the deep sense of impending doom that hung over her like a storm cloud about to dump its deluge in a catastrophic downpour.

She glanced at her watch, the same action she’d done every few minutes for the last hour, her stomach churning as closing time grew nearer. Jed had left a message saying he’d be here at six and if he hadn’t changed since she’d last seen him, he’d be here on the dot.

And her world would come crashing down around her.

“Aimee?”

The moment he said her name, the last five years rolled away, his deep voice washing over her in a familiarity which took her breath away.

It wasn’t supposed to be like this. She’d dealt with her feelings, moved on, created a life for her and Toby. A life that didn’t included Jed Sanderson, her first love, her past love. A life where they didn’t need him. Until now.

Pasting a forced smile on her face while her insides churned with dread at what she had to tell him, she turned to face him. “Hi, Jed. Thanks for coming.”

The words sounded small, soft, like she was hearing them through a wall of thick fog that occasionally rolled off Port Phillip Bay and shrouded Melbourne in its pea-soup density.

“Are you all right?”

No, she wanted to scream. Nothing’s all right and after I tell you the truth, nothing ever will be again.

Focussing her attention with effort, she saw the concern in his light brown eyes.

Eyes the colour of warm caramel.

Eyes that had captivated her from the first minute she’d seen them all those years ago.

Eyes that would soon fill with anger and pain when she told him about Toby. And what she wanted from him.

HER MILLIONAIRE BOSS by Jennie Adams

Saying 'yes!' to the boss. . .


Chrissy Gable is determined not to be charmed by her handsome new boss - he has a playboy reputation! But she quickly begins to realise why Nate is so irresistible to women - and it's not just his bank balance! Soon Chrissy finds herself tempted to stay after-hours with Nate - even if that means risking her heart . . .


Nate Barrett is struggling to understand his attraction to his quirky PA, but knows he must keep his distance. He is only her temporary boss, and Chrissy, with her warm heart, deserves real love - the type that lasts. . .


Read the excerpt at www.jennieadams.net . Buy the book at www.amazon.co.uk and www.amazon.com .


O'REILLY'S BRIDE by Trish Wylie

Sean O’Reilly had become so close to his colleague and friend Maggie Sullivan that he was beginning to imagine their friendship could lead to more. Only now, bizarrely, she’s backed off – and, even more strangely, she’s started looking for love on the internet! Well, if he can’t beat them, he’ll have to join them…

Maggie can’t let herself get close to Sean. Not now. Not when she’s discovered something that will break all his dreams of happy ever after. But she has no idea how much she hurt Sean – nor how much she has just fuelled his determination to make her his…by any means necessary!

RESCUED BY MR RIGHT by Shirley Jump

Victoria Blackstone has spent years caring for others, and now she's ready to change her life and put herself first. Trouble is, she's not sure she has the courage to do it alone.Noah McCarty has hit the road in an attempt to get some perspective on life and escape his damaged past. But when he becomes stranded and Victoria comes to his rescue, her innocence, warmth and determination are enough to stop him in his tracks.Noah soon realizes that he's found exactly what he was searching for, and when Victoria shows him he was her Mr. Right all along, he rescues her right back.

WRITING COMPETITION

For the budding authors amongst you -- those based in the UK anyway -- as part of the launch fanfare for the new "ROMANCE" covers, Mills & Boon are running a short story competition in conjunction with WOMAN'S WEEKLY magazine during the first two weeks of September, so you'll want to look out for them in your newsagents.

If you haven’t already checked it out, this might be a good time to read Liz Fielding's short story, THE CINDERELLA VALENTINE, which is online at eHarlequin. Free read -- can't be bad! :)

Cataromance Reviewers Choice Nominees announced!

The nominees are in! Cataromance has just released its list of Reviewers' Choice nominated books for the first half of 2006 and not surprisingly ;) Harlequin Romance has put in a great showing!

BEST HARLEQUIN ROMANCE

The Wedding Arrangement Lucy Gordon

Her Italian Boss’s Agenda Lucy Gordon

Wife and Mother Forever Lucy Gordon

In The Arms of The Sheikh Sophie Weston

BEST TENDER ROMANCE

A Father in the Making Ally Blake

Millionaire Dad: Wife Needed Natasha Oakley

O’Reilly’s Bride Trish Wylie

Wife and Mother Wanted Nicola Marsh

The Five Year Baby Secret Liz Fielding

The Wedding Surprise Trish Wylie

All the other nominees are listed here. Also there is going to be a Pink Carpet Awards party this Friday so come along and chat with all of the nominated authors and find out one...by...one who...won!

SEPTEMBER 2006...

To launch the fabulous new series, The Brides of Bella Lucia, eHarlequin are publishing a free, online story by Liz Fielding. Set in the Chelsea restaurant, Luc Bellisario, great nephew of Bella Lucia herself, comes face to face with Polly Bright and, for both of them, the life plan begins to unravel.

