RELEASE DAY AKA SEQUEL TIME!!!

I’ve been dying for this book to be released ever since I wrote what became my debut book for Harlequin Mills & Boon, THE PRICE OF SUCCESS.

It's sequel, HIS ULTIMATE PRIZE was a joy to write. I know most writers say that but the truth is some books are tough, and some books, like this one, just FLOW. I know in most part it was because Rafael had been waiting a while to have his story told, and boy did that man have a lot to say!

Anyway, he got his wish and his official outing today.

And the good news is, not only do you get to read how Rafael wins Raven's heart, his brother Marco and his lovely heroine Sasha, have somehow also managed to slip in there! So my dear blog friends and readers, you’re getting what my US friends like to call a Twofer and we on this side of the Pond refer to as a BOGOF!!

If you looooove bad boys as much as I do, then this is the book for you. If you haven’t read Marco’s story (why not?!) and would love to read my debut Harlequin, then this is the book for you, too. Really, it’s a win win!

Here’s the blurb for both. 

HIS ULTIMATE PRIZE:

Winning is everything 

Rafael de Cervantes was a devil behind the wheel and in the bedroom until his near-fatal crash. To mask his pain? He'll seduce his beautiful physio, Raven Blass! 

Knowing she's responsible for his scars, will Raven risk discovery for one glorious night in Rafael's bed? 

THE PRICE OF SUCCESS:

Owner of the Espiritu racing team, tycoon Marco de Cervantes thinks he knows exactly what's going on inside Sasha Fleming's pretty little head...She's clearly not above using her wide-eyed beauty and tempting curves to become Espiritu's first female racing driver. The infuriating thing is - she's the best driver around! Marco's willing to reap any rewards...on and off the track...but he couldn't be more wrong about Sasha. Unlike the socialites that flock round him she has no interest in being a billionaire's trophy wife - and she wills her body to prove this to him. But success always comes at a price! 

Having held the book in my hand, I can assure you it’s the perfect weight for a Christmas stocking ;) So go on, get it out – your Christmas stocking, not your, er….never mind.

Get it out and get stuffing :) And if you leave me a lovely comment, one of you will win a signed copy of your very own to stuff your stocking with!

Good Luck & Happy Reading.

Maya

x

Review: The Price of Success

The advantage of belonging to a critique group as large as the Minxes, is that when life gets hectic and one of your CPs needs their manuscript read, there's always someone else able to stepin and you're not under pressure to do a critique.

Which is how I managed to read Maya's The Price of Success completely fresh, just as a reader, and without having to think of things like sentence structure or character inconsistencies.

As a reader, I loved this book. As I said in my previous post, it's set in the world of motor racing (my favourite sport), with a truly strong, feisty heroine (my favourite kind of heroine), and a hero I could easily fall in love with (and did).

This story has all the intensity and passion that is Maya's trademark, and she manages to keep the sensuality levels high and constant with surprisingly few actual love scenes. From cover to cover the chemistry sizzles.

As a writer, I'm very aware of saggy middles in a book, perhaps because it's the part I struggle most with. This book doesn't sag at all. The pace is unrelenting, the story and characters so gripping, that I kept turning the pages and never once felt an urge to put the book down. No wonder Maya's been getting such great reviews and made the Top 10 books of 2012 list on Harlequin Junkies.

But my biggest, number one reason for loving The Price of Success? The references to The Vampire Diaries. Read the book and see if you can spot them!

So what's next from Maya? Happily, there will be many more Maya Blake novels for you to enjoy.  Her next book, The Sinful Art of Revenge, will be available in both the UK and North America in April 2013. This is Damon and Reiko's story and features another unconventional heroine. I can't wait to get my hands on it!

The Price of Success should still be available in all brick-and-mortar stores that stock Harlequins, as well as on the Mills & Boon site, from Harlequin, Amazon and Amazon UK in both paperback and Kindle versions. However you plan to spend this holiday season, treat yourself with this read.

But don't take my word for it. Read this book and post your own review. Or leave us a comment letting us know how much you enjoyed Maya's debut novel.

Chicken soup and the Price of Success

Our very own Maya Blake was supposed to be here on the blog this week talking up her debut Harlequin Presents novel, The Price of Success. However Maya is laid up in bed with really terrible flu, so I thought I’d step in instead.

Since I’m scheduled to post about this book next week, I’m not going to talk about this story (with its strong, smart, unconventional heroine, and very Alpha, very irresistible hero). I’m going to talk about Maya instead.

Maya is every bit as strong and sassy as the heroines she writes.
She’s a Superwoman. She has a demanding, high-powered day job, two kids, and a husband in an equally demanding day job which occasionally takes him away from home. Maya not only manages all this (like many of the other Superwomen we know) but she still makes time to write intense, emotional and very sexy romances. And I know, as I’ve been privileged to read quite a few Maya Blake stories. (You’re just going to have to be satisfied with The Price of Success and her Blaze story for now, but I promise you won’t have to wait long. There’s more Maya Blake goodness coming your way soon).

Maya is a not a woman who messes around. She’s been known to pull all-nighters to write when she’s inspired (or on a deadline) and you know that anyone who goes to a hectic day job after writing all night is seriously crazy dedicated.

She also doesn’t let any of us Minxes mess around either. Maya is the wielder of the Big Minxy Stick. The Stick may be virtual but it’s still scary, and it’s been known to whip at least one Minxy butt back into line. If any of us is suffering from a case of Acute Procrastination, Maya’s Big Stick is the wonder cure.

Maya is also our staunchest defender, ready to leap in with that Big Stick in our hour of need. Have any Crows of Doubt, dodgy exes, or pesky cold callers you need dealing with? Just call Maya.
So now, in her time of need, I’m going to ask all our Minxy friends and blog readers to join me in creating a wonder cure for Maya’s flu.

We’re going to make her feel better by telling her how much we love her book. If you haven’t read it yet (and why not? It’s been on sale in stores and e-stores everywhere for at least a week!) then tell us why you loved the blurb and/or cover so much that you just have to read it.

I’m going to start by saying that I love The Price of Success because it’s set against a motor racing background and like Maya I’m a massive fan of Formula One motor racing. My fanship was guaranteed before I even opened my copy and read the dedication!

So why do you love The Price of Success? And remember that every comment is a virtual bowl of chicken soup, so keep them coming.

And don't forget - The Price of Success is available direct from Mills & Boon, Amazon and Amazon UK.