Monday, June 25, 2012

Does anyone remember...?

I've been a Mills&Boon addict since I was a young teen. Along the intervening decades, I've read some books that linger, half-remembered in the back of my brain. These are the keepers that I've lost along the way (don't worry, am not going to turn this into another rant about my ex and the skip - we all know what happened).

With most, I don't recall the titles, nor the writers, but only half snatches of the story. It's infuriating.

Here are three I'd love to read again:

The first is a story about a heroine named Anne. Anne worked as a nurse and there was tragedy in her past - a stillborn baby and a failed marriage. Then, one day, Anne sees an advert for a nanny for someone she is convinced is her own child - the one who had supposedly died. She takes on an assumed name, borrows references from a friend and applies for and gets the job. As far as her husband was concerned, Anne had walked out on him and their newborn daughter on the day of the birth and he can't understand why she's back. Until his evil, but now repentant, mother confesses she had told Anne that her baby had died and the husband wanted nothing to do with her.

The second, involves a student named Gemma, who is convinced to take part in an experiment on dating for a fellow student's thesis. This involves dark haired and dark eyed Gemma wearing a blonde wig and blue contact lenses so that she fits the bill as the ideal physical type for the target man. They go off to Switzerland, where Gemma is thrown into the path of this man with the expected consequences.

The third has a heroine who takes a job with a farming family as a general domestic worker. She's been well educated by her wealthy family, but does all she can to fit in with her employers. It turns out the mother of the family is also her own biological mother and she was given up for adoption as a baby. The romantic interest is provided by the family's step-son who assumes that she is a rich man's plaything when he sees her with her adoptive father.

If these stories ring bells with anyone, please let me know. I'd love to be able to track down copies and replace them in my collection.

And what romance novels have lingered in your mind long after you've closed the covers?

Friday, June 22, 2012

We got The Call! (again!)

The Minxes are delighted to announce that minx Jo Pibworth got the call from Harper Collins, who have eagerly snatched up her debut for their hot new Authonomy imprint! Jo's new writer handle is Jodie James, and they are running a competition to give The Lighthouse a new title too!

Read Jo's call story on her blog, and check the blurb out on Authonomy here.

And here's the competition details:

A book's title is just as important as its cover - these are the first things you notice, whether you're shopping for an ebook or a physical book. Jodie James' brilliant women's fiction needs a name that really does the story justice. And, we want you to help us choose it! We're inviting authonomy authors to use their creative minds and suggest a fitting title for Jodie's book.

The winning submission will win its creator a brand new bookshelf: 20 of HarperCollins' best titles from the genre of their choice. Oh, and they may just see their suggestion gracing the shelves of bookstores in a few month's time.

To enter:
Send your suggestions to yourauthonomy@harpercollins.co.uk
All entries must be submitted before UK midnight July 13th
The subject line needs to include the words Title Competition and your suggested title - e.g. Title Competiton: Little White Wedding chapel'
Please put your details in the body of the email.


Congratulations, Jo! And because we're all on for a party, join us in some virtual champagne!



p.s. Heads up - If you fancy a couple of free minx reads to celebrate, my book Catch Me A Catch is free tomorrow and Sunday on Amazon (.com, .co.uk) , and my new book, Challenging Andie is free on Monday and Tuesday.(.com, .co.uk)

Wednesday, June 20, 2012

Author Spotlight - Lorraine Nelson

Today we're interviewing Canadian author Lorraine Nelson, whose new book Her Unlikely Bodyguard, is now on sale through Breathless Press and Amazon.

Lorraine has done something a little different for us today: she has interviewed the hero of her novel.

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Thank you for having me here today, Minxes! I had a fun time arguing points with Theodore Garrity, the hero from Her Unlikely Bodyguard, released on June 15th. Available at Breathless Press and major online retailers.

Teddy's Most Embarrassing Moment:
LN: That would be when Jemma Leigh saved his hide. *Chuckles*
TG: Damn! I'll never live that down.
LN: Nope! Some bodyguard you are!
TG: Hey! It all worked out.
LN: Yeah, thanks to me.

Finish this sentence:
LN: When Teddy's in the laundry room, he's looking for clean socks.
TG: No, I'm doing laundry.
LN: No way! Not one scene in that entire book had you doing the laundry.
TG: Well, you couldn't be there all the time. And I did help bring clothes in off the line. At least you managed to record all the important stuff.
LN: *Smirking* Probably more than you realize.

Favorite Toy:
TG: I don't play with toys.
LN: You treat that big brute of a truck you drive like a toy.
TG: I do not.
LN: You do! And instead of playing around with your gears, you should watch where you're going.
TG: I do watch! That was an accident.
LN: Uh, huh. Tell that to Jemma Leigh.

Favorite Drink:
TG: Jemma Leigh's lemonade.
LN: Hmmm, can't argue with you there.
TG: Well, that's a first!

Favorite Car:
TG: That would be my Dodge Ram 4x4.
LN: That's not a car! They asked for your favorite car.
TG: My favorite car, if I ever feet I need one, is a Jaguar.
LN: Oh, flashy.
TG: Gotta keep up appearances.

Favorite Scent:
LN: Oh! I've got this one…lilacs.
TG: Women! There's more to life than flowers.
LN: Maybe so, but they asked for my favorite scent. It certainly isn't whatever cologne you're wearing.
TG: This happens to be a very subtle scent, and besides, Jemma Leigh likes it.
LN: Hmmm, gotta have a talk with that girl.