THE CINDERELLA VALENTINE will be online from 4th August.

THE REBEL PRINCE by RAYE MORGAN

The Rebel Prince is the third book in the Bella Lucia miniseries. Don't forget to check out the fist two books - HAVING THE FRENCHMAN'S BABY by Rebecca Winters and in Silhouette Romance COMING HOME TO THE COWBOY by Patricia thayer - in store in August!!!

Raye says:

If you’re going to have to fall in love with someone anyway, why not a prince? The only problem is putting yourself in the position to meet one.

Emma Valentine is thinking “career move”, not romance, when she takes the job of head chef for the royal coronation of Prince Sebastian in the adorable little country of Meridia. But very soon the two become intertwined and she finds it impossible to untangle them again.

I always jump at the chance to do a royal romance. You get to deal with fun things like castle mazes and masked balls and moats and serving wenches and plots to poison. I find it a happy mix of a certain historical sensibility with a contemporary attitude.

Pure delight!

For more about this series, check out the Bella blog!


ALSO AVAILABLE ONLINE IN SEPTEMBER ...

MARRIED UNDER THE ITALIAN SUN by LUCY GORDON

Excerpt...

"LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, here we are again with your favourite TV programme, Star On My Team, when the famous—and sometimes the infamous—ha-ha!—team up with you to win fabulous prizes..."

Sitting backstage, Angel prayed for the burbling introduction to be over soon. In fact, she thought, please let the whole mindless business be over. Just as her marriage was over, and only awaited a decent burial.

The presenter was getting into his stride. "On my right, Mr and Mrs Barker, and their famous team member—" He named the star of a minor soap opera. Watching the backstage screen, Angel saw him enter, flashing his teeth and grandstanding to the audience.

Nina, her personal assistant, surveyed her with critical approval.

"You look perfect," she said.

Of course she did. Angel always looked perfect. That was her function. Long blonde hair, large, dark-blue eyes, slender figure encased in a tight gold dress, cut teasingly low. Masses of glittering, tasteless jewellery. Bling, bling!

"And now, the lady I know you're impatient to see—" Not as impatient as I am to finish this, she thought wryly, while trying to remain good-tempered. Time to get out there. Big smile!

"The one we've all been waiting for..."

Especially since my husband plastered my face all over the front pages, trying to divorce me on the cheap. Never mind. Smile!

A look in the mirror, a final adjustment of her dress to ensure that her assets were displayed to advantage, mouth widened just so far, no further. And now for the last walk to where the lights beckoned and the cameras preyed on her. It felt like a walk to the guillotine.

"Here she is. The beautiful, the fabulous—Angel!"


ACCEPTING THE BOSS'S PROPOSAL by NATASHA OAKLEY

Excerpt...

SHE'D made a mistake.

Jemima knew it the minute she saw what the woman on the reception desk was wearing. Kingsley and Bressington might sound like some staid turn-of-the-last-century law firm, but the reality was completely different—and the woman on the reception desk embodied exactly that.

She wore a rich brown T-shirt which hugged the kind of yoga-toned body that always made Jemima feel vaguely depressed. Dramatic turquoise jewellery picked out an exact shade in the receptionist's vibrant skirt and brought out the colour of her eyes. Her look was overwhelmingly young...fashionable...and a world away from Jemima's borrowed suit. Its aubergine colour might be perfect with her carefully straightened red hair, but it was entirely too formal for Kingsley and Bressington.

Nor was she quite sure how she could dress any differently tomorrow. Even if her own wardrobe wasn't restricted to jeans and easy care fabrics, she was two children too late for that kind of body conscious clothing.

Jemima glanced around the acres of white walls, taking in the abstract paintings and sculptural plants in huge stainless steel pots. What the heck was she doing in a trendy place like this? If she didn't know she'd be letting Amanda down she'd turn tail and run now. Fast. This wasn't what she'd wanted at all.

THE SHEIKH'S GUARDED HEART by LIZ FIELDING

Rescued by her prince of the desert...

The smell of petrol reached her.

Petrol dripping on to hot metal…

It was a wake-up call to the danger she was in; forget heaven, she was at the gates of hell and raw, naked fear overrode pain as she struggled to twist herself around to hit the seat belt release.

Her sweaty fingers slipped as she tried to make contact and, as the smell of petrol grew stronger she panicked, throwing herself against the restraints --

‘Hold still, I’ve got you.’

She heard the words, but they didn’t penetrate the thinking part of her brain as she fought to break free.

‘Don’t move!’

It wasn’t the harsh order that shocked her into motionless silence, or the fierce, hawk-like features of the man who gave it. It was the gleaming knife blade, so close to her face that she could almost taste the metal at the back of her throat.

