tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91437824314023257712024-03-14T10:30:14.759+00:00Michelle Smart Romance AuthorWriter of strong, sassy heroines and the alpha men they bring to their knees...Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger55125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143782431402325771.post-40527680580269514472013-11-22T19:38:00.001+00:002013-11-22T19:38:43.940+00:00Hello Strangers
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">So…. It’s been a long time since I wrote a proper post for
this blog and, I have to confess, it’s been deliberate. It’s very hard to write
cheerful and positive things when your heart is breaking. At the beginning of
June, my sister’s two year old son was diagnosed with stage four germ cell
cancer. After nearly six months of sheer hell, yesterday my sister and
brother-in-law were given the news we’ve all been praying for – he is
officially in remission. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I cannot begin to explain the relief and elation we all feel
(and a certain sense of numbness too), and I can’t begin to explain the awe I
feel towards my sister and her husband. Cancer is a cruel disease at the best
of times, but when it involves such small children, it’s especially
heart-breaking. To witness your own child go through something so horrendous is
nothing less than a living hell – the way they’ve coped has been little short
of awe-inspiring.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">When my nephew was first diagnosed, he was so poorly he
spent two months in hospital with my sister by his side 24/7. As a family we
all rallied round, and during my numerous visits there, I became obsessed with
the doctors and nurses and volunteers on the oncology ward. How could they do
the jobs they do, amid such suffering, and still keep their compassion? The
more I obsessed about it, the more I became determined to write a book with the
heroine as a female paediatric doctor (after all, who deserves to be swept off
her feet more by a gorgeous billionaire than a woman who dedicates her life to
making children better?). And so I wrote it. Spookily, that book (number four
for Presents/Modern) was accepted on Wednesday, literally twenty-four hours
before my nephew was given the all-clear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">It’s come full circle now. We can breathe again.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Take care all xxx<o:p></o:p></span><br />
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143782431402325771.post-48994586966728148902013-09-30T14:59:00.001+01:002013-09-30T14:59:07.478+01:00Popping those cherries...<div>
Hello to you all!<br />
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Today I am delighted to welcome the very lovely Aurelia B Rowl here on my poor neglected blog (yes, I'm still making excuses for my sporadic postings!). I first 'met' Aurelia a few years back via a facebook support group set up for the Mills & Boon New Voices competition. That support group is still going strong and, I'm pleased to say, Aurelia is going even stronger! Her debut release, Popping the Cherry, has been released through the Harlequin digital first line Carina Press, and is already garnering a whole host of rave reviews. When I saw she was doing a blog tour (keep reading - she has prizes!) I couldn't wait to be involved but, as regular readers here will know, asking conventional questions to authors just isn't my thing...<br />
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Over to you Aurelia! </div>
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Hi Michelle, and thank you for inviting me onto your blog today to talk about my latest release, <i><a href="http://www.aureliabrowl.com/popping-the-cherry.html" target="_blank">Popping the Cherry.</a></i>
I must admit, when Michelle asked me to come up with some 'tunes' suitable for those cherry-popping moments I actually laughed out loud. Naturally, I turned to YouTube, but for once it let me down so I went to my backup plan...spotify.
Of course, once I got started I got a little bit carried away and ended up choosing songs from across the decades that could well have got the whole lurrrrrve thing going on. So, without further ado, I present my "Let's Get It On..." playlist. Let me know what you think, and maybe make some suggestions of your own?
I've also got two giveaways on the go as part of my blog tour, with some fabulous prizes up for grabs, so make sure you scroll down to enter.
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Aurelia B. Rowl lives on the edge of the Peak District with her very understanding husband, their two fantastic children, and their mad rescue mutt who doesn’t mind being used as a sounding post and source of inspiration. She regularly wows them all with her curious, hastily thrown together meals when she gets too caught up with her latest writing project... or five!... and she has developed the fine art of ignoring the housework.
Aurelia writes Young Adult/New Adult crossover fiction and contemporary romance. She is currently busy writing the standalone companion novels to both <i><a href="http://www.aureliabrowl.com/popping-the-cherry.html" target="_blank">Popping the Cherry</a></i> and <i><a href="http://www.aureliabrowl.com/christmas-is-cancelled.html" target="_blank">Christmas is Cancelled</a>.</i> To find out more about Aurelia, you can visit her website: <a href="http://www.aureliabrowl.com/">www.aureliabrowl.com</a> or you can find her hanging out online, far too often, at the following:
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<a href="http://blogspot.aureliabrowl.com/">Blog</a> ¦ <a href="https://www.facebook.com/aurelia.b.rowl">Facebook</a> ¦ <a href="http://www.twitter.com/AureliaBRowl">Twitter</a> ¦ <a href="http://plus.aureliabrowl.com/">Google+</a> ¦ <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/aureliabrowl">Pinterest</a> ¦ <a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/aureliabrowl">BlogLovin</a> ¦ <a href="http://aureliabrowl.tumblr.com/">Tumblr</a> ¦ <a href="http://www.youtube.com/aureliabrowl">YouTube</a> ¦ <a href="http://uk.linkedin.com/in/aureliabrowl">Linked-In</a> ¦ <a href="http://www.amazon.com/author/aureliabrowl">Amazon</a> ¦ <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/aureliabrowl">Goodreads</a> ¦ <a href="http://aureliabrowl.booklikes.com/" target="_blank">Booklikes</a></div>
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<b>You only get one first time . . .</b></div>
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From driving tests to relationships, Valentina Bell thinks she’s a failure, with a big fat capital F. At this rate, she’s certain she’ll be a virgin for ever. So Lena’s friends plan Operation: Popping the Cherry to help her find the perfect man first time.</div>
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Yet somehow disastrous dates with bad-boy musicians and fabulous evenings with secretly in-the-closet guys aren’t quite working out how Lena planned.</div>
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Soon Lena’s avoiding Operation: Popping the Cherry to spend time with comforting, aloof Jake, her best friend’s older brother, who doesn’t make her feel self-conscious about still clinging to her V card. But could Jake show Lena that sometimes what you’re looking for most is right by your side?</div>
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<b><b>A <i>Forever</i> for the twenty-first century</b></b></div>
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<a href="http://www.carinauk.com/popping-the-cherry">Carina</a> ¦ <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Popping-the-Cherry-ebook/dp/B00E8F97LQ">Amazon UK</a> ¦ <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Popping-the-Cherry-ebook/dp/B00E8F97LQ">Amazon</a> ¦ <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/gb/book/popping-the-cherry/id681206885">iTunes</a> ¦ <a href="https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Aurelia_B_Rowl_Popping_the_Cherry?id=HQYzAAAAQBAJ">Google</a> ¦ <a href="http://www.sainsburysebooks.co.uk/book/Popping-the-Cherry-Aurelia-B-Rowl/7657517">Sainsburys</a> ¦ <a href="http://uk.nook.com/ebooks/popping-the-cherry-by-aurelia-b-rowl/9781472018052">Nook</a> ¦ <a href="http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/popping-the-cherry">Kobo</a>
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18278952-popping-the-cherry" target="_blank"><img alt="Popping the Cherry" src="https://www.goodreads.com/images/atmb_add_book-70x25.png" /></a></div>
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<h2>
Giveaway...</h2>
There are two contests underway as part of the <i>Popping the Cherry</i> blog tour, with an assortment of prizes up for grabs. Enter via Rafflecopter below:
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu2uKySpslmfUudFffvWYYd9p9J5Ecy61QxuYmq6wBFhS5DQtbHCbsj3OVYxSKDhC6te322mBNjQu208CuC4ih2wB9rYW-OIOYC5ezlhn4WoHTdir1uxdpE72A8lF0WvJgL3ZUlpsrAuxc/s1600/Slide3.GIF" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu2uKySpslmfUudFffvWYYd9p9J5Ecy61QxuYmq6wBFhS5DQtbHCbsj3OVYxSKDhC6te322mBNjQu208CuC4ih2wB9rYW-OIOYC5ezlhn4WoHTdir1uxdpE72A8lF0WvJgL3ZUlpsrAuxc/s400/Slide3.GIF" width="400" /></a></div>
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UK</h2>
<a class="rafl" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/4fb03d14/" id="rc-4fb03d14" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>
<script src="//d12vno17mo87cx.cloudfront.net/embed/rafl/cptr.js"></script></div>
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International</h2>
<a class="rafl" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/4fb03d15/" id="rc-4fb03d15" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>
<script src="//d12vno17mo87cx.cloudfront.net/embed/rafl/cptr.js"></script>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143782431402325771.post-6700507136953131002013-08-17T12:52:00.000+01:002013-08-17T12:52:42.680+01:00Summer Sun Award & Apology<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I’ve been nominated for a Summer Sun Award by the very lovely <a href="http://traceyrogers.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Tracey Rogers</a>, <a href="http://beloved-eleanor.co.uk/blog/" target="_blank">Alison Lodge</a> and <a href="http://taylormadefiction.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank">Susan Arden</a>. Yep, three nominations, plus I '*think* a few other people have nominated me too. I'm so sorry it's taken me so long to do this and I'm sorry my brain's turned into a pile of doggy-doo but to be totally frank, I haven't felt particularly sunny in recent months.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Without going into detail, a close member of my family has been seriously ill, and to make it even worse, it's one of the youngest members. But... finally there is some light to be found, enough so that I can do this post, happy that the sun is coming out for us all.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Firstly you display the logo and link back to the blog of the person who nominated you. Unfortunately I have been rubbish at linking the logo so... whoops! No sun (but the links for all three lovely ladies are there if you click on their names). Then you answer the following summery questions before nominating a lucky eight ….one for each sunray on the (missing) picture. Alas, as it seems that every author and their cat has already done this, I'm going to continue my lazy streak and not bother!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">All questions are summer based...</span><br />
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<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Favourite song with summer in the title or the words (give the line): </span></strong><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">This is an easy one for me to answer - Don Henley's Boys of Summer. I think I've loved this song forever.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Favourite book about summer: </span></strong><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Another easy one - Aimee Duffy's Sinfully Summer. I defy anyone to read it and not want to get on the first flight to Marbella!</span><br />
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<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Favourite hot summer film;</span></strong><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Erm... Now this is a much harder question to answer. I think I'll plump for Dirty Dancing. After all, it's set in a holiday camp, so it must qualify!</span><br />
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<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Favourite summer memory:</span></strong><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">So many happy summer memories to choose from. I guess it's a collective memory of those long summers we all had when we were kids: days spent watching The Goonies, Blues Brothers and Romeo & Juliet (the Olivia Hussey version) on loop until my sister and I knew every word; days spent roaming the village where we lived, climbing trees on one side of the village brook and jumping off and onto the other side... so many happy memories.</span><br />
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<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Favourite summer holiday destination:</span></strong><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The Seychelles. Need I say anymore?</span><br />
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<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">What books will be in your suitcase this summer?:</span></strong><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Stephen King's Joyland and Gillian Flynn's Gone Girl.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">What's your likely destination this summer?:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">My house! Hopefully if I'm asked again next year, I'll have a much more exotic answer to give. Come on, make me jealous and tell me about all the far-flung destinations you've either been to this year or are going to.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Et voila!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Take care all xxx</span><br />