Favorite Movie:
TG: Anything with Sylvester Stallone in it.
LN: *snort* That's a favorite actor, not movie.
TG: Woman, do you have to question everything I say?
LN: Why not? You gave me a hard enough time, butting in when I was trying to write your story.
TG: I had to make sure you got it right.
LN: Ha! Give me a break, will ya? I brought you into this world. I can take you right back out.
TG: *Superior grin* No one else wanted to work with you, so you're stuck.
LN: There are many more where you came from, buddy.
TG: But none fit the bill as good as I did, and besides, it's a done deal. Our book releases in twelve days.
LN: Our? I hate to admit it, but it is one of my better works.
TG: Guess my charm won you over.
LN: Could be that Jemma Leigh's plight did.
TG: At least we survived it.
LN: Yes! I so love a happy ending.


ABOUT THE BOOK

A stalker who wants revenge…a past flame rekindled…Jemma Leigh's summer just got interesting.

Jemma Leigh Harding has drawn the attention of an unknown stalker and returns to her hometown of Somerville, a safe haven—or so she thinks—on the east coast of Canada.

Theodore Garrity is the last person she expects to see, considering how easily he walked away from her after graduation to join the army.

Their past history involves secrets Jemma Leigh is hesitant to share. When it becomes clear the stalker has followed her home, Teddy becomes her unlikely bodyguard. Will the terror and past hurts separate them forever? Or will love blaze a fresh path for their future?


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One lucky commenter will receive a free download of Her Unlikely Bodyguard at the end of the blog tour. Winner to be announced on June 30th. So leave your comments and/or questions and I’ll do my best to answer. :)

Lorraine Nelson can be found on her website, blog, Facebook and Twitter, or you can contact her direct here.


Monday, June 18, 2012

Fifty Shades Of Grey

It seems that there is no escaping the 'Fifty Shades of Grey' phenomenon. It's one hell of a publishing juggernaut, isn't it?

Well, curiosity finally got the better of me this week and book one in the trilogy found itself on my bedside table. Being honest, I wanted to know what the fuss was all about, which I guess is the reason that many other people are buying it too.
Before I tell you what I thought, I will confess to being Fifty Shades of Envious of the authors success, hats off to her for picking up the ball and running with it.

Right, so to my verdict. I'm seriously underwhelmed.

I'd been told to expect rough writing, and sure enough, it felt rough enough to take the skin off my fingers in places. The main character, Ana, bit her lip so often I wanted the damn thing to fall right off her face,  and if she mentioned her inner goddess once... while, lets just say she mentions it regularly. There are other oft repeated phrases, and once you pick up on them they really, really irritate. Like, REALLY. Enough to want to set fire to the book kind of really.

Writing aside, the story itself felt painfully thin to me. The heroine was at times too stupid to live, and I failed to empathise with either of the two main characters - for the life of me I just can't see why women are falling for this man in their legions. Sure, he's dominant - but not in a sexy way for me. Sex is obviously the main thrust of the book (forgive the pun, I can't help it), but to me the sex just felt, well, deeply unsexy. Sorry ladies. I didn't fall for Christian Grey, and I def won't be buying books two and three.

In the interest of fairness though, I may have been biased slightly by the fact that I read 'Bared To You' by Sylvia Day directly before reading 'Fifty Shades of Grey'.
It came recommended by a fellow minx, and wow, it's one HOT book. The two books are undeniably similar in some aspects, but for me 'Bared To You' stands head and shoulders above in terms of writing and complex character development, not to mention that it's much, much sexier. It's more sophisticated, more polished, more believable. It's just more. I am totally Team Gideon Cross, and will be buying book two of the trilogy when it's released in October.

'Bared To You' is the book I wanted Fifty Shades to be.









Friday, June 15, 2012

Milestones & Counting Blessings

I really wanted to come up with something hugely profound and awe-inspiring for my last post before I turn, ahem, "21". Over the last couple of weeks I've wracked my (according to my daughter) ever-dwindling brain cells for earth-moving subjects.

In the end, I've decided to keep it simple. As I move into another decade, I'm reminded how transient life can be and with that in mind, I thought what better way to say goodbye to the old decade and hello to the new than by counting blessings?

So here are a simple (writerly) five:

1. I'm thankful for my lovely CPs who bolster me and whoop for me and are always there with "you can do this". I treasure them without measure.

2. The lovely people I've met throughout my writing journey. Writing is such a solitary craft but the knowledge that I can reach out to my wonderful writer friends is priceless to me.

3. I'm thankful for the equally wonderful books out there that make me want to become a better writer just by the magic they produce. There's nothing more inspiring IMO than reading a book that gets you so jazzed up you can't wait to get writing yourself.

4.  Twitter! I never thought I'd say this about any social media, but I love this medium so much for the inspiration and camaraderie I get when I log on, I can't not mention it. Twitter Rocks!!

5. Chocolate - enough said.

So there you have it folks. And to make the chocolate lovers out there really jealous, I thought I'd cheekily post a replica pic of the cake I intend to have tomorrow (mine's being decorated). It's a chocolate curly wurly cake from Konditor & Cook and each slice tastes like a little piece of heaven...

Please feel free to share what you're thankful for. We'd love to know.