Saved from certain death in the unforgiving desert of Ramal Hamrah, Lucy Forrester is transported to a world of luxury by her rescuer, Sheikh Hanif. The tender care he offers her is more than Lucy has ever experienced in her loveless life, and she finds herself drawn to the proud Arabian Princes, despite his tortured soul. And, as he helps Lucy recover from her injuries, she wonders if she can help heal his own wounds, break down the barriers that guard his heart...

The above books are all available online now from eHarlequin, and in all good bookstores across North America and the United Kingdom in September!

THE RANCHER TAKES A FAMILY by JUDY CHRISTENBERRY


Excerpt...

"YOU know we've got to do something, don't you, John?"

John Richey looked at his right-hand man, Bill Hobbs, and sighed. "I know we need to, Bill, but I've thought and thought, and I can't come up with any answer except to just make the best of it."

In spite of his worries he smiled at his baby daughter as he removed the empty bottle from her mouth. She gave him a contented grin worth more than anything money could buy.

Bill persisted. "Damn it, man, we're risking a big loss with just you, me, Mikey and Jess working the ranch, especially since you and me are only working half days so we can take care of Sugar here."

"I told you to call her Betsy. That's her name, after all."

"You're not focusing, John. And I have a solution to our problem even if you don't."

John looked up in surprise. It wasn't the first time they'd had this discussion, but it was the first time Bill had said he had the answer. "What do you mean, you've got the solution? What is it?"

"You won't like it."


WINNING BACK THE BRIDE by TERESA SOUTHWICK

Excerpt...

PICTURE him naked.

Geneva Porter was familiar with the technique public speakers used to calm nerves, but it wouldn't work for her. This wasn't public. She wasn't speaking. And she'd already seen Michael Sullivan naked.

However hot the memory, seeing the sexy Mr. Sullivan without his clothes was partially responsible for the disastrous series of events that had landed her right here, right now—waiting to see him and find out if she was Las Vegas's latest events planner without a job.

Unemployment would be bad. Seeing Michael Sullivan again... It was going to be very bad.

But he was her boss as of a week ago when his deal to buy this hotel finalized. One by one he'd met with the existing managers. Now it was her turn. Time to get it over with and brazen out their first meeting since... Well, since she'd last seen him. On the bad scale, that time had been off the chart.



THE BOSS'S CONVENIENT BRIDE by Jennie Adams

What can a girl do when the only answer is ‘I will’, but her heart warns she’d better not?


When Sydney businessman Nicholas Monroe proposes an emotionless marriage to his secretary, Claire Dalgliesh, Claire is forced to find out!


Read an excerpt here!





THE CINDERELLA FACTOR by Sophie Weston

Excerpt...

JO ALMOND had finally worked out that she was not lovable when she was just fourteen.

It had hurt. But, after the first searing shock, Jo was philosophical about it. She'd known she had other things going for her. She was practical. She had found she could be brave. She didn't give up easily. She was energetic, clear-headed and calm. But lovable? Nah.

The man who finally taught her this painful lesson was her language teacher—a French student on teaching practice. He'd been twenty-three, with kind eyes and a passion for learning. For a while he'd believed in her. He'd been the only person in the whole world who had.

He'd also listened to her. Not for long, of course. But for a precious few hours she'd seen what it could be like if someone was on your side.

She ran away again. That time she'd got as far as Dover. She'd been just about to step on a ferry when a kindly policeman had caught up with her and organised her return home. Well, to her aunt's house. Jo would not call it home.

Jacques Sauveterre asked her to stay behind after French on her first afternoon back in school. By that time, Jo was good at keeping her own counsel. She stood there, not meeting his eyes, fidgeting.

"But why, Joanne? I would really like to understand this."

"I wanted to go to France," muttered Jo.

"But of course."

She did look up at that.

These great Silhouette Romance books are available online at eHarlequin and in bookstores across the United Kingdom and North America this September!

Another Harlequin Romance winner!

Rebecca Winters has just won 2nd place for "Best Heroine" for her book HUSBAND BY REQUEST for the first half of 2006 by the Japanese readership.

Rebecca says: "I was so surprised and thrilled!"

For more about this lovely book, check it out at Amazon.com

HARLEQUIN ROMANCE DO THE DOUBLE!

Oh, frabjus day!


On Saturday night, at the RWA Awards
Ceremony, Marion Lennox's THE PRINCESS OF CONVENIENCE took the RITA for the Best Traditional Category Romance.









And then, Liz Fielding's, THE MARRIAGE MIRACLE, won
the RITA for Best Short Contemporary Romance.

CONGRATULATIONS TO LUCY

Huge congratulations to Lucy Gordon for winning the Booksellers Best Award for Best Traditional Romance for her Harlequin Romance THE ITALIAN'S RIGHTFUL BRIDE.

The winners were announced in yesterday at a reception at the Romance Writers' of America National Conference in Atlanta.

Cyper champagne all round!