CONGRATULATIONS, HARLEQUIN!

It's the 60th Anniversary of the first appearance of Harlequin romances and today the celebration begin in earnest with the launch of HARLEQUIN CELEBRATES where, although it's their birthday, Harlequin are the ones giving the presents. Click on the link and from today you, your mother, your sister, everyone you know, can down load a free eBook from every single series.

With authors like Merline Lovelace, Elizabeth Rolls, Linda Goodnight and Susan Napier in the line-up, Harlequin are offering a rare treat and if I sound a little excited, it's because my own book, THE BRIDE'S BABY, is representing Harlequin Romance and you cannot imagine how proud that makes me.

Here is the complete list --

Harlequin American Romance, Once a Cowboy by Linda Warren

Harlequin Blaze, Slow Hands by Leslie Kelly

Harlequin Historical, His Lady Mistress by Elizabeth Rolls

Harlequin Intrigue, Crime Scene at Cardwell Ranch by B.J. Daniels

Harlequin Presents, Price of Passion by Susan Napier

Harlequin Romance, The Bride’s Baby by Liz Fielding

Harlequin Superromance, Snowbound by Janice Kay Johnson

Silhouette Desire, Baby Bonanza by Maureen Child

Silhouette Nocturne, Kiss Me Deadly by Michele Hauf

Silhouette Romantic Suspense, Stranded with a Spy by Merline Lovelace

Silhouette Special Edition, Dancing in the Moonlight by Raeanne Thayne

Love Inspired, A Very Special Delivery by Linda Goodnight

Love Inspired Historical, Homespun Bride by Jillian Hart

Love Inspired Suspense, Hide in Plain Sight by Marta Perry

Kimani Romance, Irresistible Forces by Brenda Jackson

Nascar, Speed Dating by Nancy Warren

You can download the books as a PDF or as an eBook. Or, if you prefer to download a version to your iPhone, that will be available in a couple of weeks.


Don't rush off yet! That's not all!

In February, the North American spotlight is on Harlequin Romance with "Diamond Brides" and there's a competition for readers to win a diamond necklace so visit Diamond Brides Proposals -- it could be you!

HERE COME THE GROOMS WINNERS!

Hi, Nick here again. Kate is back from Dublin and we now have a full line up of winners for the Grooms competition this year.

First of all, an amazed thank you to everyone who showed up and took part. Who knew that we were that interesting? And Liz asked me to remind you that this is an annual event, so if you didn't win this next, well there's always 2010. And probably quite a few other chances to win books in between.

So, the winners are, Lynn Moon in Florida, Rachel Newland in New Zealand and Karen Haas in North Carolina. Congratulations all of you. The books are in the post.

Now, if you'll excuse me, there's a car at the door waiting to take me to my wedding.

RNA CELEBRATES

The Romantic Novelists' Association is very nearly 50 years old. It was founded in 1960 by Alex Stuart, with an initial membership of 115 published authors, with the declared aim of raising the profile of the genre and garnering respect to match its huge popularity, and sales that made publishers rich and the cash tills ring in bookshops throughout the world.

That it has made huge strides in this aim, is a credit to a lot of very dedicated writers, many of them household names, who spare time from writing to appear on television, the radio and spend hours with journalists to press home the message and to organise the prestigious Romantic Novel of the Year, won by many great writers, and more recently, the Romance Prize which recognises the very different challenge of writing short romance fiction. There is also the fabulous New Writers Scheme, which nurtures and encourages the new talent which keeps the genre vibrant, fresh and the biggest selling section of the book market.

The celebrations will kick off later this year with the publication of LOVES ME, LOVES ME NOT, a collection of short stories by members and here's a sneak peek at the cover. Edited by Katie Fforde and Sue Moorcroft and published by MIRA, the anthology contains stories by Joanna Trollope, Adele Parks, Maureen Lee, Elizabeth Chadwick, Anna Jacobs and a host of other well known authors. And me. I'm in there, too with a short story called The Partnership Deal.

You can check out the full list of authors at the RNA website. And when you've done that, make a note in your diary to add the hardback edition to your Christmas shopping list later this year. Your mother, your sister, your aunts and your best friends will be so pleased that you did. A paperback edition will be published in 2010.

LAST DAY TO WIN "THE GROOMS"

Nick Jago again. It seems that Anne, Kate and Liz are all too busy to stop by and remind you that the HERE COMES THE GROOMS (that would be Santos, PJ and me) competition ends today.

Liz, I have to tell you, is pleading work, but she has taken to downloading books on her PC and reading them when everyone thinks she working.

Santos, that must be some story you've got there because she appears to be glued to that laptop. My ex stole my work, which was bad enough, but I can't wait to find out how the Montague's got away with your money. Or how you got away with the girl!

For those of you out there who also want to know, and who haven't already entered the competition, this is your last chance to win all three of the following books.


First up is Anne McAllister's hero, P J Antonides in her book Antonides' Forbidden Wife.

No one knew PJ Antonides had a wife!

