Anything Goes Friday - Eye Candy

David Sutcliffe is one of those actors who can be convincing as both the bad boy and Mr Nice Guy.

Fans of Gilmore Girls are likely to remember him as the irresponsible father and Lorelai Gilmore's on-again, off-again boyfriend, while for me he'll always be the man with the sweet smile who wins the heart of Diane Lane in Under the Tuscan Sun. More recently, David has appeared in Private Practice.

David is Canadian, a Gemini, plays hockey, is an avid Poker player and has a degree in English Literature (a man who reads - how sexy is that?!). His internet biographies are sketchy to say the least, so I'll let the pictures do the talking ...

In other Minx news, Sally Minx has sold her second book, Bound to Love,  to new London digital imprint, Embrace Books which is launching early 2011. Woohoo!

Author Spotlight: Maisey Yates

Today the Minxes are so very thrilled to have with us fellow writer and friend, Maisey Yates. For those who aren't aware, Maisey is one of the newest authors to be initiated into the Harlequin Presents stable and we shared her excitement when she received The Call a mere eight months ago. Since then, she's sold a further 3 books and is already writing her 5th, we believe!

So without further ado...Maisey Yates!

1. Where were you in your writing career 5 years ago?

Five years ago I'd never finished a manuscript. I'd never read a romance. And I couldn't even imagine finding the courage to finish a story, because then..I might have to submit it. I had dreams of being a writer one day, but I never really believed that that's what I would end up doing.

2. Where did you get the idea from for this particular book?
It came from the heroine Elaine. I sat down and started writing, and there she was, proposing to the hero. She's a strong woman with a mind of her own, and she definitely had her own ideas for how her story was going to go.

3. Where do you hope to be in 5 years time?

Writing Presents, raising my kids, loving my husband...maybe in a slightly larger house.

4. Which was the last book you read that you wish you'd written?

That's tough, because there are a lot of moments in a lot of books that make me say "WOW! Why couldn't I say it that way??" But, I just read Flowers From the Storm by Laura Kinsale and I had to wonder where that story came from. It was just so deep and emotional. I had some serious writer-envy there.

5. Was there any particular author or book that made you want to be a writer?

The first Presents I read was by Miranda Lee. (and I can't remember the title...so...if anyone want to talk after class and help me figure it out...) When I read that book, and all the passion and drama and emotion, everything clicked into place for me. I knew that was what I wanted to write.

6. Do you find writing love scenes giggle-worthy or cringe-worthy?
Love scenes are my favorite thing to write. For me, they're always intensely emotional to write. For me, the scenes are specifically built around the couple I'm writing about, and it's always fun when all the tension you'll built up gets to...explode.

7. What's the most romantic moment of your life so far?

That's hard, because my husband is kind of a paragon. I have the most perfect wedding picture of him standing at the head of the aisle just when he's seen me for the first time and he has tears on his cheeks. But, I think that him bringing a bouquet of roses to my first pre-natal appointment when I was pregnant with our son wins.

8. What do you wish you'd known about being an author before you were pubbed?
I don't know very much yet! But I will say: take it all in stride. It's amazing, and I'm having the time of my life, but no doubt there will be low points, more revisions, rejections, bad reviews. And then there's exciting things like good reviews and release days and covers. Even with all of that, good and bad, you have to just keep writing.

9. What's the best writing advice you've ever been given?
I think the best advice I ever received was from my CP, Jilly Aston. She said, yeah, you're going to have to rewrite the last half of your MS. And I emailed my editor and said, DO I REALLY? And she said...yeah, you do. But it was the best advice I've ever been given...and freeing, if you can believe it.

10. Tell us about your latest release.

In His Virgin Acquisition, Elaine Chapman is willing to do whatever it takes to get her father's company...even if it means offering marriage to the man who just purchased the company, Marco De Luca. She's got everything planned, and she presents him with an offer he can't refuse. Of course, not everything goes according to plan...she hasn't counted on actually being attracted to her new husband...

