Special Treats!

The holiday season is just around the corner, and that means some special releases from Harlequin and Mills and Boon. They've started showing up already, so we thought we'd pique your interest with a bit of what's coming up:

Happy Birthday Harlequin! Part of their celebrations includes their Vintage Collection. What fun!

Kiss Your Elbow

by Alan Handley

In the theater, reality and make-believe blend so intimately that Tim Briscoe was convinced that he was playing the role of detective when he stumbled upon the lifeless form of Nellie Brant. But the corpse was real, even though everything and everybody else seemed fictitious.There was the elusive man who wore dark glasses, the actress who chose sudden death as the background for an audition, the ex–silent-film star who stooged on quiz shows for his daily bottle, and Maggie, who loved him but didn't believe in the effect of too many Scotches.This backstage mystery was written by a man who knew the theatrical world inside out. The characters and scenes are as authentic as Variety, as real as a closing notice. Available HERE.

In keeping with the vintage look, check out The Christmas Treasury of Romance coming from Mills and Boon!

SPECIAL RELEASES October 2009

Mills & Boon Christmas Treasury of Romance

Spend Christmas with a millionaire magnate, fall in love with a Regency rake, or become the wife of a billionaire… Just some of the wonderfully romantic short stories in this collection, chosen especially for you by the expert editors at Mills & Boon. And with exciting extras, you can find out all about the authors you love! Featuring: Lucy Monroe, Heidi Rice, Liz Fielding, Julia James and many, many more…

Get it HERE.

Check out Romance's RITA award winning author Jessica Hart, along with superstars Betty Neels and Debbie Macomber in Sleigh Bells and Wedding Rings!

SPECIAL RELEASES October 2009

The special gift of love at Christmas

The Silver Thaw - Betty Neels

Pretty nurse Amelia Crosbie had never met a more infuriating man than Gideon van der Tolck! As the Christmas season drew nearer, the handsome doctor seemed determined to make someone his bride – but surely it couldn’t be Amelia?

The Christmas Basket - Debbie Macomber

Former sweethearts Noelle and Thom can have a second chance at love – if only they can close the bitter rift between their families with the spirit of forgiveness.

Mistletoe Marriage - Jessica Hart

A wedding could be the answer to all Sophie’s problems. But Sophie’s feelings for her convenient fiancé can’t be hidden. Her deepest wish is that they should say “I do” – for real!

Three classic Christmas romances!

A few Romance authors have some Silhouette re-issues coming up - your favourite authors such as Lucy Gordon, Cara Colter, Myrna McKenzie... if you go to their Special Releases page, you can see what's up for grabs!

And stay tuned - beginning in October, there are lots of holiday stories coming your way from Romance!

Foreign Releases - September

Lluvia en el corazón por Donna Alward

Un trabajo de ensueño... ¡y un impresionante jefe italiano!

Mariella Ross había logrado construirse una nueva vida en el hotel Fiori Cascade y no iba a permitir que la horrible actitud de su nuevo jefe interrumpiera su duro trabajo… aunque el encanto y la sonrisa de Luca Fiori le hicieran sentir mariposas en el estómago.

Luca empezó a mostrarle un aspecto de la vida que Mari casi había olvidado. Superar su oscuro pasado no sería fácil, pero con Luca a su lado comenzó a pensar que todo era posible.

MARION LENNOX ALLY BLAKE

ODZYSKANA NARZECZONA ZAMEK W CHMURACHN

Marion Lennox - Odzyskana narzeczona

Shanni traci właśnie swą galerię sztuki, toteż zgadza się zaopiekować dzieckiem swego przyszywanego kuzyna Pierce’a. Tymczasem w jego domu czeka na nią aż pięcioro dzieci! Czy Pierce jest kompletnie nieodpowiedzialny? A może to wyjątkowo szlachetny i dobry człowiek?

Ally Blake – Zamek w chmurachBrooke dowiaduje się, że jej niedawno zmarły mąż, sławny sportowiec, przepuścił cały ich majątek. Brooke zostaje sama z dwójką dzieci. Były agent jej męża, Danny, proponuje im, by tymczasowo zamieszkali w jego rezydencji. Okazuje się, że Danny kocha Brooke od lat...

Uma razão para viver (Minissérie:Segredos por desvendar) - Jackie Braun

Só tinham estado casados um dia… mas toda a vida se tinham amado…

Claire Mayfield conhecera Ethan Seaver muito nova e ingénua. O seu apaixonado romance acabara em Las Vegas num casamento apressado que devia ser o início de uma vida em conjunto.

Todavia os segredos e as mentiras não demoraram a afastá-los e, anos depois, o casamento de ambos era somente uma lembrança. Pelo menos, era o que devia ser, mas Claire nunca esquecera Ethan. Por isso decidiu ir à procura do seu marido e tentar mudar as suas vidas para sempre…

En underbar gåva av Barbara McMahon

Annalise blir chockad när hon inser att hon är gravid, men fylls också av en himlastormande glädje. Hon vet ingenting om barn, men med Dominic vid sin sida ska det säkert gå bra, det är hon övertygad om. Dessvärre reagerar han inte på det sätt hon hoppats …

Dominic har en hemlighet som gör att barn inte ingår i hans framtidsplaner. Och samtidigt som han längtar efter att dela sin älskade frus babylycka, fruktar han att historien nu är på väg att upprepas. Ska han kunna lägga det förgångna bakom sig och satsa på kärleken – och en liten familj på tre …?