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143782431402325771.post-90016937015383441222013-06-06T21:38:00.004+01:002013-06-06T21:42:16.011+01:00A Little Treat...<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Bonjour!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Today I have a little treat for you (or, if you prefer, an unwanted, unwelcome hand-knitted jumper from granny that goes straight in the bin when she isn't looking!). Today, I am posting the first chapter of my novella in mine and Aimee Duffy's anthology, Once Upon A Twist. For those who don't know, mine is a twist on Cinderella, and features ugly sisters, pumpkins and glass slippers... </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span> <br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">So, without further ado, here is the opening chapter of Glass Slippers & Combat Boots.</span><br />
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</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Buy Links: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Once-Upon-a-Twist-ebook/dp/B00CZG9L5C/ref=sr_1_9?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1370550517&sr=1-9&keywords=michelle+smart" target="_blank">Amazon.com</a> <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Once-Upon-a-Twist-ebook/dp/B00CZG9L5C/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1370550675&sr=8-3&keywords=michelle+smart" target="_blank">Amazon UK</a></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><u><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span></u></span></span></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Once Upon a Time, in a land far, far away…<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p></o:p></span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Ratatatat.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">From the floor of the cellar,
Ella heard the echo of the loud rap on the front door but paid it no heed. Her
chores for the morning were complete and all she wanted was to catch up on some
sleep before her stepmother or one of her stepsisters forced another job upon
her.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Pulling the thin sheets
over her shoulders, she closed her eyes and let her mind drift away to James,
the handsome stranger she had met in the woods only ten days before. He had
brightened her life so much. Just thinking about him eased a little of the
tightness in her chest.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Sleep was just about to
claim her when the cellar door flew open and Ana hurried down the narrow stairs
waving a sheet of creamy parchment in her hand.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">“Do you see this,
Cinders?” she asked, a self-satisfied smile lighting her face.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Ella stared at her, not
attempting to hide her loathing. “I’m not blind.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Ana’s smile dropped a
fraction. Malevolence sparkled in her eyes. Looming over Ella, she waved the parchment
in her face. “This, darling stepsister, is an invitation from the King. He is
holding a ball to welcome his son’s return from war. Every eligible female in
the land has been invited, and from us all, the returning Prince shall select a
bride.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">As if Ella would be
allowed to attend. Since her beloved father had been murdered the year before, her
life had consisted of enslaved drudgery. His death had marked the start of a
new chapter in her life, a chapter that would be better placed in a horror story
than a fairy tale.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Her lack of hope was
well placed.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Ana leaned over so her ugly
face was mere inches from Ella’s, close enough for Ella to smell the rancidity
of her stepsister’s breath. “Do you know why I am telling you about this,
darling stepsister?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Ella pursed her lips and
gazed at the grey ceiling. She was sick to death of these ridiculous games her
stepsister insisted on. “Let me guess – you and Izzy will be attending while I
stay locked in this cellar? You’re here to rub my nose in it?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">“For a blonde, you’re
not as dumb as you look.” Ana giggled, a sound that had the same effect as
nails being run down a chalkboard. Spittle flew from her mouth, landing on
Ella’s cheek. “Izzy, Mummy and I are all going to go to the Ball, while you, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Cinderella</i>, shall stay here and party
with the rats and spiders. I just thought I would share our good news with
you.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">“How kind.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Ignoring the sarcasm,
Ana’s smile widened. “Don’t worry, we won’t let you miss any of the
excitement.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">“Ooo, do I get to
squeeze your spotty back before you leave?” As a result of her atrocious diet,
Ana’s plump skin was marred with blackheads.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Ana’s foot struck Ella’s
shoulder before she had time to wriggle away from the danger area. “That’s for
your insubordination,” she hissed, her face contorting into a grimace
Rumpelstiltskin would be proud of. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Before she left she
aimed another kick in Ella’s side.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Ella didn’t even flinch,
simply stared at her stepsister’s retreating back with eyes that revealed
nothing. So what if her nonchalant stance only served to increase Ana’s fury?
They might have control of her life but she would give them no more. It drove her
step-family mad they could not break her outer shell.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">“It’s all right boys,
you can come out now, she’s gone,” she said to her pet rats, Itchy and
Scratchy. It took a few minutes before they heaved their shaking bodies from
their tiny hideaway and snuggled back under the blankets with her.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">***<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Of all the jobs Ella was forced to
do, there was only one she enjoyed: collecting firewood from the forest that
backed onto their large stone manor. Naturally, she made a big fuss of doing
it, knowing her stepmother, Christell, took perverse pleasure forcing Ella to
do anything she hated. Thus, Christell sent Ella into the forest more often
than was strictly necessary.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Ana, Izzy and Christell
would not set foot in the forest. Each was terrified of the talking bears who were
rumoured to live in it, never mind the malevolent dwarves who were often spied
trundling through with their axes and spears.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">None of these creatures
scared Ella. Beneath their gruff exteriors she found them, on the whole, kindly
and much misunderstood. They just wanted to be left alone to live their lives
in peace. Not that she would tell her step-family this. It was one of the many
secrets she kept from them.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The largest secret she
hugged to herself like a precious jewel. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">When she left the house
much later that afternoon, armed with a sack that required filling, she had to
force her feet to walk hesitantly rather than skip along with glee as they
wanted. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Following the footpath
from the garden gate, she was soon in the forest, the thick trees camouflaging
her from prying eyes. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">“There you are!” A
figure jumped down from a huge oak tree with a flourish, and landed upright before
her, his arms stretched in a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">ta da</i>
fashion. James. The man who had turned her monstrous nightmares into such sweet
dreams. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">He gazed up at the
position of the sun. “You’re late,” he said, before looking back at her, the
twinkle in his green eyes belying his choice of words.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">She shook her head.
“You’re early.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">He reached into his
pocket and pulled out an apple. “This is for you.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">She mock-curtseyed.
“Why, thank you kind sir.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">He bowed. “Mademoiselle,
it is my pleasure.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Ella could no longer
contain the smile from exploding across her face. In the space of ten days she
had gone from harvesting a supply of Belladonna to feeling as if her heart was
pumping fizzy water through her veins.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Ignoring the apple she
threw her arms around his neck and crushed her lips to his in a kiss that was
every bit as thrilling as she remembered and dreamed of.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">His free hand curled
around the nape of her neck, his fingers threading through her hair, the feel
of his warm skin on hers sending tingles bouncing down her spine.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">He broke the kiss, rubbing
his nose over her cheeks, raining kisses across her skin. “Ella, Ella, Ella,”
he murmured, his deep words touching her core like a caress. “Would it be
presumptuous to tell you I have missed you?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">“Only if it would be
presumptuous to say I have been counting down the minutes until I could see you
again.” <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Laughing, he extricated
himself from her hold and pressed the apple into her hand. “Here wench, you
need to eat.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Call
me that again and I’ll stuff the apple into your mouth whole,” she said, grinning
widely before kissing him again.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">“Sounds kinky.” James
tugged at her hand and pulled her down to sit on the small clearing with him. “I
do have other gifts,” he said, releasing her hand and opening the bag he’d had
slung over his shoulder. With an enormous grin that turned his handsome face
into a glory to behold, he produced a large slice of fruit cake, two chicken
legs and a bunch of red grapes.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">As she caught a whiff of
the delicious cooked chicken, her belly rumbled. She pressed a hand to it.
“Excuse me!” She laughed, almost giddy on the fumes from the feast before her.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">“Eat,” he ordered in
that commanding voice she guessed years of ordering troops about in the war had
perfected. “We can talk when you have finished.” <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">“But I’m hungry for
something else,” she said, the innocence in her tone a total contradiction to
the message being thrown from her eyes. James’s refusal to do anything physical
other than heavy petting was becoming an increasing source of agitation. Ella
yearned for him. To hell with proprietary. He was the first man she had met in
eighteen months. That he was handsome, charming and witty and turned her brain
to mush was an added bonus. Her body sang like a canary for him.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">He growled, helped
himself to a chicken leg, brought it to his mouth and ripped the flesh off it.
“Eat.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Together they demolished
the food. After eighteen months of stale bread and luke-warm water, all these
delectable goodies were nearly too much to handle. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">“That’s better,” he
said, nodding with satisfaction as she licked her fingers. “Look at you. You’re
skin and bone. You need fattening up.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">“Careful,” she winced.
“You sound like that old hag who lives in Gingerbread Cottage.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">He laughed. “I thought
those kids killed her.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">“For someone who’s been
away for so long, you’re certainly up with the gossip.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">“I make it my business
to keep in the loop.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">“Very wise.” She took a
long swallow of the deliciously cold water from his flask.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Her shrunken belly full
from so much wonderful food, Ella lay onto her back and gazed up at the cobalt
sky. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Had there ever been such
a perfect moment?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">James lay on his side
next to her and traced a finger along her bare arm. “There is something I need
to ask you.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">“Does it involve making
love?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">“In a roundabout way.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">“Not in a direct way?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">He rolled on top of her,
his weight and movement stealing the breath from her lungs. He kissed her, hard,
but before she could respond he broke away and stared at her with a solemnity
she had never seen before. Stroking his fingers through her hair he rubbed his
nose to hers and said, “Ella, I want to make love to you too, more than I have
ever wanted to make love to anyone. But when we make love I want it to be right
– I want us to be married. What I am trying to say is I love you. Will you
marry me?” <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">“Oh, James,” she sighed,
desperately trying to ignore the rush of joy that surged through her veins at
his words. “Nothing would make me happier but I’m afraid that’s impossible.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">He stilled, his eyes
clouding. “Are you promised to another?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">“No, nothing like that.”