11. What’s next for you?

My next release, A Mistake, A Prince and A Pregnancy will be out in the UK in October. Imagine my hero's shock when a woman he's never met comes to tell him she's pregnant with his baby...

Thanks you so much for blogging with us today, Maisey, and for giving us a sneak peak at the new Presents covers! :)

Monday Minx - Jo P

I can't tell you how thrilled I am to be the newest minx on the minxy block!
I'm really pleased and privileged to join the group, so first and foremost, thank you to the lovely minx girls for having me.

Following on from that happy dance, I then realised that I'd need to introduce myself and have been in a mild panic ever since. Honestly, I've wracked my brains to think of interesting things to tell you about myself, and i'm sorry to say that I'm struggling!
I'd so love to be able to tell you that I live an uber cool and minimal lifestyle, in a designer house with a capsule wardrobe of camel & black pieces effortlessly put together from this seasons coolest collections.
I'd also love to confess that I holiday five times a year in far flung places with sugar white sands and turquoise seas ( all in the name of research of course! Charge it to my expenses account daaarling!)

However, it would all be big fat lies. The truth is that I live a haphazard lifestyle in the not-very-glam-at-all black country. For the mercifully uninitiated- it's in the west midlands, named for it's proud industrial history, mostly now gone. I guess i'd have to say that i'm proud to be a black country girl (even if it means that my accent is more Lenny Henry than Lady Diana), but I still have a deep hankering to run away and live in the country - preferably somewhere large and rambling in the beautiful patchwork hills of Shropshire please, if the lottery gods are reading this.
And my wardrobe? Well, it's most definitely not capsule! Bulging with mismatched clothes that I really ought to have given away to charity years back is closer to the mark, but hey ho - the diet might work one day and then i'll be spoilt for sartorial choice...

Did i just mention the diet? Hmmm. That brings me neatly to my love for chocolate and cake, preferably cupcakes with sparkles on the top if given the choice. Or carrot cake. Or chocolate cake. Or, ooh err, a cream horn!

Which finally brings me rather smuttily around to the actual purpose of this post- my love for romance, both the reading of and the writing of.

I am loud and proud of my love for Mills & Boon, and will happily confess to a deep abiding affection for a cockle warming romance. There's so much angst and heart breaking news all around us every day, but you can always rely on a good romance to transport you temporarily to a better place. Between the covers of every romance lies a new hero to fall in love with for a few hours, and a new heroine to root for and envy. You get to visit those far flung places from the comfort of your own armchair, to rub shoulders with princes and billionaires, and you might even get diamonds and Manolos thrown in too if you're lucky!
I've read them forever, and I have no doubt that I always will.

My personal romance writing journey only began around a year ago.
I'd wanted to put pen to paper for more years that I care to remember, but I let myself use every excuse in the book to not be brave enough.
I was too busy with work. And then I was too busy getting married and having babies.
I read the forums and blogs voraciously, but it was seeing the launch of the 2009 Mills & Boon writing competition that finally gave me the push I needed. Like many others around the globe I sweat blood and tears over my entry, and I was completely over the moon when I got the call to say that my entry had placed as runner up in the competition. I've never won anything before in my entire life, so to say I was shocked was an understatement! That was back in December last year, and since then i've re-written the synopsis and substantially changed that lucky first chapter, written and revised the partial, and I'm now waiting to hear back on the full manuscript. Throughout this process I've also come to realise that I have the patience of a gnat, which is an unhelpful trait that I need to work on if I am to have a hope in hell of staying on the aspiring writer roller coaster.
It's certainly not for the feint hearted is it?

I can't believe that I waited this long to start doing something that has very quickly become my consuming passion. It honestly makes me tingle with happiness when it's going well, and kick the wall and swear like a builder when it's going badly.
But whatever happens with this manuscript, i'm in it for the long haul now, because I've finally discovered something that I truly love.
I think I might even love it more that chocolate.
Cupcakes, even.
Maybe there's hope for that diet after all then...

Anything Goes Friday - Book Reviews

Today we're reviewing books we've recently read and loved. First up is Sally Minx, reviewing Kelly Hunter's Red Hot Renegade, then Romy Minx reviewing Michelle Reid's Mia's Scandal.