Förtrollad sommar av Barbara Hannay

Plötsligt bröts sommarmorgonens stillhet av ett kallt, metalliskt klick. Nell kände Jacobs hjärta dunka mot hennes. I skuggan under träden stod hennes pappa, röd i ansiktet av raseri. Han lyfte ett gevär och siktade …

En sommarromans i tonåren resulterar i ett litet barn som Nells föräldrar tvingar henne att adoptera bort. Tjugo år senare träffas Nell och Jacob på nytt när de får veta att de blivit morföräldrar till en liten pojke som behöver dem. Kan ett barn väcka kärlek till liv på nytt?

LA STAGIONE DEI FIORI D'ARANCIO di MEIER SUSAN

Sognate ancora due scarpette di cristallo che vi regalino la storia più romantica della vostra vita? Con un AMORE DA FAVOLA anche un paio di eleganti décolleté possono bastare, purché siate disposte ad abbandonare ogni timore e a lasciarvi andare alle emozioni più profonde.

Dopo l'ennesimo "incidente" con un'assistente pronta a tutto pur di trascinarlo all'altare, l'affascinante e facoltoso Jeb Worthington ha deciso di non fidarsi più delle donne, soprattutto se belle e sensuali come Sophie Penazzi, la sua nuova collaboratrice. Tuttavia, c'è qualcosa in lei che la rende diversa da tutte le ragazze che ha conosciuto in passato. Sarà la dolcezza del suo sguardo o la soavità della sua voce, ma la presenza di Sophie sembra capace di illuminare la vita di Jeb in un modo che lui non aveva mai creduto possibile.

Une nouvelle vie pour Julia, Caroline Anderson

Epuisée par le rythme que lui impose Max, son mari, un bourreau de travail dont elle est la plus proche collaboratrice, Julia lui annonce un jour que cette existence ne lui convient plus. Hélas, Max réagit mal, et lui laisse entendre à la jeune femme qu'il favorisera toujours sa carrière et ne souhaite faire aucune concession. Devant tant d'incompréhension, Julia, bouleversée, quitte le domicile conjugal... avant de découvrir, quelques jours plus tard, qu'elle est enceinte...

Lucy Gordon: Kalitkába zárva

A csinos Holly szabadságát tölti Olaszországban, és jóhiszeműen vállalja, hogy eljuttat egy csomagot Londonba. Kisvártatva rádöbben, hogy nyomában a rendőrség. Matteo Falluci bíró a segítségére siet, de cserébe azt kéri, hogy Holly költözzön oda fényűző villájába, és gondoskodjon anyátlan kislányáról, Lizáról. Hollynak nincs sok választási lehetősége, elfogadja az ajánlatot, és beköltözik az „aranykalitkába”. Hamar hangot talál Lizával, de nyomasztja Matteo hideg távolságtartása, annál is inkább, mivel ő napról napra jobban vonzódik a férfihoz. Ám Holly nem olyan lány, aki egykönnyen feladja…

WAGNIS DER LIEBE von: JESSICA HART

Ein alleinerziehender Vater? Nie wieder! Das hat Perdita sich nach einer schmerzlichen Trennung fest geschworen. Nur kannte sie da Edward Merrick noch nicht. Wider Willen muss sie sich eingestehen, dass der attraktive Vater von drei Kindern sie wie magisch anzieht. Trotzdem zeigt sie ihm nach einem ersten zärtlichen Kuss die kalte Schulter – hin- und hergerissen zwischen ihrer Sehnsucht nach einer neuen Liebe und der Angst, erneut verlassen zu werden. Bis sie schließlich erkennt: Manchmal muss man etwas wagen, um dem Glück eine Chance zu geben …

September Releases

Keeping Her Baby's Secret by Raye Morgan

"You can count on me. You don't have to be alone."

Diana Collins can't believe she's hearing these words from her former secret crush, Cameron Van Kirk. Popular, gorgeous and from the richest family in town, he was always out of her league.

Now Cameron's back after ten years, and he's telling Diana—who is pregnant and alone—that he wants to help her.His duty is to his family dynasty. Hers is to her baby, whose secret she's keeping. What's Diana to do?

Read Excerpt


Claimed: Secret Royal Son by Marion Lennox

For just one night, sensible Lily McLachlan had thrown caution to the wind and fallen into Prince Alexandros's arms.

A year later, Alex wants to claim his secret royal son, and Lily's hand. Lily is faced with becoming Alex's convenient bride when all she really wants is her prince's heart….

Read Excerpt


Expecting Miracle Twins by Barbara Hannay

After agreeing to be a surrogate mother for her best friends, Mattie Carey can't wait to give them the biggest gift of all. She's put aside her dreams of finding Mr. Right and has set her mind on her new role.

Moving to Sydney, the last person Mattie expects to meet is her perfect man. Jake Devlin, her temporary flatmate, is cheeky, charming, intriguing… But it's so not the right time for Mattie to fall in love….

Read Excerpt



Memo: The Billionaire's Proposal by Melissa McClone

· Remember why you turned him down all those years ago: because infamous playboys like Drake Llewelyn are trouble with a capital T!