<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">His lips tightened. He
rolled off her and sat up. “Do you not love me?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">“I do love you. More
than I thought possible.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">“Then why will you not
marry me?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">If only they had spent a
bit more time talking and a little less kissing, she might have felt compelled
to tell him sooner. As it was, she feared the truth could put him in mortal
danger. If Christell discovered she had blabbed…<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Yet, if she did not tell
the truth he would only suspect the worst. Now that Ella had found him she did
not want to lose him. “My stepmother has placed me under an enchantment.” <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">“What kind of
enchantment?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">She looked up into his
hypnotising green eyes. “The day after we buried my father, Christell burned
all my personal possessions and moved me into the cellar. She then placed an
enchantment around the cottage – I can’t leave by the front door and can only
go within a three hundred foot boundary to the back of the house. And that, my
darling, is why I can’t marry you. It is impossible for me to leave.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">He looked a little
stunned. “What happens when you breech the barrier?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">“I get a shock that
incapacitates me.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">His eyes widened. “Why
would she do that?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Ella shrugged. “Because
she hates me. She’s always hated me.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">“That doesn’t make sense
– if she hates you so much, why not cast you away?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">“Because I know too many
secrets to be set free. Believe me, if I told half the things I know she would
have her own spot at the hanging tree. She murdered my father – I can’t prove
it but I know it was Christell who put the poisonous spider in his bed. If she
could, she would kill me too but my fairy godmother put her own enchantment on
me that stops Christell or my stepsisters from killing me. It doesn’t stop them
beating me when the mood takes them, but it is impossible for them to
decapitate me or remove a limb or stop my heart from beating.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">“Why doesn’t your fairy
godmother break the enchantment?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">“Ha!” Ella rolled her
eyes and heaved herself up. “I haven’t seen her since my father’s funeral.
She’s elderly and very scatty.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">James’s easy-going smile
had vanished. His brow had furrowed and he stared at her for long moments
before speaking. “Christell’s taking an awful risk letting you into the forest
every day.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">“Like most of the humans
in this land, she avoids the forest.” She dragged a finger along his stubbly
cheek, tracing the long scar that ran along it, a permanent reminder of the war
he had been fighting in for King and Country. “But you are braver than most
humans.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Darkness clouded his
eyes. “I wish you had told me before… Ella, we need to find a way to break the
enchantment.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">“Until my fairy
godmother shows up, there is no way. Christell’s magic is too powerful and
personal for an unconnected sorcerer to break it.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">“It’s not safe for you
here,” he bit out. “I wanted to marry you and take you as far away as I could.
It’s not safe here for anyone.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">“Why, what’s the matter?
How can we not be safe? The bears are harmless – honestly, that girl,
Goldilocks, she was completely in the wrong. I know they scared her but how
would you react if someone broke into your home and ate all your breakfast…?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">“It’s not the bears or
the forest I’m worried about.” His deep voice had become sombre. “This was
something I had planned on discussing with you at the right moment, but now I
know you are physically trapped I realize I need to tell you now.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">“Tell me what?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">“Ella, that war I’ve
been fighting in… do you know what we were fighting?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">She shook her head. “We
were only told that Prince Charming and a hundred of his bravest Knights were
joining the fight in a land far away.” Feeling a wave of affection burst
through her, she ran a hand through his thick, cropped hair, so proud that
James had been selected to join the noble cause.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">“Did they tell you <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">what</i> we were fighting?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">“No. But then I don’t
get told anything, not anymore. Everything I know is from eavesdropping on my
stepfamily’s private conversations.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">“Would they be
well-informed?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">“Nothing gets past
Christell,” she said. “She’s a great one for wringing out people’s secrets. And
Izzy, the youngest of my stepsisters, is very popular, especially with the
boys.” She flashed him a wicked smile. “Before I was enslaved I remember
hearing a rumour she’d had a key made for her chastity belt.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">For the briefest of
moments his eyes sparkled before dimming again. “However much I would love to
get into a discussion about chastity belts, now is not the time. The people we
were fighting were not human in the strictest sense of the word.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">“What were they? Gnomes?
Goblins? I remember hearing once that goblins were ferocious warriors.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">“We were fighting
people,” he clarified, his eyes holding hers. “But they were not alive.”</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span> </div>
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><o:p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><em>Copyright © 2013 by Michelle Smart. </em><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;">
<em>
</em></div>
<em>Cover design by Dee Tenorio</em> <br />
<br />
<br /></span><br /></span><br /></o:p></span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Buy Links: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Once-Upon-a-Twist-ebook/dp/B00CZG9L5C/ref=sr_1_9?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1370550517&sr=1-9&keywords=michelle+smart" target="_blank">Amazon.com</a> <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Once-Upon-a-Twist-ebook/dp/B00CZG9L5C/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1370550675&sr=8-3&keywords=michelle+smart" target="_blank">Amazon UK</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Please feel free to let me know what you think!<br />
<br />
Take care all xxx</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143782431402325771.post-34379719822854076452013-05-10T21:29:00.001+01:002013-05-10T21:29:30.029+01:00And the Winner is...<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Thank you to everyone who voted - the outright winning title for the Cinderella story in our anthology, Once Upon A Twist, was Glass Slippers & Combat Boots, so many thanks to Jane Hunt for suggesting it, and many thanks to all of you who voted for it!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">As promised, I stuck all the commentators names in a hat and got my eldest munchkin to pull a name out. The winning name, the person who shall receive a copy of Once Upon A Twist is.... *drum roll please*... Jane Hunt!!! Yep, not only did Jane come up with the winning title, but she also won the random draw too. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Again, my thanks to everyone who voted and commentated, and as a taster for what you can expect from Glass Slippers & Combat Boots, here's a little something the incredibly talented Aimee Duffy made for me (speaking of Aimee, don't forget to head over to her blog to see the winning title for her book and the winning commentator by </span><a href="http://www.aimeeduffy.co.uk/2013/05/once-upon-winner.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">clicking here</span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">):</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Take care all xxx</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143782431402325771.post-34297019859482472082013-05-03T00:01:00.000+01:002013-05-03T00:03:16.856+01:00Once Upon a... Competition!<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">At last, the day you've all been waiting for has arrived! Fret no more; all is about to be revealed (think I might be suffering delusions of grandeur).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">As you most likely know, Aimee Duffy and I are publishing an anthology called Once Upon A Twist.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">We have each rewritten a fairy tale - I've done Cinderella, and Aimee's done Little Red Riding Hood. For me, this was the most fantastic opportunity to write something 'different' - and I promise it's completely different to anything I have ever done. I had a blast writing it, and Aimee did too!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">All that we're missing are titles for our individual books - and we want <em>your</em> help in selecting them...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Here's the blurb for Once Upon A Twist:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Cinderella (my book):</span><br />
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><em><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Once Upon A Time in a land far, far away, the creatures are coming…<o:p></o:p></span></span></em></span><br />
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><em><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">In a land run by misogynists, where fair maidens are
deemed liable to fall in a dead faint at the sight of blood, Prince Charming is
worried – the creatures that have destroyed their neighbouring kingdoms are
coming for them. He judges it imperative to get all the females to safety, but
first he needs to break the enchantment enslaving his One True Love to her
hateful home. Oh, and there’s the small matter of the Ball to get through too.<o:p></o:p></span></span></em></span></div>
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</em></span><span style="line-height: 115%;"><em><span style="color: red;">But when the creatures reach them ahead of their
expected time, all plans are foregone. Can Ella break her wicked stepmother’s
enchantment? Can she save her handsome Prince and the kingdom before midnight
strikes? And can she show his soldiers what it really means to kick <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>a monster’s butt? The clock is ticking…<o:p></o:p></span></em></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Little Red Riding Hood (Aimee's book):</span><br />
<i><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span></span></span></i><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em> </em><em>Many, many years later…</em></span><br />
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</em></span></span></span></span><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em>When Ruby visits her grandmother in the deep, dark forest, she stumbles into a nightmare. Her </em><em>grandma’s been attacked by a wolf-like creature, and an ancient disease that turned people into </em><em>monsters is back… and so is the cold-hearted ex she walked out on a year ago.</em><em>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em>Now she has to either accept Jeremy’s help or face becoming a monster herself. Fighting alongside the </em><em>man she once loved isn’t easy, especially when she discovers there’s more to Jeremy than the cheating </em><em>bastard she took him for.</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em>As they fight to survive the disease and save those they love, can they keep from falling for each other </em><em>all over again?</em></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">So there you have it! We each need a title and this is where you come in. We need you to vote for your favourite - we have both thought of two. Here are my choices for Cinderella:</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em>Kickass Cinderella the Undead Killer</em></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em>Saving Charming</em></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Or maybe you have a better idea? All you have to do is leave a comment with your favourite title (if you have a better one, leave that in the comment section and people can vote for that too). The title with the most votes will be the title I go with. Yes, my destiny is in *your* hands! (Drama Queen? <em>Moi?)</em></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">As a thank you, everyone who votes and comments will have their names put in a hat and one of my squabbling munchkins shall choose a winner. The winner will get the very first copy of Once Upon A Twist - before any reviewer or <em>anyone</em> (apart from the winner on Aimees blog, that is). </span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The competition closes at Midnight on Thursday 9th May (English time!) and the winner will be announced by the end of Friday 10th May, so get voting! And when you've cast your vote here, head over to </span><a href="http://www.aimeeduffy.co.uk/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Aimee's page</span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> and vote for Little Red Riding Hood's title - yes, you have TWO chances to win! I know - our generosity is limitless!