Sometimes PJ barely remembered it himself. He'd married Ally Maruyama in another lifetime on the other side of the world. He'd been doing her a favor then. They'd both moved on.

Now Ally is back! And she says she wants a divorce. Suddenly PJ wants anything but . . .

Ally isn't sure she trusts PJ or these new ideas of his. And heaven help her if she falls in love with him all over again!

Browse this book

Add to your site

Buy this book

Groom # 2 is Kate Walker's Santos Cordero in Cordero's Forced Bride. Alexa Montague is mortified. She's had to call off her sister's wedding, and now the ruthless, arrogant groom, Santos Cordero, is demanding that shy, ugly duckling Alexa, takes her sister's place!

The Montague's have stolen his money and his convenient bride, so Santos will enjoy taking Alexa instead. For Santos does not - cannot - love. But his body burns for Alexa as it has for no other woman before. He'll keep her captive in his bed until she's begging to be his.

Browse this book

Add to your site

Buy this book

And finally Groom # 3, is yours truly Nick Jago in Wedded in a Whirlwind.

Trapped in the dark, certain she's about to die, Miranda Grenville believes things can't get worse. She's wrong. She's trapped with Nick Jago...

Okay, you've had a taste of what's in store for three lucky winners of these three books. Now here's what you have to do.

There are three questions and to win you have to answer all the questions and email your answers to Anne, to Kate and to me. Each of us will pick a winner and that winner will get a copy of each of the these books.

Here are the questions:

1. PJ left New York after he graduated from high school. Where did he go?
2. Who was Santos supposed to be marrying?
3. What scent did Jago recognise?

You'll find the answers in excerpt on our websites and you've got until January 21 to send in your answers.

Got it? You'll find "contact me" links on all our websites. Use those to email us -- all three of us with all three answers, don't forget. And good luck!

IN THE CAVE...

Nick Jago here again to eat humble pie.

Liz is still locked in the deadline cave but she's read PJ's book, Antonides' Forbidden Wife and said I've been too hard on him. Apparently he's funny, smart, sexy and NOT FORGETFUL. In fact she thinks he's a man in a million, and okay, having taken a peek myself I'm ready to admit that I was a little quick to jump on the guy. But don't blame me for getting the wrong end of the stick. Take it up with whoever wrote the book blurb.

In the meantime I've been ordered to read Kate's book, Cordero's Forced Bride. Santos has already left a message to tell me I've got that all wrong, too. What can I say, guys? When you're in London, the drinks are on me.

Now, if you'll excuse me, Michael's scratching and apparently it's my job to check his hair for nits.

Just talk amongst yourselves, or take part in the competition. Here's what you have to do: --

There are three questions and to win you have to answer all the questions and email your answers to Anne, to Kate and Liz. All three of them.

Each of them will pick a winner and that winner will get a copy of Cordero's Forced Bride, Antonides' Forbidden Wife and Wedded in a Whirlwind.

Here are the questions:

1. PJ left New York after he graduated from high school. Where did he go?
2. Who was Santos supposed to be marrying?
3. What scent did I recognise?

You'll find the answers in excerpt on their websites -- you'll find "contact" links there -- and you've got until January 21 to send in your answers.

HERE COME THE GROOMS...

Hi. I'm Nick Jago and apparently I have to drop everything, including Manda, my lovely bride, in order to tell you about this competition that Anne, Kate and Liz are running this month.

Fortunately, I'm not in this on my own.

P J Antonides, a man who can barely remember that he's married (which frankly doesn't sound promising) and Santos Cordero, whose chosen bride has done a runner -- who are these guys, Liz? -- are in this with me.

Here's the deal.

There are three questions and to win you have to answer all the questions and email your answers to Anne, to Kate and Liz. All three of them.

Each of them will pick a winner and that winner will get a copy of Cordero's Forced Bride, Antonides' Forbidden Wife and Wedded in a Whirlwind.

Here are the questions:

1. PJ left New York after he graduated from high school. Where did he go?
2. Who was Santos supposed to be marrying?
3. What scent did I recognise?

You'll find the answers in excerpt on their websites -- you'll find "contact" links there -- and you've got until January 21 to send in your answers.

Is that it, Liz? Can I go and sort out those little details you flung in at the last minute? Cancel the honeymoon...

Murder One closing: did we commit this crime?

The loss of one of Charing Cross Road's best bookshops is as much down to customer neglect as the economic climate...

Read on...

This might seem an odd link to put on a romance writer's blog, but the closing of a great independent bookshop is always cause for regret and Murder One did not just sell the biggest collection of crime novels available anywhere in Britain, it also stocked a huge range of imported romance titles. This was the one place where readers could find their favourite American writers, such as Barbara Samuels and Rosemary Laurey, unobtainable anywhere else in the UK.

I'm as guilty as the next woman of clicking onto the internet to buy books. I live way out in the country and don't have access to an independent bookseller. Even a visit to a chain means taking half day off and "one-click" has revolutionised my book buying. But Murder One was always on my list of must-visit when I made my rare forays into London and I'll miss it.