· He plays to win. You can't afford to take a gamble on love and lose, no matter how much he says he's changed.

· So arm yourself against his movie-star looks, devastating charm, intoxicating smile…

Oh, no! This is going to be so much harder than I thought!

Read Excerpt


A Trip with the Tycoon by Nicola Marsh

Determined to forget her husband's infidelity and bring her confident, fiery self back, Tamara Rayne is in India on a trip of a lifetime. Love isn't on her itinerary, so she hardly notices when blast from her past Ethan Brooks boards her train….

The maverick entrepreneur has wanted Tamara ever since he met her. Under the shimmer of the Indian sun, Ethan decides he's waited long enough….

Read Excerpt

Invitation to the Boss's Ball by Fiona Harper

Alice's plain-Jane world is turned upside down when she's hired to organize tycoon Cameron Hunter's company ball.

She's shocked by an invitation on her doormat, and the next thing she knows, she's dancing in her oh-so-delicious boss's arms in a stunning dress!

Alice knows that on Monday morning everything will go back to normal. But for now, she's going to enjoy every second….

Read excerpt

Foreign Releases

El jardinero y la princesa (Miniserie: HEREDEROS ITALIANOS)

Por Rebecca Winters

Ambos buscaban el amor verdadero

La princesa Regina Vittorio se marcharía pronto de su adorado reino de Castelmare para convertirse en la reina de otro país. Gina había dedicado su vida a los deberes propios de su cargo, pero a medida que el día de su boda se iba acercando, sólo deseaba pasar un momento más con el hombre al que verdaderamente amaba.

El jardinero real Dizo Fornese había sido testigo de cómo la princesa Regina se transformaba en una belleza, igual que las rosas que él cuidaba en palacio. Sabía que ella era intocable, pero aún le quedaba una oportunidad de arriesgarlo todo y reclamar a su princesa.

BARBARA McMAHON NICOLA MARSH

DRUGA MIŁOŚĆ CENNY SPADEK

Barbara McMahon: DRUGA MIŁOŚĆ

Laura, właścicielka znanej galerii, szykuje wystawę prac zmarłego narzeczonego. Nie ceniła Jordana jako artysty, zawiódł ją również jako partner, ale wierzy, że w ten sposób ostatecznie pożegna się z przeszłością. Właśnie wtedy wkracza w jej życie bliźniaczy brat Jordana, Jed...

Nicola Marsh: CENNY SPADEK

Życie Rileya jest podporządkowane karierze zawodowej, nie ma w nim miejsca na rodzinę. Może dlatego opieka nad narzeczoną i dzieckiem brata wydaje mu się początkowo jedynie uciążliwym obowiązkiem. Jednak im więcej czasu im poświęca, tym bardziej docenia rodzinne więzy...

A noiva do aristocrata por Michelle Douglas

De mãe solteira a senhora de uma mansão!

Lorde Simon Morton-Blake, um bonito aristocrata inglês, não queria ter uma relação séria com ninguém na Austrália, sobretudo com uma mãe solteira como Kate Petherbridge. Porém, Simon não podia negar a atracção que sentia por Kate, uma mulher cheia de vida, nem dizer-lhe que não, por isso ofereceu-lhe a sua casa para ficar.

Em contacto com a alegre família de Kate, as posturas rígidas de Simon foram-se suavizando a pouco e pouco. Simon nunca fizera parte de uma família feliz, no entanto começava a aperceber-se de que, afinal, havia uma família que o receberia de braços abertos.

SOGNI A LUME DI CANDELA di HARPER FIONA
http://www.ilpartnerperfetto.com/

Tre amiche, tre dolci storie romantiche
e un unico lieto fine:
le nozze con l'uomo perfetto.

Grace Marlowe non si è mai sentita tanto imbarazzata. Qualcuno, a sua insaputa, l'ha iscritta al sito www.ilpartnerperfetto.com e ora ha un appuntamento al buio con uno sconosciuto!

L'imbarazzo, però, dura lo spazio di un attimo. Noah Frost, l'uomo selezionato come suo compagno ideale, è infatti alto, bellissimo e con uno sguardo seducente capace di sciogliere anche il cuore più gelido. Persino la sua compagnia è elettrizzante, e la serata penosa e sgradevole che Grace aveva immaginato sta per trasformarsi nell'evento più romantico di tutta la sua vita!

Lucy Gordon: Kalitkába zárva

A csinos Holly szabadságát tölti Olaszországban, és jóhiszeműen vállalja, hogy eljuttat egy csomagot Londonba. Kisvártatva rádöbben, hogy nyomában a rendőrség. Matteo Falluci bíró a segítségére siet, de cserébe azt kéri, hogy Holly költözzön oda fényűző villájába, és gondoskodjon anyátlan kislányáról, Lizáról. Hollynak nincs sok választási lehetősége, elfogadja az ajánlatot, és beköltözik az „aranykalitkába”. Hamar hangot talál Lizával, de nyomasztja Matteo hideg távolságtartása, annál is inkább, mivel ő napról napra jobban vonzódik a férfihoz. Ám Holly nem olyan lány, aki egykönnyen feladja…

WITTE ROZEN / EEN ZAAK VAN GELUK
ALLY BLAKE, SHIRLEY JUMP

Witte rozen

Siena lééft voor haar werk - voor een vaste relatie voelt ze niets. Wanneer ze voor een belangrijk sollicitatiegesprek terugkeert naar haar geboorteplaats, ontmoet ze daar de o zo serieuze huisvader James en zijn zoontje Kane. James is duidelijk gecharmeerd van haar, en zij voelt zich ook tot hém aangetrokken. Maar kan ze voor deze lieve zorgzame man haar vrijheid en carrière opgeven?