</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Take care all xxx</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143782431402325771.post-91299471453720860722013-05-02T11:57:00.003+01:002013-05-02T11:58:51.508+01:00Come Back Tomorrow<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">On the off-chance you've clicked onto the site hoping I've announced the news about mine and Aimee Duffy's upcoming release early, then bad luck. Come back tomorrow - our super-duper, fandabidosi competiton news will be available then! In the meantime, here's something to keep you going if the excitement of it all is getting too much.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Until tomorrow!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Take care all xxx</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143782431402325771.post-56599715122191371052013-04-29T15:54:00.000+01:002013-04-29T15:55:39.934+01:00Once Upon A Secret<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I few posts ago I dropped a little hint (a hint as subtle as a flying brick) that I have a secret. Being rubbish at keeping my own secrets, I've told anyone who cared to ask what that secret was, and now I can reveal it to the rest of the world. And the secret is this...</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGuAxTd64cQZPkI8PIBUSPbCzbTUJlLvG3cTDWrwrhzsa1TrqZv9dnVt3LUFa_zwlTP3StFwPwrebugON7Qii_mg2M1KUUMRH788Z3lkHV07qWnceue8miypZr1bOq5OVIbPdvl9xlD5dH/s1600/OUAT_small%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGuAxTd64cQZPkI8PIBUSPbCzbTUJlLvG3cTDWrwrhzsa1TrqZv9dnVt3LUFa_zwlTP3StFwPwrebugON7Qii_mg2M1KUUMRH788Z3lkHV07qWnceue8miypZr1bOq5OVIbPdvl9xlD5dH/s320/OUAT_small%5B1%5D.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Yes, Aimee Duffy and I are releasing an anthology together on June 3rd. We've each rewritten a fairy tale. I've done Cinderella - I'll let you guess what Aimee's done. I bet, looking at the cover, that you haven't the <em>faintest</em> idea which fairy tale Aimee has reworked! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I'm not going to give much else away other than that these are stories you definitely won't be reading to your kids at night. But... I can tell you that come Friday, Aimee and I will be running a special competition connected with our book (I can hear the squeals of excitement already!).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I'd like to give a massive thank you to Dee Tenorino who designed our cover for us, and who has the patience of a saint. I really can't recommend her highly enough.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Until Friday!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Take care all xxx</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143782431402325771.post-31034759378916321302013-04-26T11:08:00.000+01:002013-04-26T12:34:08.964+01:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF723Vh4XUCNNGe_mbuQB0nZXb0sXX6SiIxDYMsJGQpp6Z54JE9hxFkd838LFFdi_t9ShbAzDcDN854nQ5QaBIFPg_9h3bXBqnqB0azYwkPlsx3Q6Wu-w2kw59SXxYxkx1eTwzUNI-icbW/s1600/Leila's-Story.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF723Vh4XUCNNGe_mbuQB0nZXb0sXX6SiIxDYMsJGQpp6Z54JE9hxFkd838LFFdi_t9ShbAzDcDN854nQ5QaBIFPg_9h3bXBqnqB0azYwkPlsx3Q6Wu-w2kw59SXxYxkx1eTwzUNI-icbW/s320/Leila's-Story.jpg" width="73" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Yes, the time has finally arrived when Blood Roses, the second installment in the fabulous Blackthorn series created by the genius that is Lindsay. J. Pryor, releases. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I have to admit to a definite dose of excitement here and am currently waiting (impatiently) for the postman to deliver my pre-ordered copy. He'd better pull his finger out or there will be blood (oops, already getting carried away by the *bloody* excitement of it all).</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCVLE2Kc8Ucvc0ghfl4YwkE6xzdHRa3Rz0jtHSzPlRsSDfZzSxuGHCspA4gQf5cdTGONHN2QUa2AFJhraTpOdoXWJINPoHFJ7tCkHq50dMQW3GpujEJQRDVNqWD7U_Qtrc8T3e35IkKcuP/s1600/Lindsay-facebook-cover-image9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="123" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCVLE2Kc8Ucvc0ghfl4YwkE6xzdHRa3Rz0jtHSzPlRsSDfZzSxuGHCspA4gQf5cdTGONHN2QUa2AFJhraTpOdoXWJINPoHFJ7tCkHq50dMQW3GpujEJQRDVNqWD7U_Qtrc8T3e35IkKcuP/s320/Lindsay-facebook-cover-image9.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">The Blackthorn series is NOT for the faint hearted. It is dark. It is twisted. It doesn't take the easy options. But... it is also a series of books you will find impossible to put down, with characters that will stay with you forever. Don't believe me? Think I'm exagerating? Well consider this - in 2010 a certain lady called Lindsay. J. Pryor entered a competition called New Voices, which was run by Mills & Boon. She entered it for their Paranormal line with an entry called Blood Roses. I entered that same competition. I remember reading Lindsay's submitted chapter. When I failed to final, I didn't care - Blood Roses did make it into the final four and I didn't have to think twice about casting my vote. Alas, it didn't win and now I am so glad it didn't. Everyone knows my love for Mills & Boon is infinite, but the Blackthorn series deserves a showcasing of its own. I NEVER forgot the Blood Roses chapters Lindsay submitted. And now I can finally read it in its entirety - and so can you. Read it. Please. I promise you won't regret it.</span><br />
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<a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00CHVJIXA/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_til?tag=michsmar-21&camp=1406&creative=6394&linkCode=as1&creativeASIN=B00CHVJIXA&adid=0235VR0QHD1WG9N9ZAXM&" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51coG7zocZL._SL110_.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/1909490032/ref=as_li_tf_til?tag=michsmar-20&camp=0&creative=0&linkCode=as1&creativeASIN=1909490032&adid=05JS1FXX9126PZR9DGY3&" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51ln10dNu3L._SL110_.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><em>"She was supposed to kill vampires, not save them. Those were the rules. That was the lore." A rare and powerful witch whose blood is lethal to vampires, Leila has always viewed her serryn abilities as a curse. After seeing her mother slaughtered as a child, Leila longs for a safe, quiet life. That wish is shattered by Caleb Dehain - a vampire with a dark past and a darker heart. The most feared serryn hunter of his generation, Caleb now needs the help of one of the witches he despises to save his dying brother. A serryn who has no reason to help him. Except that he has her sister. Caleb and Leila are each other's worst nightmare- but the slow-burning spark of attraction between them is undeniable. Will Leila's blood be his damnation? Or could her kiss be his salvation? <o:p></o:p></em></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">You can purchase Blood Roses by clicking on the following links:</span><br />
<input name="SessionId" type="hidden" value="178-0042651-2312639" /><input name="SubscriptionId" type="hidden" value="D68HUNXKLHS4J" /><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><input name="AssociateTag" type="hidden" value="michsmar-20" /><input name="ASIN.1" type="hidden" value="1909490032" /><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><input name="Quantity.1" type="hidden" value="1" /><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><input name="adid" type="hidden" value="05JS1FXX9126PZR9DGY3" /><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><input name="linkCode" type="hidden" value="as1" /><span style="font-size: large;"> Amazon.com: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1909490032/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=211189&creative=373489&creativeASIN=1909490032&link_code=as3&tag=michsmar-20" id="static_txt_preview" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: small;">Blood Roses (Blackthorn) (Volume 1)</span></a> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> Amazon UK: <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00CHVJIXA?_encoding=UTF8&camp=2506&creative=9274&linkCode=as3&tag=michsmar-21" id="productTitle" style="visibility: visible;" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: small;">Blood Roses (Blackthorn)</span></a> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/blood-roses-lindsay-j-pryor/1115118241?ean=9781909490031" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">Barnes & Noble</span></a><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<br />
<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143782431402325771.post-71848029319045797062013-04-18T10:46:00.000+01:002013-04-18T10:47:06.783+01:00Bucket List & Giveaway<div class="separator" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Never-Say-Price-Fame-ebook/dp/B00CC6C4X6/ref=sr_1_5?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1366275797&sr=1-5&keywords=aimee+duffy" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtBfBLmsSmDR577nPw9Et7ovXu4czcNXlbYH1gtWeGx15qZkXGdC9jWHBLnbdc4CThyphenhyphen952XbfNoqYP6cBrhyphenhyphenQxppwSgrJ82Sp0jGNQgiYOYtFogKnI9xH5409T2dAuw8DG-uXKj1BczV2-/s200/NeverSayNever_Medium-200x300.jpg" width="133" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Today I'm welcoming back the lovely Aimee Duffy to my blog. Aimee's new book, Never Say Never, released on Monday and is already garnering some excellent reviews (including from moi! I loved it). More on the book will follow (yes, and the giveaway - it's coming, I promise but you have to keep reading to get there!). </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">As my regular readers will know, convention bores me, so instead of getting Aimee to answer questions she must have been asked a gazillion times already, I've got her to write her Bucket List - or in this case, the Ten Things To Do Before She Hits Thirty.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">So, over to Aimee:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
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<span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Ten things to do before I’m…thirty. Ok, here goes:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: red;">
</span><span style="color: red;">10. Quit my addiction to…chicken paste on toast. Good
substitute for smoking in a way, but a killer on the waistline. Yummy too. <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
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<span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">9. Visit Egypt. I’ve always wanted to go, but no one wants
to go with me. Although I don’t want the package holiday experience. Gimme a
backpack and a map, I’ll make my own way down the Nile thank you very much. Do
you think that’s why people are adverse to the idea? I believe the words my ex
used when I begged him were “over my dead body”. Hmmm. Can you see why he’s my
ex? <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: red;">
</span><span style="color: red;">8. Write an erotic novel. *Gasp* I know. I want to try at
some point, and there’s no time like the present, is there? <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
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<span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">7. Get back into my sixteen year old self’s jeans. (I can
dream, can’t I?)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: red;">
</span><span style="color: red;">6. Join in at a stand-up comedy show. Not that I think I’m
funny (in fact, I’m often told I’m not) but it’s one of those things I’ve
always wanted to do, and only nerves are stopping me. <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
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<span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">5. Learn to play a musical instrument. I did play the piano
and guitar as a child, but have forgotten how. And when are guitars not cool?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: red;">
</span><span style="color: red;">4. Build up a tolerance for…wine. Not because I want to be
an alcoholic, more so because after one glass I’m anybody’s. So that doesn’t go
over well on works nights out, and with a bunch of lawyers jagerbombs and vodka
are not an option. Poo! <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
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<span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">3. Walk the West Highland Way. I’m not into the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">roughing it for a week</i> part, but would
like to do it. What an incredible achievement (if I didn’t pass out and need
airlifted to a hospital mid-way, that is).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: red;">
</span><span style="color: red;">2. Read more books. I’m getting into paranormal these days,
and this year alone have devoured all of J.R Ward’s Black Dagger Brotherhood
books. Any good recommendations? Yes Linday Pryor, I am eagerly awaiting my
next fix of Blackthorn. Hurry it up will you? <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">1. Get married. Okay, I can’t even keep a straight face
typing that. Maybe one day, but no rush. Actually, I’d much rather travel the
world. America is the place I want to start. Who knows, maybe I’ll be back on
Chelle’s blog in three years typing from the States, or Egypt or Japan or
Istanbul (it could happen). <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><o:p>Aww - maybe you'll be back on my blog in three years, posting from some exotic locale while on honeymoon...</o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><o:p>As promised, Aimee is doing a giveaway. Never Say Never is book 2 in The Price of Fame series and she is giving away one copy of the book that kicked off this fab, glamorous series, The Monster of Fame. To enter to win a copy of The Monster of Fame, all you have to do is leave a comment, and we'll get one of my kids to pull a name out of hat (can't say fairer than that can I? The only real problem will be letting the kids decide who gets the job. There may be tears.).</o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8gnbnAAtAs7wpsUbbfFP0EaUfMVjuMnchkbtxfcFY1_exf37EKSeaYmgiXYvvmlZ5rJuGVAQPwa3yr8tTM-B-LPUMVl3FxKCFfK4n2TZgypFdGGQu_kdd86zsvIjHtQJbWMF4hXbgOQxD/s1600/NeverSayNever_Medium-200x300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8gnbnAAtAs7wpsUbbfFP0EaUfMVjuMnchkbtxfcFY1_exf37EKSeaYmgiXYvvmlZ5rJuGVAQPwa3yr8tTM-B-LPUMVl3FxKCFfK4n2TZgypFdGGQu_kdd86zsvIjHtQJbWMF4hXbgOQxD/s200/NeverSayNever_Medium-200x300.jpg" width="133" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span></o:p></span></div>