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Everyone loves a sexy hero, and from the moment that Martial Art expert Jake Bennett appears on page one of Kelly Hunter's latest Modern Heat he claimed the title, and made it his own.

The book opens at Jake's brother's engagement party, where he awaits the arrival of his long estranged wife, Jianne Xang-Bennett. Kelly masterfully hooks the reader by showing how all of Jake's family are concerned for his reaction. They know he still cares for her, and by showing their concern rachet up the tension until Jianne enters the scene.

The story is set in Singapore, and Jake is an unusual Modern Heat hero, in that he lives modestly in his dojo, where he teaches karate. He's not rich. Jianne is. And she's being relentlessly pursued by a dangerous suitor called Zhi Fu who has tracked her from China to make her his.

Jianne needs to persuade Zhi Fu that she isn't available, and what better way than to reunite with her estranged husband? She moves into the dojo, and soon they're not pretending to be in love any more, but are caught up again in a familiar attraction that threatens to overwhelm them. But Jianne left Jake for a reason, and isn't convinced that he will put her first. And Jake is wary of love after his relationship with Jianne broke up so many years before, and will have to learn to accept both her and her wealth to make the relationship work.

Red Hot Renegade is masterfully written, and a wonderful read. The setting, hero and heroine are all out of the ordinary for a Modern Heat, and all the more powerful for it. Bravo Kelly!

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Thanks for that review Sally. Jake and Jianne both made an appearance in Kelly's previous book Untameable Rogue, so I was already keen to read their story, but your review made me go out and buy it.

Mia's Scandal is part of the The Balfour Legacy, a series of special releases by Harlequin.

We often read Italian heroes but it was really interesting to read an Italian heroine for a change. Michelle Reid caught the flavour of Mia's passionate temperament and her difficulties with the English language without it ever being intrusive. What I really loved was that she was a truly spirited heroine, though she is also a complete 'innocent', having grown up in rural Tuscany. She stood up to the hero at almost every turn and gave as good as she got, even venting her temper on him. And she was never TSTL.

But the best thing about this novel was the Greek hero. Nikos might possibly even be the most enticing hero I've ever read. And yes, that includes Darcy! If you've read the book, please let me know if you agree.

Michelle Reid tends to 'head hop' a lot, but it is a testimony to how well this book hooks the reader that after a while it no longer annoyed me and I just had to keep turning the pages.

My overall impression, as much because of the evocative writing as because of the cover, was one of colour. Whenever I think of this book I'm going to remember it as black & scarlet. The book was sensual, seductive, and as delicious as dark chocolate. In spite of the constant POV shifts and the glaring use of the word 'likened', this book is going on my keeper shelf.

Author Spotlight - Cindy Davis

Today we're very excited to have Cindy Davis answering the Minx questions. Cindy is of course, a very talented editor as well as an author, and previously featured on the Minxes blog, telling us all about how to do the perfect synopsis. Take it away, Cindy!

Where were you in your writing career 5 years ago?
At that time I was focused on attending as many conferences and workshops as possible. To learn as much as I could. I made sure to introduce myself to every editor, agent or publisher I met, regardless of their genre. One time, I introduced myself to an agent in a ladies room waiting line. You never know where an opportunity will present itself.

Where did you get the idea from for this particular book?
Funny where ideas germinate. Play with Fire is the second in my Angie Deacon series. I am a gardener. I thought it would be interesting to have a precious flower stolen. I emailed three of the world's top iris breeders and asked for info on their most expensive iris. One breeder phoned me, laughing because their most expensive flower was $50. But, he had a great idea for a plot: in reality, there's no such thing as a red iris, they don't carry a red gene. Iris breeders have spent millions, literally, trying to produce one genetically. In Play with Fire the character does produce a red, but before he can take advantage, all his work is stolen and he's killed.