Een zaak van geluk

Omdat ze zelf niet bepaald een gelukkige jeugd heeft gehad, besluit Carolyn mee te doen aan een prohject voor kansarme kinderen. Tot haar schrik staat haar jeugdzonde, met wie ze jaren geleden een huwelijk van vier dagen heeft gehad, ineens in levenden lijve voor haar. Hij is net als zij advocaat en deelnemer aan het project. Het weerzien is des te schokkender omdat het waar blijkt te zijn wat ze zeggen: oude liefde roest niet!

Free Online Read!

Great news! In September, Nicola Marsh has a release titled A Trip With The Tycoon. Now you can read a free "prequel" to that story at Eharlequin - Nicola's Online Read One Indian Summer!

There is a new chapter every week - the first chapter is up now! Here's a teaser:

Once upon a time in Goa, a lovely maid dreamed of finding romance and adventure, just like in her beloved Bollywood films…

Khushi longs to escape the boredom of her life as a hotel housekeeper, but she learned long ago never to believe in dreams. So when she stumbles—literally!—upon a handsome Australian tourist with flashing eyes and a way with words, she knows the sparks between them can come to nothing.

With one week left in his yearlong tour of India, Harrison Rayne is not looking for romance. But he can’t deny the special connection he feels to the beautiful Khushi, and soon he knows they are meant to be together forever! Can he convince her that love at first sight happens in real life, too?

Don't miss this great read - go HERE to read chapter one!

Great news and a new home

First of all, congratulations to Romance author Marion Lennox. Marion also writes Medicals, and her book His Island Bride took the R*by Award for Sweet Short at the Romance Writers of Australia conference this past weekend.

Next, you'll see on the right sidebar a place where it says to visit our eharlequin blog - that's because your favourite authors are now blogging several times a week at eharlequin.com! You can click on that link to get there or just click here, and there's the option to subscribe in as well. It's a lot of fun and today you get to see a very different side of Romance author Fiona Harper!

Join us for blogs on our newest releases, day to day fun and definitely lots of surprises.

And come back here for up to date news on what's happening at Harlequin Romance!

August Author Post: Behind the Scenes of Bachelor Dad On Her Doorstep

Please welcome Michelle Douglas!

The initial spark for a story can come from anywhere – from daydreams (from night-time dreams too, for that matter), a news story, overheard snatches of conversation, a picture, a song. The inspiration for Bachelor Dad On Her Doorstep came from a setting: the Australian Blue Mountains where I spent a week on a writers’ retreat.

Actually now I think about it, it wasn’t really inspiration – I didn’t have a sudden vision or a revelation that brought the book to life for me, and the story certainly didn’t arrive fully formed. It’s just... I enjoyed my week in the mountains so much that I was determined to set my next book there. It’s hard to map the genesis of a book, but I’ll try and give you some idea of the process involved for this particular story.

Would you like the true version or the pretty one?

Hmm... I was afraid you’d say that. Well, for what it’s worth, the as true as I can make it version of how I came to write this book...

Bachelor Dad On Her Doorstep is a coming-home story because the town where I stayed – Katoomba – reminded me of the town where I grew up. Now, sure, this area is a tourist hotspot, but there’s not an overabundance of jobs. From what I could see there were a lot of disaffected youth in the town. This impression led to... What if I was one of these disaffected youth? What would I do? What if I left then returned years later, what would I see? Ooh, minor light bulb moment – What if I made my heroine a former disaffected youth of the area?

I stayed in Katoomba but my favourite place in the mountains is Leura – seriously cute, plus it has one of my all-time favourite bookshops. So I based my fictitious town of Clara Falls on Leura (hey, I wanted to write about the gorgeous town rather than the gritty one). And as it’s a coming-home story, the reason I gave for my heroine coming home is to run her mother’s (wait for it...) bookshop. (Yes I know this is not a huge leap, but remember... you’re getting the real story, not the pretty one).

Okay, that’s the heroine taken care of. Now for the hero. Well if this is a coming-home story he has to be someone from her past. I love characters who have a history. So, I set about giving them plenty of history. Yep, oodles of history – angsty, heartbreaky history. Hmm, this is a romance too though, don’t forget to give them points of connection. Umm... (brain ticking over and over). I know! There are lots of gorgeous art galleries in these mountains, probably as a result of all those gorgeous views. So I made my heroine and hero, each in their own way, artists.
Suddenly my story had the exact flavour I wanted for it – scenes came rushing into my head, brain synapses fired and I knew I was ready to write. I know I’ve made the process sound more ordered and organic than it really was (not to mention speedy); and honesty impels me to add that it wasn’t always an easy book to write. But I love my characters and this book will always remind me of the magical week I spent in the mountains.

READ AN EXCERPT:

‘This place was never the same after you left.’

Mrs Lavender's voice hauled Jaz back. She gave a short laugh. 'I can believe that.'
Those dark eyes, shrewd with age, surveyed her closely. 'You did the right thing, you know. Leaving.'