<span style="color: black;"></span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="line-height: normal; margin: 1em 0px; text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Blurb: </span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 1em 0px; text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">When pretend turns to
desire, heartbreak is unavoidable.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Sander Chase needs a
date for his ex-fiancée's engagement party, but he doesn't have time for a
woman in his life. Between working on the TV show <i>Do You Have What It
Takes?</i> and his band reforming, he's too busy for a relationship. What
he needs is a pretend girlfriend. He thinks he may have found the perfect woman
for the job, and the bribe he offers means she's sure to accept.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 1em 0px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">After losing her job in
the film industry, breaking up with her movie star boyfriend, and finding out
her mum has dementia, Chloe Butler returned to the UK determined to put her
life back together. The last thing she needs is to parade around London on the
arm of a celebrity, and after the heartbreak caused by her ex, she swore she'd
never again date a star. But when Sander offers her a chance at her dream job,
it's not something she can turn down.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
A<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">s Chloe gets to know
Sander she learns he's nothing like her scumbag ex. But she struggles to fight
her attraction to him, knowing their relationship is only for show and their
separation date is closing in fast.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
I<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">gnoring the insane
chemistry between them should be easy for Sander, especially since he carries a
secret that means there can be no future for them, but the more time he spends
with Chloe, the harder it is to keep his hands to himself.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Content Warning</span></b></span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">: contains more denial than you'll find in a
courtroom, more sexual tension than most people could handle, and explosive sex
that some readers may find long overdue.
</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Buy Links<strong>:</strong> </span><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Never-Price-Fame-Series-ebook/dp/B00CC6C4X6/ref=sr_1_cc_1?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1365838314&sr=1-1-catcorr&keywords=never+say+never+by+aimee+duffy" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Amazon UK</span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> / </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Never-Price-Fame-Series-ebook/dp/B00CC6C4X6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1365838942&sr=8-1&keywords=Never+say+Never+by+aimee" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Amazon US</span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> / </span><a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/never-say-never-aim-eacute-e-duffy/1115115413?ean=2940016517360" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Barnes & Noble</span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> / </span><a href="https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-neversaynever-1162570-149.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">All Romance Ebooks </span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">/ </span><a href="http://beachwalkpress.com/never-say-never/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Beachwalk
Press</span></a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="line-height: normal; margin: 1em 0px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
Author Links:</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 1em 0px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="http://www.aimeeduffy.co.uk/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Website/Blog</span></a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 1em 0px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="https://twitter.com/AimeeDuffyx" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Twitter</span></a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 1em 0px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/aimeeduffyx?bookmark_t=page" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Facebook</span></a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 1em 0px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6523308.Aim_e_Duffy" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Goodreads</span></a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 1em 0px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="http://pinterest.com/aimeeduffyx/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Pinterest</span></a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 1em 0px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="https://plus.google.com/u/0/106508759112186661276/posts?tab=XX" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Google +</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143782431402325771.post-1451033029145026142013-04-15T21:13:00.000+01:002013-04-15T21:37:23.762+01:00A Brief Respite.<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">So the Tempted by Trouble Blog Tour is finally over and sanity can now resume!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">For those who have never done a Blog Tour before... DON'T DO IT! Okay, I'm joking (kind of). It is an enormous time-suck, not just with the writing of the guest spots and the answering of the interview questions, but also with the need to respond to the people kind enough to leave a comment. I got about a quarter of my usual writing done. However, I can't blame it all on the tour itself, because it was my own reaction to it that caused the biggest time-suck - I've never had a book published before, I've never been interviewed before and I've never been able to click on someone elses website and see my own ugly mug staring back at me. And I've certainly never been able to spend hours at a time watching my Amazon ranking go up and down. My poor little head was spinning with the wonder of it all! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">But it was completely worth it. I have 'met' some lovely people on the tour, blog hosts and readers alike, and I want to thank everyone who commented, supported, tweeted... Thank you all you lovely, lovely people. The Rafflecopter has also selected its random winner from all the entries - congratulations Karen Haas!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Before I toodle off, I am happy to say that a couple of weeks ago I was offered a new four-book contract with Harlequin Mills & Boon Modern/Presents. I bet you can't guess what my response was. (Hint, my poor ed is probably still suffering from ruptured eardrums).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">One final thing... I also have some other 'news' that I will be announcing very soon (no, I'm not pregnant). </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">And on that bombshell, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Take care all xxx</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143782431402325771.post-13323250042898191972013-04-01T20:43:00.002+01:002013-04-01T20:55:06.510+01:00And the winner is....<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Many thanks to everyone who entered the Love Is In The Air Blog Hop. All the entries were placed in a hat (okay, it was a tupperware box) and the winner's name picked out at random by my eldest son. So without any further ado or fanfare, I'm happy to announce that the winner is... Kim Matlock! Congratulations Kim - please can you send me your email address? If you're not confident leaving it on the blog, you can always DM me on Facebook, where I am about to pop off to, to make the same announcement there.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">For those who did not win, you're still eligible to win the main prize of the Hop, which I have been reliably informed is a $25 Amazon voucher. The Hop organiser will notify the winner.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">And that's it! My thanks again to all you lovely romance fans out there.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Take care all, xxx</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143782431402325771.post-28296439418947710052013-03-25T14:31:00.000+00:002013-03-25T14:42:39.609+00:00Love is in the Air Blog Hop/Epic Giveaway!<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> have joined my very first Blog Hop! For those who are unaware (which was me until a few days ago!), a Blog Hop is where a bunch of authors get together and give away a prize each, sending readers 'hopping' from site to site in the hope of winning one or more of the prizes. The Love is in the Air Hop is running until the 31st March - at the bottom of this post is a list of the authors featuring in the Hop. Click on their names and you'll go through to their sites and see what prizes they're giving away. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">So, what prize am I giving away? How exciting is this? I'm giving away a copy of Tempted by Trouble (see, told you it was exciting ha ha ha!). For a chance to win this prize, all you have to do is </span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/michellesmartauthor" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">'like' my facebook page</span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> and <strong>leave a comment</strong> on the page for me. I'll randomly select a winner (I'll put names in a hat and get one of my kids to pull a name out) on Friday. Oh yes, and if you're not on fb, you can still enter the rafflecopter on my <a href="http://www.michelle-smart.com/" target="_blank">website</a> for a chance to win a book (and a $30 international book voucher).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Now, if this wasn't exciting enough (am I laying it on thickly enough for you?), I'm also featuring in Aimee Duffy's Epic Easter Giveaway - if you like prizes and you like to read, head over to </span><a href="http://www.aimeeduffy.co.uk/2013/03/epic-giveaway-all-next-week.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Aimee Duffy's</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> website where you'll find lots of fabulous prizes on offer throughout the week.</span> </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSFi692Wn5sAy8EqtV0gfVLpTWO_EuYMQTMGihdtnOhww6fnrOUTYGksJiUSUONQopzOn3dfQ-cs039SY1m9D-w9mHIJMZkAZOOw2thbwhFEjGR-SFKF7AC9BKnCyi7YtRVIsixQiwUHol/s1600/LoveisintheAir.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSFi692Wn5sAy8EqtV0gfVLpTWO_EuYMQTMGihdtnOhww6fnrOUTYGksJiUSUONQopzOn3dfQ-cs039SY1m9D-w9mHIJMZkAZOOw2thbwhFEjGR-SFKF7AC9BKnCyi7YtRVIsixQiwUHol/s320/LoveisintheAir.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Many thanks to Emma for organising the hop and for organising the gorgeous advert for it.</span><br />
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<!-- end LinkyTools script -->Unknownnoreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143782431402325771.post-46713949086053383872013-03-18T22:24:00.001+00:002013-03-19T00:05:09.993+00:00TbT Blog Tour starts NOW - I have prizes!<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">My four-week long Tempted by Trouble blog tour starts today and yes, I am using a shameless promotional tool to get readers interested in my tour and thus my book. A Rafflecopter. Where you can win prizes. But I'm not going to tell you what the prizes are - you'll have to click on the banner below. This will take you to the homepage of mywebsite where the rafflecopter is sitting waiting patiently for you to enter. The prizes are listed there too (don't get too excited or anything though - I hate to dash dreams. You're not entering to win an iPad or anything.). Oh, and you might have to wait a minute for the Rafflecopter to appear as my site appears to be a bit slow. I'm doing a grand job selling this, aren't I?</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.michelle-smart.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhkn4MQmgislDzVE-G6df603KAeCLIdn46tHNzbcyrion6_Mr4flYbeQ38thjdEVYcANyaOfSD_qvZ-A88f_5v8IgyUQ0ogt9RtloVE5C72YwzyVWFNRDJG1cznnLN8hiE4CMryfMphaw4/s320/Tempted+Banner+(2).jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Still, while I've got you here, why not read a little more shameless promotion from some carefully selected reviews?!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<em><strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: #cc3366;">Michelle Smart</span> had me sucked into <span style="color: #cc3366;">Tempted by Trouble </span>from the first page!</span></strong></em><br />
<em><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Tempted by Trouble is a great romance in such a romantic setting…the Carribean. I could smell the salt air and heat as Michelle described the environment.</span></em><br />
<em><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I highly recommend this book to all romance readers out there!! </span></em><br />
<em><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span></em><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">For the full review by Harlequin Junkie, click on the link below.</span><br />
<em></em><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://harlequinjunkie.com/review-tempted-by-trouble-by-michelle-smart/" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="75" src="http://harlequinjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/5-HeartsHj.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<em><a href="http://harlequinjunkie.com/review-tempted-by-trouble-by-michelle-smart/" target="_blank"></a> </em><br />