Scroll down for the HERE COME THE GROOMS competition -- there are three prizes of three books up for grabs.

HERE COME THE GROOMS!


Yes! It's that time of year again.

Three grooms.

Three questions.

Three chances to win three books!


First up is Anne McAllister's hero, P J Antonides in her book Antonides' Forbidden Wife.

No one knew PJ Antonides had a wife!

Sometimes PJ barely remembered it himself. He'd married Ally Maruyama in another lifetime on the other side of the world. He'd been doing her a favor then. They'd both moved on.

Now Ally is back! And she says she wants a divorce. Suddenly PJ wants anything but . . .

Ally isn't sure she trusts PJ or these new ideas of his. And heaven help her if she falls in love with him all over again!

Browse this book

Add to your site

Buy this book

Groom # 2 is Kate Walker's Santos Cordero in Cordero's Forced Bride. Alexa Montague is mortified. She's had to call off her sister's wedding, and now the ruthless, arrogant groom, Santos Cordero, is demanding that shy, ugly duckling Alexa, takes her sister's place!

The Montague's have stolen his money and his convenient bride, so Santos will enjoy taking Alexa instead. For Santos does not - cannot - love. But his body burns for Alexa as it has for no other woman before. He'll keep her captive in his bed until she's begging to be his.

Browse this book

Add to your site

Buy this book

And finally Groom # 3, is my own Nick Jago in Wedded in a Whirlwind. Trapped in the dark, certain she's about to die, Miranda Grenville believes things can't get worse. She's wrong. She's trapped with Nick Jago...

Okay, you've had a taste of what's in store for three lucky winners of these three books. Now here's what you have to do.

There are three questions and to win you have to answer all the questions and email your answers to Anne, to Kate and to me. Each of us will pick a winner and that winner will get a copy of each of the these books.

Here are the questions:

1. PJ left New York after he graduated from high school. Where did he go?
2. Who was Santos supposed to be marrying?
3. What scent did Jago recognise?

You'll find the answers in excerpt on our websites and you've got until January 21 to send in your answers.

Got it? You'll find "contact me" links on all our websites. Use those to email us -- all three of us with all three answers, don't forget. And good luck!

RNA ROMANCE PRIZE

The minute I declare I'll only post once a week, life gets truly interesting. Here's a press release from the Romantic Novelists' Association. It speaks for itself, but huge congratulations to those on the shortlist.

Romance Prize celebrates shorter fiction alongside the Romantic Novel Of The Year

The Romantic Novelists’ Association, who will announce the shortlist for the Romantic Novel of the Year award on 13th January, is also honouring writers of shorter romances such as those published by Harlequin Mills and Boon.

“Although both awards celebrate novels with a high romantic content,” explains Catherine Jones, Chairman of the RNA, “the Romance Prize honours the most memorable stories set around a single theme that concentrates on the developing love affair.”

The Romance Prize will be presented at the RNA’s Awards Lunch on 10th February 2009 at the Royal Garden Hotel, Kensington. The winner will be selected from the following books:

What's Love Got to Do With It? - Lucy Broadbent (Little Black Dress, Headline)
The Wild Card - Beth Elliott (Robert Hale)
Mistress: Hired for the Billionaire's Pleasure - India Grey (Harlequin Mills & Boon)
Sold to the Highest Bidder - Kate Hardy (Harlequin Mills & Boon)
Saying Yes to the Millionaire - Fiona Harper (Harlequin Mills & Boon)
Promoted to Wife and Mother - Jessica Hart (Harlequin Mills & Boon)

Fiona Harper has been short-listed before, and both Jessica Hart and Kate Hardy are past winners. Kate Hardy, who won in 2008 with Breakfast at Giovanni’s, had this to say: "Winning the Romance Prize has been the highlight of my career to date, and it's certainly opened up opportunities. I'm very proud to have won the award and to be part of the RNA - and have been delighted by messages of support over the year. I even had a personal letter of congratulations from the chancellor of the University of Leicester!"

The shortlist will be judged by Margaret James, creative writing teacher for the London School of Journalism and regular columnist with Writing Magazine; Paul Reizin, writer, producer and journalist; and Linda Leatherbarrow, prize-winning short story writer, reviewer and MA lecturer at Middlesex.

(PS come back tomorrow for Here Come the Grooms).

NEW YEAR, NEW LOOK!

Thanks to the lovely Ally Blake, who's been looking after my web design for a while now, I have a fresh new look for the New Year.

I'm still fiddling with the sidebar -- getting the balance right between clutter and information -- but that's all down to me now.

One of my new year resolutions is to spent a little less time on the web and a little more concentrating on a pile of deadlines I've got coming up so the plan is to post no more than once a week on Sunday.

Meanwhile, do look out for the annual HERE COME THE GROOMS competition that I'll be running with Kate Walker and Anne McAllister this month (which will probably mean breaking that resolution!).