No, she hadn't. What she'd done had led directly to her mother's death. She'd left and she'd sworn to never come back. It had broken her mother's heart. She'd hold herself responsible for that till the day she died. And she'd hold Connor responsible too. If he'd believed in Jaz, like he'd always sworn he would, Jaz would never have had to leave.

She would never have had to stay away.

Stop it!

She shook herself. She hadn't returned to Clara Falls for vengeance. Do unto others…that had been Frieda's creed. She would do Frieda Harper proud. She'd save the bookshop, then she'd sell it to someone other than Gordon Sears, then she'd leave, and this time she would never come back.

'You always were a good girl, Jaz. And smart.'

It hadn't been smart to believe Connor's promises.

She shook off the thought and pulled her mind back, to find Mrs Lavender smiling at her broadly. 'How long are you staying?'

'Twelve months.' She'd had to give herself a time limit—it was the only thing that would keep her sane. She figured it'd take a full twelve months to see the bookshop safe again.

'Well, I think it's time you took yourself off and got to work, dear.' Mrs Lavender pointed across the road. 'I think you'll find there's a lot to do.'

Jaz followed the direction of Mrs Lavender's hand, and that was when she saw and understood the reason behind the tradesman's van parked out the front of the bookshop. The muscles in her shoulders, her back, her stomach, all tightened. The minor repairs on the building were supposed to have been finished last week. The receptionist for the building firm Richard had hired had promised faithfully.

A pulse pounded behind her eyes. 'Frieda's Fiction Fair'—the sign on the bookshop's awning—was being replaced. With…

'Jaz's Joint'!

She shot to her feet. Her lip curled. Her nose curled. Inside her boots, even her toes curled. She'd requested that the sign be freshened up. Not… Not… She fought the instinct to bolt across the road and topple the sign-writer and his ladder to the ground.

'I'll be seeing you then, shall I, Jazmin?'

With an effort, she unclenched her teeth. 'Absolutely, Mrs Lavender.'

She forced herself to take three deep breaths, and only then did she step off the kerb of the island. She would sort this out like the adult she was, not the teenager she had been.

She made her way across the road and tried not to notice how firm her offending tradesman's butt looked in form-fitting jeans or how the power of those long, long legs were barely disguised by soft worn denim. In fact, in some places the denim was so worn…

The teenager she'd once been wouldn't have noticed. That girl had only had eyes for Connor. But the woman she was now…

Stop ogling!

She stopped by the ladder and glanced up. Then took an involuntary step backwards at the sudden clench of familiarity. The sign-writer's blond-tipped hair…

It fell in the exact same waves as—

Her heart lodged in her throat, leaving an abyss in her chest. Get a grip. Don't lose it now. The familiarity had to be a trick of the light.

Ha! More like a trick of the mind. Planted there by memories she'd done her best to bury.

She swallowed and her heart settled—sort of—in her chest again. 'Excuse me,' she managed to force out of an uncooperative throat, 'but I'd like to know who gave you the authority to change that sign.'

The sign-writer stilled, laid his brush down on the top of the ladder and wiped his hands across that denim-encased butt with agonising slowness. Jaz couldn't help wondering how it would feel to follow that action with her own hands. Gooseflesh broke out on her arms.

Slowly, oh-so-slowly, the sign-writer turned around…and Jaz froze.

'Hello, Jaz.'

The familiarity, the sudden sense of rightness at seeing him here like this, reached right inside her chest to twist her heart until she couldn't breathe.

No!

He took one step down the ladder. 'You're looking…well.'

He didn't smile. His gaze travelled over her face, down the long line of her body and back again and, although half of his face was in shadow, she could see that she left him unmoved.

Connor Reed!

She sucked in a breath, took another involuntary step back. It took every ounce of strength she could marshal to not turn around and run.

Do something. Say something, she ordered.

Her heart pounded in her throat. Sharp breaths stung her lungs. Connor Reed. She'd known they'd run into each other eventually, but not here. Not at the bookshop.
Not on her first day.

Stop staring. Don't you dare run!

'I…um…' She had to clear her throat. She didn't run. 'I'd appreciate it if you'd stop working on that.' She pointed to the sign and, by some freak or miracle or because some deity was smiling down on her, her hand didn't shake. It gave her the confidence to lift her chin and throw her shoulders back again.

He glanced at the sign, then back at her, a frown in his eyes. 'You don't like it?'

'I loathe it. But I'd prefer not to discuss it on the street.'

Oh, dear Lord. She had to set some ground rules. Fast. Ground rule number one was that Connor Reed stay as far away from her as humanly possible.

Ground rule number two—don't look him directly in the eye.

August Releases!

This month we have some great releases in store!

Cattle Baron: Nanny Needed by Margaret Way

It's a media scandal! Flame-haired beauty Amber Wyatt has gate-crashed her ex-fiancé's glamorous society wedding! Groomsman Cal McFarlane knows she's trouble, but when Amber loses her job, the rugged cattle rancher comes to the rescue. He needs a nanny, and if it makes his baby nephew happy, he's willing to play with fire….

Read Excerpt

Hired: Cinderella Chef by Myrna Mackenzie

Darcy Parrish had learned the hard way how to take care of herself. After the accident that had shattered her spine, she made a new life as chef at Patrick Judson's estate. The position was temporary, but her movie-star-gorgeous boss seemed to have other ideas.