<em><em></em> </em><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: black;">Fiona</span><em><span style="color: black;"><strong>:</strong></span> <strong>Lovely reunion story with a damaged heroine and gorgeous hero</strong></em>.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em>I couldn't put it down in spite of it being long past my bedtime</em> *****</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">(For full Amazon review click </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/review/R2IGADAX0TQLGZ/ref=cm_cr_dp_title?ie=UTF8&ASIN=B00BQMQGMW&channel=detail-glance&nodeID=283155&store=books" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">here</span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: black;">Aimee:</span> <strong><em>Absolute must read</em></strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em>I'd highly recommend this book to all readers and lovers of romance worldwide. It's the perfect escape from the gloomy winter. Be warned though, you may need tissues!</em> *****</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">(For full Amazon review click </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/review/R24267PQ1Y9ZJ8/ref=cm_cr_dp_title?ie=UTF8&ASIN=B00BQMQGMW&channel=detail-glance&nodeID=283155&store=books" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">here</span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">While I'm here, I can also tell you that the fabulous Victoria James is also going on a virtual tour. If you click on the banner below, it will take you through to her website.</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.victoriajames.ca/" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="120" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcKL_L8FsQ07g8745FKbt4YWYa3PY_9PO_i0oohlpH1QOtRmWsKAwi6BHebynQwkguFop8eE_XunfvnbU9XhJ4p4H0suJfIgc5xDC0EL_YU0RhWTlV3-JvGkX30W8t2xO5oK0fbhlyce-E/s320/ariskworthtakingbanner+(2).png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Take care all xxx</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143782431402325771.post-9917845472478995872013-03-11T16:11:00.000+00:002013-03-11T18:56:48.253+00:00RELEASE DAY!!!!!!!!Sorry to shout the title of this post at you, but today is a day of great excitement in the Smartie household, as today is the release day of my debut book, Tempted by Trouble. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUfkT_LYATNQH31EnJ1TADTokIZT6PSe9hd5TMAilkBm6dY4T6QuWAyErPp5vF5714ay7kEMTkvYDt5pRDKcvGl2w5jE0DuClH_eldtqkzJ-BfUea6xBOjPqSYTSSbyeg74xYodsFTRcML/s1600/TemptedbyTrouble+500px.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUfkT_LYATNQH31EnJ1TADTokIZT6PSe9hd5TMAilkBm6dY4T6QuWAyErPp5vF5714ay7kEMTkvYDt5pRDKcvGl2w5jE0DuClH_eldtqkzJ-BfUea6xBOjPqSYTSSbyeg74xYodsFTRcML/s320/TemptedbyTrouble+500px.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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And here it is! Excuse me while I have a little squeal. Naturally, I wouldn't expect anyone to purchase it without reading at least one honest review, so here's another chance to read the review that was published on the fabulous <a href="http://incyblack.weebly.com/" target="_blank">Incy Black's blog</a> at the weekend:<br />
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: blue;">Tempted
by Trouble has future Pulitzer Prize winner written all over it. Alice Walker,
John Updike, Philip Roth and Cormac McCarthy can all move over – there’s a new
literary genius on the scene. And, unlike those often bleak books with endings
full of despair (yes, McCarthy, I’m looking at you), this book has a GUARANTEED
happy ending (sorry, spoiler). <o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
<span style="color: blue;"></span><br />
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: blue;">Where
2012 was the year of Hilary Mantel and the marvellous Bring Up the Bodies, 2013
will be the year of Michelle Smart and Tempted by Trouble. Where Mantel’s book
charted the role of Thomas Cromwell in the downfall of Anne Boleyn, Tempted by
Trouble charts the havoc that troubled socialite Pippa Rowantree causes for the
reclusive billionaire, Marco Capello. Even better, where Bring Up the Bodies is
set in the dreary Middle-Ages, Tempted by Trouble is set in the Caribbean! Yes,
this book is full of sun, sea and emotional conflict aplenty. What more could
you ask for?<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
<span style="color: blue;"></span><br />
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: blue;">Yes,
Tempted by Trouble is that good. Honest. So good in fact, I’m going to give it
a maximum 10/10, five gold stars and an A+.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
Ok, you've rumbled me. Yes, I wrote it myself. And yes, I might have got a teensy weensy bit carried away...<br />
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Still, if this review <em>has</em> whet your appetite, you can purchase it by clicking on one of these links:<br />
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<a href="http://amzn.com/B00BQMQGMW" target="_blank">Amazon.com</a> <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00BQMQGMW" target="_blank">Amazon UK</a> <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/tempted-by-trouble/id616370198?mt=11&uo=4" target="_blank"> iBookstore</a> <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/tempted-by-trouble-michelle-smart/1114794886?ean=9781622660544" target="_blank">Barnes & Noble</a><br />
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I'll be back to annoy you all soon.<br />
<br />
Take care xxxUnknownnoreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143782431402325771.post-80766444802986425782013-03-08T12:03:00.002+00:002013-03-08T12:03:46.320+00:00The Very Inspiring Blogger Award<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="" class="responsive wp-image-1270" data-src="wp-content/uploads/2013/03/20130220-203014.jpg" src="http://www.lindsayjpryor.com/wp-content/themes/website/data/php/timthumb.php?src=wp-content/uploads/2013/03/20130220-203014.jpg&q=90&w=298" /></div>
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</div>
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I have been nominated for this award by the very lovely <a href="http://www.lindsayjpryor.com/" target="_blank">Lindsay Pryor</a> - thank you Lindsay for adding to my workload!</div>
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</div>
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There are four basic rules for <strong>The Very Inspiring Blog Award</strong>.</div>
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</div>
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<em>* Display the award logo on your blog.</em></div>
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<em></em> </div>
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<em>* Link back to the person who nominated you.</em></div>
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<em></em> </div>
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<em>* State seven things about yourself.</em></div>
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<em></em> </div>
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<em>* Nominate other <strike>victims</strike> bloggers for this award and link to them.</em></div>
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<em></em> </div>
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</div>
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So without further ado, here are seven things about me:</div>
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</div>
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1) I got a stone stuck up my nose when I was two, which necessitated a trip to hospital.</div>
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</div>
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2) I ran through a glass door when I was seven, which also necessitated a trip to hospital (and forty-</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
seven stitches to my legs).</div>
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</div>
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3) I tripped over and head-butted a cooker when I was ten, which necessitated a trip the emergency </div>
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doctor for some butterfly stitches.</div>
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</div>
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4) When I was about ten, I accidentally tipped a cup of tea down my sister's back. This necessitated a </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
trip to the first-aid box.</div>
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</div>
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5) When I was about twelve, I accidentally poured a fresh pot of tea down my sister's leg (she was </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
about nine) as I was distracted by watching Grease. This necessitated my sister taking a trip to </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
hospital.</div>
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</div>
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6) When I was about ten, I accidentally bumped into my mum while she was chopping vegetables, </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
which resulted in her almost chopping her finger off and, yes, necessitated a trip to hospital.</div>
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</div>
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7) I am rather clumsy.</div>
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</div>
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And now I'm supposed to nominate other bloggers - the only problem is, I took so jolly long getting round to doing this that most of my blogging buddies have already been tagged. Instead, I shall nominate just one person, the very talented and always interesting <a href="http://beloved-eleanor.co.uk/blog/" target="_blank">Alison</a> Nosurnamerequired.</div>
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</div>
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Et voila!</div>
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</div>
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xxx</div>
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</div>
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</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143782431402325771.post-32388405245062963612013-02-07T14:30:00.002+00:002013-02-07T14:30:58.300+00:00News Galore!Hello, the rubbish blogger's back! This time I can't take all the blame. The gas men dug up the road outside our house just before Christmas and managed to cut through the phone line. It was fixed exactly a week ago (yes, it took them six weeks to fix it). All the houses on my street found their phone and broadband going down like dominoes. My phone line went on Boxing Day. The Internet tried valliantly to continue alone but gave up the ghost a fortnight ago. Can you imagine? A WHOLE WEEK WITHOUT THE INTERNET!!! It was torture. I had to keep visiting family to steal their wi-fi. <br />
<br />
Anyway, that's enough of my whining. Book 2 has gone off to my lovely Mills & Boon editor and I'm busy making a start on a new one. I have no idea if my contract with them will be renewed but that's not going to stop me writing another one for them! If it doesn't get renewed then... well, I guess I'll have a good cry for a month or two, then dust myself down and get on with the most important thing. Writing.<br />
<br />
Tempted by Trouble, my Entangled Indulgence book, has a scheduled release date of the 4th March. I can't tell you how excited I am - this will be my first ever published book. I've completed the copy-edits for it and 'met' the team that will help me publicise it. I say met, but as they're in the US and I'm in England, we had our meeting yesterday via Skype (thank god the Internet's working again!). I shall be embarking on a blog tour and doing a Rafflecopter (I'll explain that in another post when I've got my head around it a bit more). Now I'm looking forward to receiving the cover art for it, although I've been warned I might not get it until around a week before publication. <br />
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Finally, I've set up a facebook page. I'm already on fb in a personal capacity, which mostly involves me using it to wish family and friends Happy Birthday and to play Angry Birds. Now I've got a proper Author page which you can find at <a href="http://www.facebook.com/michellesmartauthor">http://www.facebook.com/michellesmartauthor</a>. If this link doesn't work you're more than welcome to blame me.<br />
<br />
Right, that's it from me. As soon as I have any further news I will make sure to update this blog asap (ie, within at least a month of it happening, ha ha ha!).<br />
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Take care all,<br />
xxx<br />
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143782431402325771.post-68521348468847825602013-01-05T17:28:00.000+00:002013-01-05T17:28:22.198+00:00Lessons Learned and Looking ForwardI'm going to start by wishing each and every one of you a Happy New Year. I did debate writing this post a few days ago as 2013 chimed in but as I was at a party and a teensy weensy bit tiddled, I forgot all about it.<br />
<br />
So much happened for me and so many of my lovely writing buddies during 2012 that it's still hard for me to get my head around it all. Here's an excerpt of my post written on the 1st January 2012: <br />
<br />
<em>And so we come to the dreaded New Year's Resolution. I've never been one for
making resolutions just because I'm supposed to and this year will be no
different. My goals haven't changed. I love, love, love writing and the dream is
still to be published by M&B. If the book with them (no, I haven't heard
anything but thanks for asking) is ultimately rejected then so be it - I will
simply bombard them with the next one. And the next. And the next. And the...