Where do you hope to be in 5 years time?
On the best seller list! Grin. It's a long shot but they say to shoot high and don't take no for an answer. More realistically, I see my editing career moving to another eschelon. I have done some teaching at conferences and I'd like to see that go further. There are some tutorials on my website: http://www.fiction-doctor.com./

Which was the last book you read that you wish you'd written?
Anything by Lee Child. I don't like his sentence structure; as an editor it makes me cringe but his plots are unique. There's something new on every page. I also find Sandra Brown's mysteries to be like that. (Don't care for her romances though)

Was there any particular author or book that made you want to be a writer?
I guess my love of writing comes from the Nancy Drew series, and anything by Agatha Christie. Agatha was another author with tremendous variety in her stories. I always loved puzzles--most of the time figured whodunit before the sleuth.

Do you find writing love scenes giggle-worthy or cringe-worthy?
My first drafts are usually a good bit of both. There isn't much in the way of love scenes in a mystery series. Readers have told me that's not what they want from a story. Then again, I think it's realistic to assume there ARE love scenes, so mine tend to be short and to the point. Like Angie and Jarvis' first time in Play with Fire: Jarvis kicked the door shut and shoved her back, thumping her head on the panel that vibrated to the Stones. His first kiss stifled her gasp of surprise. He leaned in, crushing her breasts with his chest. The thick bulge of the prop gun pressed into her hip. And became the most erotic sensation she'd—his tongue drove deep in her mouth—ever experienced. As the final pulse-pounding beat of Wild Horses shook the walls, Colby Jarvis rode Angie with the pulse-pounding fury of a stampede. For several scenes afterward, Jarvis berates himself for treating her like that, and every time Angie thought about she wanted to buy Stones albums.

What's the most romantic moment of your life so far?
I am married to a black and white kind of guy who never sets up romance on purpose. That said, romance can come in unique and unexpected places. We had the best picnic, at dusk, in a small boat on the Blackwater River in northwestern NY state, anchored under an overhanging tree... I will someday use this scene. But not in the mystery series, Angie hates the water.

What do you wish you'd known about being an author before you were pubbed?
How hard it was to find a truly good small publisher. I was first pubbed by one of those small presses who began solely as a means to get the owner's books published. She knew nothing about the publishing world, art work or editing. She hired a printer who knew nothing either. My first books had awful art and glue on the covers. Since then, small presses have come a long way, but ones like that gave small pubs the bad rep.

What's the best writing advice you've ever been given?
Write write write and pay attention to critiques from your elders. If somebody says something's wrong with your story, really stand back and evaluate. And here's some advice from me: never never turn in a first draft manuscript. I can't tell you how many people do that. They query a publisher with about a third of the book yet to write, then when the ms is requested, scurry to finish the last chapters.

Tell us about your latest release.
That would be Play with Fire I mentioned above. Angie and partner Tyson Goodwell have just opened a community theater, the culmination of a dream. The murder happens on stage of their first production--and the murderer is none other than Detective Colby Jarvis. Angie investigates in order to clear him.

What's next for you?
Two things. Book three of the Angie Deacon series will be out in August. In Hair of the Dog Angie is on vacation. For three nights she's kept awake by a dog barking. She finally confronts the neighbor publicly. As mysteries happen, he's found dead the next morning. To clear herself she follows clues to a makeup factory and a dog show. Not surprisingly, the two turn out to be related.


Secondly, I am writing a romance. Yes, in Finding Cassidy I will be writing a love scene, or three, though there will be no Rolling Stones. Cassidy Scott, an actress being stalked by a fanatic, takes a leave of absence and rents a bungalow in a small NE town. She meets two people: Arlen, a teen who's an aspiring screenwriter (naturally, he thinks he recognizes her), and his friend and mentor, Kirk Blackwood, a reclusive artist who reads a note on Cassidy's counter and concludes that Arlen is all wrong—Ms. Scott is a serial killer. As her relationship with the artist smoothes out and moves along, the stalker arrives in town.

Book one of the Angie Deacon series, can be ordered here from Amazon.

Book two, Play with Fire, can be ordered here from Amazon.

Also available now, Final Masquerade from The Wild Rose Press.

Read more about Cindy at her website: http://www.cdavisnh.com/

Thanks for the interview, Cindy!