Darcy's sassy charms soon had Patrick hooked. He wanted to get closer to this beautiful and gifted woman who created masterpieces with her hands. The biggest obstacle was Darcy herself….

Read Excerpt

Greek Boss, Dream Proposal by Barbara McMahon

On board his luxury yacht, Nikos Konstantinos isn't looking for love. But sharing the breathtaking beauty of the idyllic Greek islands with his pretty new chef is driving him crazy!

Independent, free-spirited Sara Andropolous knows Nikos is a Mediterranean dream, but he's her boss, and she won't risk her business. And there's another, secret reason why Nikos is the most unsuitable man she could fall for….

Read Excerpt

Miss Maple and the Playboy by Cara Colter

Primary-school teacher Beth Maple is cautious and conventional. Until stand-in dad Ben Anderson appears at the school gates. Beth is besotted!

With his confident swagger and good looks, Ben is dangerously out of her league. Yet being around him makes her feel truly alive….

Read Excerpt

Boardroom Baby Surprise by Jackie Braun

When pregnant Morgan Stevens arrives at wealthy businessman Bryan Caliborn's office looking for her baby's father, two things become apparent: she's mistaken him for his late brother and she's in labor—in the boardroom!

Now Morgan's a single mom, and she's bowled over by the take-charge tycoon's support. But surely the once-burned bachelor is just doing it out of duty….

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Bachelor Dad on Her Doorstep by Michelle Douglas

Back in her hometown for the first time in years, Jaz Harper is determined to face old flame Connor Reed with dignity. She won't be hurt again. But Jaz hasn't reckoned on Connor having become even more irresistibly handsome—or a bachelor dad.

As Connor's daughter bonds with Jaz, Connor realizes Jaz's warm nature is slowly melting away the hardened demeanor he's built up over the years….

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Foreign Releases: July

Bebé milagro por Liz Fielding

Estaba embarazada de un bebé extraordinario

Grace McAllister pensó que llevar en su vientre un hijo para su hermana sería un acto desinteresado, aunque secretamente deseaba que aquel bebé fuera suyo y que hubiera sido concebido apasionadamente con el único hombre al que había amado. Pero eso era algo imposible.

Josh Kingsley, incapaz de compartir la magia de todo aquello, no podía soportar ver cómo el bebé crecía en el vientre de Grace. Deseaba que la niña y ella fueran suyas para poderlas cuidar. Entonces la tragedia golpeó a la familia y Josh se apresuró a proteger a Grace y a la pequeña Posie, esperando que formaran parte de su vida.

A noiva do chefe por Ally Blake

Precisava de alguém que revitalizasse o seu negócio, porém, não imaginava que ela também lhe devolveria a vida…

Quando Veronica Bing apareceu com as suas calças justas e as suas botas altas e lhe disse que era a pessoa ideal para o emprego, Mitch Hanover não teve outro remédio senão dar-lhe razão.

Veronica sabia por experiência própria que ter uma relação com alguém com quem trabalhava não era boa ideia e era evidente que o bonito Mitch podia ser muito perigoso. Era verdade que ele também se sentia atraído por ela e que os seus beijos a derretiam, contudo, Veronica sabia que, depois de perder a sua mulher, Mitch jurara não voltar a apaixonar-se… a menos que ela conseguisse fazê-lo mudar de ideias.

AL BALLO CON IL CAPO di HART JESSICA

Sarà vero che in amore gli opposti si attraggono? Miranda non ne è affatto convinta, ma una serata molto speciale sta per farle cambiare idea

Miranda Fairchild è una ragazza semplice e con i piedi per terra, e non riesce proprio a concepire lo stile di vita sfarzoso e superficiale di Rafe Knighton, l'affascinante milionario che l'ha assunta per aiutarlo a organizzare un ballo da sogno. Spendere una cifra astronomica per una festa è già un'assurdità, ma allestire un gran gala al solo scopo di trovare una moglie è pura follia! Poco importa: la professionalità viene sempre al primo posto e Miranda dovrà fare buon viso a cattivo gioco e assecondare ogni desiderio del suo cliente. Anche se questo significa indossare uno scintillante abito da sera e ballare un romantico lento, stretta tra le braccia di Rafe.

Play-boy ou papa?, Susan Meier

Afin de renflouer au plus vite les caisses de sa société, Audra accepte un poste de nounou à plein temps chez Dominic Manelli, un riche héritier devenu tuteur de son neveu orphelin. Hélas, elle ne tarde pas à déchanter car son employeur semble davantage prêt à la séduire qu'à assumer pleinement son rôle de « père ». Contrainte de conserver ce poste coûte que coûte, Audra s'efforce d'éviter tout échange autre que strictement professionnel avec Dominic, ce qui ne fait que susciter davantage encore la curiosité de ce dernier à son égard...

NACHT IN VENETIE / GEBOREN VOOR HET GELUK
LUCY GORDON, BARBARA HANNAY

Nacht in Venetië

Op een regenachtige avond staat de Engelse Ruth Denver voor een prachtig oud huis aan in Venetië, palazzo Bagnelli. Ze is op zoek naar haar vakantieliefde Gino, die haar heeft verteld dat hij afstamt van de beroemde Bagnelli's. Tot haar teleurstelling is hij daar niet. Gelukkig vangt Pietro, de knappe beheerder van het palazzo haar op. Tijdens de viering van het carnaval worden ze verliefd op elkaar. Maar is Pietro wel wie hij zegt te zijn?