you get my drift.</em><br />
<br />
Well the book in questions was rejected (after three rounds of revisions). That same book, now entitled Tempted by Trouble, subsequently sold to Entangled and will be published in March. I also embarked on a new book for M&B, working under the close guidance of my lovely editor there. Finally, on the 19th September, I received The Call. That book, entitled The Rings That Bind, will be published in August. After dreaming and trying and persevering for year and years, 2013 will finally see my name in print. Who knows, maybe book two of my M&B contract will be published this year too... I've got to finish writing it first!<br />
<br />
So what have I learnt over the past year? Number one, the year reiterated the need for perseverance. That, to me, is the greatest lesson any wannabe writer can learn. Take the knocks on the chin because you and your writing will come back stronger for them. The second lesson I have learned is that a good editor who is on your side is worth more than all the tea in China. In the past twelve months I have worked under four editors - both my original M&B and Entangled editors moved on to pastures new. Charlotte, my new M&B editor, is a diamond whose patience knows no limits. Keyren, my new Entangled editor, is so on-the-ball it's scary. I have no doubt whatsoever that both Charlotte and Keyren believe in me and my writing, and I adore them both. <br />
On the flip side, an editor who is not on your side can totally destroy your confidence - a writer's relationship with an editor is unique in that you are dependent on them, not just for their guidance in making your book the best it can be, but also to act as your advocate within the publishing house. Because of that dependency, some writers feel they have to swallow behaviour they would never accept from anyone else, either personally or professionally. I would write more about this but I can see it turning into a full-length post on it's own so shall save it for another day! <br />
<br />
Before I sign off, I would like to wish Tara Pammi, Victoria Parker, Jennifer Drogell and Jennifer Faye all the best with their debut HMB releases this year. I would also like to wish Aimee Duffy and Lindsay Pryor all the best with their follow-ups - these ladies have a busy year ahead for them! Finally, I wish you all the luck in the world on your own unique journey and hope 2013 brings you much peace, love and happiness.<br />
<br />
Take care, xxxUnknownnoreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143782431402325771.post-12583987430537126862012-12-12T13:48:00.002+00:002012-12-12T13:48:29.868+00:00Getting to Know... Lindsay. J. Pryor!Today I am welcoming the lovely Lindsay. J. Pryor to my blog. Lindsay's debut, Blood Shadows, is already making waves in the book world and deservedly so. For those of you who haven't heard anything about it, it's a paranormal romance that breaks so many cliches it's in a class of its own. Before I move on to the interview, I wanted to write a little something about the book.<br />
<br />
Lindsay has created a world set in the city of Blackthorn, a city divided by species. Although we are introduced to a variety of the species that inhabit this dark, wet city, Blood Shadows focuses mainly on the vampires - in this case, Kane Malloy, a Master Vampire. Tasked with hunting him is the human Caitlin Parish a Shadow Reader and a member of the VCU (Vampire Control Unit). In a nutshell, Vampires do not have souls - they have shadows. I'll give a special Brownie Point to anyone who can guess what special talent a Shadow Reader has...<br />
<br />
I loathe reviews that give too many plot points away, so plot-wise, the only thing I will add is that although natural enemies, Kane and Caitlin need each other for their own personal - and deadly - reasons.<br />
<br />
Blood Shadows is a wonderful book - for a debut author it is first class. There were moments when I was reading it that I could smell the oil on Kane's hands and swear I heard the rain dripping against the window pane. Lindsay sucks you into Blackthorn so you're right there with them, living this deadly moment with them, and she keeps the suspense and atmosphere going right to the very last page. <br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWWnw_LDfb2KjbEQNn-Lt7ThIx7D3HiDs-gZhWgX_sBSOWjhAeTa5WFXI-Y8FQ3B3mb6_-NuEh4WICyHovvdNETEd-DA1vEp54NHpntCnxP7c3ZHqbR9D3L-f90wXp9dbr4RWqZBNzDgjB/s1600/Blood+Shadows+Cover+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWWnw_LDfb2KjbEQNn-Lt7ThIx7D3HiDs-gZhWgX_sBSOWjhAeTa5WFXI-Y8FQ3B3mb6_-NuEh4WICyHovvdNETEd-DA1vEp54NHpntCnxP7c3ZHqbR9D3L-f90wXp9dbr4RWqZBNzDgjB/s320/Blood+Shadows+Cover+%25282%2529.jpg" width="208" /></a></div>
Blood Shadows is available to purchase via <a href="http://ow.ly/fWWSU" target="_blank">Amazon.com</a> and <a href="http://ow.ly/fWWVt" target="_blank">Amazon.co.uk</a><span id="goog_35614131"></span><br />
<br />
<br />
And now for the most exciting part of the blog - the interview! As Lindsay has written such a dark, atmospheric book, I thought I should ask questions that perfectly encapsulates Blackthorn. And then I thought, 'nah', that would be boring!<br />
<br />
<span style="color: blue;">Q) If you won the lottery (and we're talking mega-money, not a trifling million), what would you spend it on? And don't say anything worthy ab</span><span style="color: blue;">out 'sharing it with my family' or 'donating a portion to charity'. </span><span style="color: blue;">Unless that charity is the Michelle Smart Hardship Fund.</span><br />
<br />
A) No family or charity at all? Hmmm. I’d probably indulge in books, lingerie and chocolate. And not necessarily in that order. Maybe a tree house. Oh, and a car – my husband just wrote off my last one so I don’t have one anymore. I’d have a black Audi convertible with the Blackthorn logo somewhere. Hang on, mega money? Ah, let’s just go for a Batmobile. In fact, I’m going to buy Wayne Manor. Bruce can stay if he likes…<br />
<br />
<span style="color: blue;">Q) What was your favourite book as a child, and why?</span><br />
<br />
A) The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe. I read it countless times during childhood (accompanied with regular visits inside my wardrobe – I even had a schedule to increase my chances of getting to Narnia). I loved the story because of the adventure, the talking animals and all the scary stuff with the queen turning characters into stone, let alone the idea of a parallel world being that accessible. And all that snow! I love snow. <br />
<br />
<span style="color: blue;">Q) What was your favourite TV show as a child and why?</span><br />
<br />
A) The Little Vampire <span style="color: blue;">(I should have guessed ha ha ha!).</span> I was fascinated by another world co-existing furtively alongside ours. I adored the costumes and the setting. It was so beautifully gothic. I’d probably look back at it now and cringe because it wasn’t exactly a high-budget show, but I loved it at the time. <br />
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Hmmm, the other-wordly thing is becoming a theme here…<br />
<br />
<span style="color: blue;">Q) If you were stranded on a desert island and were allowed only one book, what would it be and why?</span><br />
<br />
A) I’d take Elizabeth Kostova’s The Historian <span style="color: blue;">* </span>(an update of Dracula), quite simply because its been on my TBR pile for about three years. I keep putting it off until I have some time to indulge in it properly. I’d hate to think how many books I’ve read in-between – I should have just got on with it! It’s either that or Calvin and Hobbes. They crack me up. <br />
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<span style="color: blue;">*Lindsay originally wanted to take a note pad. Tut tut. The cheat.</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue;">Q) You're still on the island - what is the one music record you would</span> <span style="color: blue;">want and why?</span><br />
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A) It would depend on what mood I’m in. Am I on my own? That means I can sing at the top of my voice. I’ll go for My Chemical Romance’s Black Parade in that case.<br />
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<span style="color: blue;">Q) You're still on the island - if you could have one fictional man there with you, who would it be and why (and he has to be a character from a book)?</span><br />
<br />
A) Still on the island? This is turning into an episode of Lost. A book that’s been published already… Kane! <span style="color: blue;">* </span>Surely I don’t need to tell you why. <br />
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<span style="color: blue;">* She cheated again! Going for her own character is against the rules so I'm taking Kane away from the island and sending Hurley from Lost in his place.</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue;">Q) What's your favourite smell?</span><br />
<br />
A) Do I go with soothing smells, sexy smells, invigorating smells…? I like cinnamon. And pomegranate. Oh, and woodburners. Old paper – I love the smell of old bookshops. Okay, we’ll go with the latter. <span style="color: blue;">Excellent choice Lindsay!</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue;">Q) What's your one money weakness?</span><br />
<br />
A) Eating out. I LOVE eating out. I’m obscenely cautious with money but will eat out at the drop of a hat. Italian (my favourite!), Chinese, Indian, Mexican… any excuse. <br />
<br />
<span style="color: blue;">Q) What's your favourite joke?</span><br />
<br />
A) A vampire bat returned to his cave late one night, covered in fresh blood. He was just settling down in the roof to get some sleep when all the other bats smelled the blood on him. Soon they were all pestering him about where he got it from. <br />
He told them to leave him alone and let him get some sleep, but they kept on at him. Eventually, he gave in.<br />
‘OK, follow me, he said, and flew out of the cave with hundreds of his fellow bats behind him.