Geboren voor het geluk

Nells droom komt uit als ze plotseling de zorg krijgt voor een piepklein baby'tje. En ze staat niet alleen voor de opvoeding van de kleine Sam, want plotseling verschijnt haar oude vlam Jacob ten tonele. Hij biedt Nell en het kleintje onderdak aan in zijn prachtige huis te midden van de ongerepte natuur van Australië. Zal daar hun liefde een nieuwe kans krijgen?

MANCHMAL WERDEN WUNDER WAHRvon: JACKIE BRAUN

Wie ein Häufchen Elend steht Lauren am Straßenrand. Ihre Schwangerschaft, auf die sie so lange vergeblich gehofft hatte, verursacht ihr momentan nur Übelkeit, und der Streit mit ihrem Ehemann, der absolut keine Kinder will, tut unendlich weh. Retter in der Not ist Gavin O’Donnell. Wie ein Ritter in schimmernder Rüstung eilt ihr der sportliche Immobilientycoon zu Hilfe. In Gavins Landhaus findet sie Zuflucht und endlich auch Liebe – für sich und das ungeborene Kind. Rührend kümmert sich Gavin um ihr Wohlergehen. Doch Laurens Mann stört die romantische Idylle …

RWA National Conference, Washington DC

Last week, hundreds of authors, yet-to-be-published writers and industry professionals took Washington DC by storm when they attended the Romance Writers of America national conference. Seriously- Tuesday and Wednesday the Marriott staff had this glazed, shell-shocked look at the volume of enthusiastic women (and a few men) that had taken their hotel hostage.


It was my first National Conference and boy am I hooked now. What a fabulous time. A lot of that time was spent with fellow Romance authors.
I met Fiona Harper in 2007 at the Association of Mills and Boon Author day, and we were both arriving on the Tuesday so we planned to meet for dinner. What a great idea - from that moment on Fiona and I met for several meals, down time - even sightseeing at the end of the trip.


Over the course of the next few days, I met several Romance authors I had before only known in cyberspace - Shirley Jump, Teresa Carpenter, Susan Meier, and debut author Barbara Wallace. On Wednesday, we all joined our Senior Editor Kim Young and met up with Editorial Director Karin Stoecker, Sharon Kendrick and Lynn Rae Harris for a trip to the Washington Post.


We had a guided tour, and got to sit in on their story conference where the editors of each section meet to finalize what will run on the front page etc. of the following day's edition. I expected a longer, more detailed meeting, but these people are fast, efficient and thorough. One story was swapped out in favour of another...and carry on. Here we all are in the foyer, photo taken courtesy of Sharon Kendrick - who cracked me up every time I met up with her. From left to right: Presents author Lynn Rae Harris, me, Shirley Jump, Barb Wallace, Kim Young, Teresa Carpenter, Susan Meier, Fiona Harper.

Shirley, Fiona and I had dinner together one evening as well, at a cute Thai place with gorgeous summer rolls and soup. Shirley is the QUEEN of shoes, by the way. Pop by her blog for her version of conference....and to Fiona's as well. Fiona had a brand new camera that took wonderful pictures.


One of the nice things was spending time with Kim and Joanne Grant, another UK editor. On Wednesday, several of the UK authors met for a trip to the Smithsonian. Put a group of Romance authors in the same room as the Hope Diamond - AND all those lovely gemstones and we all were finding lovely accessory pieces for our Rita and Harlequin Party ensembles. From there we saw the collection of inaugural gowns of the First Ladies. The lighting made pictures difficult, but lookie here - Fi got a great picture of Mary Todd Lincoln's.








What is Nationals without the famed Harlequin Party? Shirley posted a picture of the two of us by the 60th Birthday screen...and we danced...and danced...and danced... What a fantastic time. I forgot to be self-conscious and totally got my groove on!





Kim and Joanne looked fresh and lovely the next morning when they gave their workshop on "Don't Let The Plot Get In The Way of Your Story". I attended and had several lightbulbs about my own writing that will hopefully strengthen future stories. I didn't get a pic in the workshop, but here are Kim and Jo at the Bookseller's Best Awards ceremony. Congrats to Romance's Myrna MacKenzie for winning the Traditional Category!

On Saturday, I was honoured to fill in for our own Jessica Hart, who was nominated for a Rita for her 50th Romance, Last Minute Proposal. Oh, the glam dresses! The shoes! The list of best selling authors in attendance (I tried not to stare, I promise). There was a lovely reception afterwards.


And then it was over, and Fiona and I kicked back for some sightseeing. We took a trolley tour and had a fabulous time. We explored the Lincoln Memorial, as well as the Korean and Vietnam Memorials, as well as the Capitol, and had a hotdog and lemonade before crossing the Potomac to Arlington. At this point, we had to say goodbye - Fi had a flight to catch and I explored Arlington Cemetery solo. Here is a pic of Fiona and I at the Capitol. As you can see, after several days of "business casual" I went for comfort and sneakers for sight seeing. My feet thanked me.


I came home so tired but with so many great memories of a fantastic first conference!

July Author Post...Sicily with Carol Grace

Greetings from sunny California where I write from my mountain top house overlooking the Pacific Ocean.

It’s July and I’m celebrating the release of my 30-something Harlequin/Silhouette romance – THE SICILIAN’S BRIDE, while Harlequin is celebrating their 60th birthday.

When my family and I went to Sicily on vacation a few years ago, I was seduced, not by a dashing Sicilian winemaker as happened in my book, but by the colorful history, the cosmopolitan cities, the gorgeous scenery, the art and the archeology. And the food! I can’t forget to mention the delicious arancini, the pasta and the famous drink made from the lemons growing everywhere - limoncello. Sicily is Asia, Europe and Europe all combined on one enchanting island. I knew I had to set a book there.

Isabel Morrison, an American from California, has inherited a vineyard from an uncle she never knew. As an orphan, she’s touched to think a relative cared enough to remember her in his will. She takes Italian lessons and learns what she can about growing wine grapes and heads for Sicily. After a broken love affair, Isabel is eager to make a new start. But there’s a man standing in her way. He’s Dario Montessori, the former owner of the land, who’s determined to get it back. But Dario doesn’t know how stubborn and how intriguing the heiress can be. As he reluctantly helps her tend her vineyards, and get to know his extended family, he falls in love with her along the way. Reluctantly!

Here’s a brief excerpt from THE SICILIAN’S BRIDE:

Isabel Morrison was lost. She’d been driving around on dirt roads for hours looking for the Monte Verde Vineyards. There were no signs at all out here in the country. The small rented Fiat was no equipped with GPS or air conditioning and she was sweltering in the September heat. She’d known it would be hot in Sicily, but not this hot…….

Just when she thought she’d have to turn around and go back to the little town of Villarmosa and get more directions, she spotted a man picking grapes. Exactly the kind of man she would hire to work in her fields….The man in sight was tall, strong and muscular and obviously used to hard work. She was so excited she slammed on the brakes and skidded to an abrupt halt.

He was shirtless and his jeans rode low on his hips. Very sensible in this kind of weather. Very sexy too. She swallowed hard and tried to tear her eyes from his broad chest covered with a light dusting of dark hair, but couldn’t. Perspiration broke out on her forehead. She couldn’t seem to take a deep breath. Maybe this was her property. Maybe he worked for her already and she’d be making wine this fall with his help. No, she couldn’t get that lucky.

“Ciao, signore,” she called. “Per favore, dove e la Villa Monteverde?”

Carol's book is available in stores July 14 and online at eharlequin now.

July Releases

The Cowboy's Baby by Patricia Thayer

Kira lit up Trace McKane's life when she said, "I do"— but when no baby McKanes came, they lost sight of their precious bond.

Now Trace is sleeping in the bunkhouse. But when their name reaches the top of the adoption list, he returns to stand firm and strong by his brave, beautiful wife's side. Kira is touched by how far Trace will go to make her dreams come true. Looking up at her husband as if for the first time, she realizes she has all the family she needs.

It's then that she's given a miracle….

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The Brooding Frenchman's Proposal by Rebecca Winters

Since Laura arrived at his family's château, Raoul Laroche hasn't taken his eyes off the golden-haired beauty. But he thinks she's just another gold digger, out to snare the Laroche family fortune.

The minute she steps off the boat, breathes the balmy sea air and feels the warm sun on her back, Laura Aldridge knows this trip to France is a brand-new beginning. Though that's before she catches the gaze of a brooding Frenchman….

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The Sicilian's Bride by Carol Grace

Inheriting a Sicilian vineyard and tumbledown farmhouse is Isabel Morrison's chance to start again. A graduate of the school of hard knocks, she's determined to stand on her own two feet.

Local vintner Dario Montessori wants Isabel's land. It once belonged to his family and he blames himself for losing it. He'll do anything to claim his vineyard—and only a stubborn redhead stands in his way….

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His L.A. Cinderella by Trish Wylie

Cassidy Malone describes herself as a plain, slightly plump schoolteacher—totally unsuitable for Hollywood life. Unfortunately she is now at the beck and call of top movie mogul and old flame Will Ryan.

Once upon a time she signed a contract, in a whirlwind of youth and confidence. Now, as they write the script they never finished, Will's devilish smile and lethal charm make her yearn for the safety of the classroom!

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Dating the Rebel Tycoon by Ally Blake

As a gawky teenager, Rosie knew she never stood a chance with heartthrob Cameron Kelly. She had pigtails and glasses, and washed dishes by night to help support her and her mother, while Cameron came from one of the richest and most revered families in Brisbane.

Years later they meet again, and Rosie finds herself on a date with the devastatingly attractive billionaire! There's something different about him—he's darker, more intense, dangerous. But she's determined to ignore his three-dates-only rule and get to the heart of the rebel tycoon….

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Always the Bridesmaid by Nina Harrington

Amy Edler is a baker, not a wedding planner! But along with making her best friend's wedding cake, Amy finds herself planning the wedding—with only her friend's disapproving big brother for help!

Gorgeous entrepreneur Jared Shaw hasn't made his millions letting other people run the show. So, although he's normally allergic to weddings, he has rolled up his sleeves and is helping sweet and sexy Amy with every last detail!

And his last job is to buy the bridesmaid the perfect gift….

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