<br />
Down through a valley they went, across a river and into a forest full of trees.
<br />
Finally he slowed down and all the other bats excitedly milled around him.<br />
‘Now, do you see that tree over there?’ he asked.
<br />
‘Yes, yes, yes!’ the bats all squeaked in a frenzy.<br />
‘Good,’ he said. ‘Because I didn’t.’<br />
<span style="color: blue;"></span><br />
<span style="color: blue;">I would like to take this opportunity to thank Lindsay for agreeing to the interview (even though she did cheat more than once - did I mention she tried to get out of doing the joke?). Lindsay, it's been an absolute pleasure and I wish you and Blood Shadows and your wonderful publisher Bookouture every success in the world.</span><br />
<span style="color: blue;"></span><br />
<span style="color: blue;">Take care all xxx</span><br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143782431402325771.post-35815579394952960552012-11-30T09:58:00.000+00:002012-11-30T09:58:39.115+00:00Titles & CongratulationsLooks like I've been a bad blogger again - so bad, even my husband has been nagging at me for the past fortnight to write another post (I have no idea why as he never reads them!).<br />
<br />
Since my last post and that wonderful visit to Richmond, life has been rather busy, to say the least. November is always a busy month for me but this year it has been busier than normal - having half-term during the first week didn't help. Still, it has been fun. <br />
<br />
Ok, onto my news. I am currently at the tail-end of my last few revisions for my debut Harlequin Mills & Boon. These revisions are just a case of adding a few sentences here and there to clarify certain things. The best bit of news though, is I have a title for it. Yep - my very first HMB Modern/Presents book will be called The Rings That Bind. I am over the moon with it - it is perfect for the story. It has been scheduled for release in August 2013. I have to admit to releasing a few (alright, a good dozen) squeals when my lovely editor told me. Two and a half months on from receiving The Call, it still feels as if I'm having an out-of-body experience. Having a title and release date makes it feel slightly more real - a little more solid.<br />
<br />
Another person who will be experiencing these very same emotions is the hugely talented Jennifer Drogell, who was announced yesterday as the winner of this year's So You Think You Can Write competition. Eagle-eyed blog readers will recall I named The Divorce Party, her winning entry, as one of my personal favourites in the first round. Yes, I will take some of the credit (it's all about me!!!). So, huge congratulations Jennifer - I am delighted for you.<br />
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Another writer I am full of pride for is the wonderful Lindsay. J. Pryor, whose debut book Blood Shadows released this week. I've already brought and read it and cannot recommend it highly enough. I'll be reviewing it properly in the coming weeks when I interview Lindsay for this blog.<br />
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That's all from me - as I seem to promise every time I write a post, I'll do my best to be more frequent with my updates!<br />
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Take care all xxxUnknownnoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143782431402325771.post-84889440748583478582012-10-20T14:57:00.001+01:002012-10-20T14:57:28.936+01:00Meeting the Editors!Yesterday, on Friday 19th October, exactly one month to the day that I received The Call, I went to Rom HQ in Richmond. When I reached HQ, I admit to feeling a teensy bit of disappointment. In my head I'd imagined a bright pink building with glitter on the doormat! Instead it was just an ordinary meeting. <br />
<br />
I was nearly half an hour early and caught them on the hop (oops) but they were wonderful about it. Honestly, I never noticed the boxes on the floor they had intended to put away before I arrived...<br />
<br />
Inside, I met my editor (the lovely Charlotte Ledger) and the rest of the editorial team (pictured below is Carly Byrne, Joanne Grant, Charlotte, me, Lucy Gilmore and Sally Williamson). I couldn't believe how tall and beautiful they all were - I'm really glad I wore my heels! <br />
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This picture may show the six of us, but all the other editors and marketing staff welcomed me too, including Linda Fildew and Tessa Shapcott, the latter of whom has just celebrated twenty five years at Mills & Boon. I was given the grand tour of the editorial office (it's open plan for those who like to know these things) and then they opened a couple of bottles of champagne. <br />
After that, I was whisked off to a purple room with Ali from Marketing and Charlotte to do a podcast about being a new Modern/Presents author. If the podcast ever sees the light of day I shall apologise now - I'm a giggler and completely incapable of showing professionalism. I dread to think what the finished article will look like (poor Ali has some serious editing to do).<br />
Charlotte then took me up to the Library. All I can say about the library was 'Wow'. Every category and single title book produced by Harlequin over the past five years or so were on those shelves (once the shelves are full the books are archived, freeing space for the next generation of books). Honestly, it was a romance junkie's idea of heaven.<br />
By that point it was time for lunch, so Charlotte and I said our goodbyes and headed off to a restaurant called <a href="http://www.rockandroserestaurant.com/" target="_blank">Rock & Rose</a>. I swear the owners of this restaurant knew there was a building full of romance junkies around the corner when they opened it. I would go so far as to say it was exactly how I picture Rom HQ itself (I'm seriously considering taking a can of pink spray paint and a suitcase of glitter if I'm ever invited there again!).<br />
The food was wonderful, the cocktails were divine and Charlotte was... I don't think there are enough superlatives to describe how lovely she is. <br />
All in all, it was a fantastic day. The Mills & Boon staff are a fantastic bunch - all incredibly welcoming and lovely, and so enthusiastic about the books they produce. I can never thank them enough for making me feel so spoiled and wanted.<br />
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Take care all xxxUnknownnoreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143782431402325771.post-12928826049703942682012-10-17T11:43:00.000+01:002012-10-17T11:43:02.990+01:00Getting to Know You.In all the time I've been doing this blog I have rarely strayed from the topic of me. Me, me, me, me, me! Well not anymore. Today I would like to introduce you to a debut author who I am certain will soon be a tour de force in the romance industry. She also happens to be a good friend of mine, so, without any further ado, allow me to introduce you to Aimee Duffy, author of The Monster of Fame.<br />
<br />
Now, for those of you expecting an in-depth interview on the writing process blah, blah, blah, I apologise. I'm only interested in the, well, interesting stuff!<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Q) How many pairs of shoes do you own?<br /><span style="color: red;">A) I have a cupboard for my shoes, a shelf at my front door and I have shoes in boxes. If I was to hazard a guess, I’d say somewhere around 30 pairs. Funny thing is, I don’t own trainers!</span><br /><br />Q) If you were stuck on a desert island and could only choose one book, one film and one album, what would they be and why? Also, what fictional man would you want there with you (he must come from a book) and why?</span><span style="color: red; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">A) One book. Really? Okay, I’d probably choose something really erotic (since I’m gonna be there with a hot guy. We could try out the scenes). The film would be Lord of the Rings, the second one. Orlando Bloom is lush as a blond! I’d have to take U2’s Joshua Tree, cause I can’t go any length of time without Bono. I’m in love with that man’s voice! The guy would have to be Gideon Cross from Bared To You. I love a tortured hero and he’s way hotter than Christian Grey. </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"><br /><br />Q) If you could have any superpower for a day, what would it be and why?<br /><span style="color: red;">A) Is x-ray vision a perverted answer? I’d like to have the ability to change the weather, like Storm from X-men. Then I could be warm all year round without moving ;)</span><br /><br />Q) Does it always rain in Scotland?<br />A) <span style="color: red;">For the most part. It also snows and you get big hailstones. This is why I want the ability to change the weather. </span><br /><br />Q) What was your dream job when you were five years old? (personally, I wanted to work on a till in a shop!).<br /><span style="color: red;">A) I wanted to be a vet, then realised animal blood makes my stomach churn. Plus I don’t think I could cope with watching anything die, so doctor and nurse was ruled out quickly. </span><br /><br />Q) What was your favourite childhood book and why?<br /><span style="color: red;">A) I loved the Goosebumps books, especially Welcome to Dead House by R.L. Stine. It freaked me out, but I couldn’t get enough of it. I was obsessed with ghost stories, and as a result slept with the light on. Drove my mum nuts.</span><br /><br />Q)) If you won the lottery (and we're talking squillions not a paltry million or two), what would be the first thing you would buy after a magnum of champagne?<br /><span style="color: red;">A) The first ticket out of Scotland. Seriously. I want to travel the world and after handing out a big chunk to all my family and friends, I’d be off. Preferably Vegas first, but I’m not fussy ;).</span><br /><br />Q) What's your favourite drink?<br /><span style="color: red;">A) It’s a toss up between vodka with diet cola or Jagerbombs.</span><br /><br />Q) What's your favourite joke (be as rude as you like)? *<br /><span style="color: red;">A) How do you make a potato puff?</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"><span style="color: red;"> Chase it round the garden.</span><br /><br />Q) If you could go back in time and talk to your ten year old self, what advice would you give and why?<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="color: red; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">A) I wouldn’t know where to start. I was a terror. I used to climb trees and my friends and I spent our summers in the woods, breaking things (mostly bones from falling out of trees), getting hurt after pinching hammers and nails to build tree-houses (I have the scars to prove it!) and when it rained, we weren’t discouraged. I’d have probably said to listen to my mum and look after my clothes because I always came in covered in mud. Oh, and I’d have said to stay away from the River Forth. Falling in was the most unpleasant experience of my life. I’d have taken a broken leg over that any day! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
* I would like to point out that Aimee was a nightmare to get a joke out of as she only knows rude jokes and refused to share one of those beauties in case of offending anyone. I'm very disappointed in her quality of joke and if anyone out there has a better one please leave it as a comment.<br />
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Thank you Aimee! And all the best of luck with your debut book, The Monster of Fame.<br />
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<i><span style="font-size: small;">Can the voice of an angel heal a tortured soul? </span></i><br />
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As a general rule I do not write reviews. If I like a book I shout about it from the rooftops but reviews? Nope. Quite frankly I am pants at them, so I will try to keep this one short but sweet.<br />
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The Monster of Fame is a love story set around the ficitional reality show <em>Do You have What It Takes? </em>Think X-Factor meets The Voice featuring a sexy Simon Cowell without the Botox or moobs, and with an actual personality. And a heart (although this is kept well hidden from the world).This would be Miles, our gorgeous tortured hero.<br />
Then we have our heroine, Anna, a sweet Scottish girl with the voice of an angel and the self-confidence of a dustpan. <br />
I'm not going to tell you what happens or give any spoilers (you'll have to read it for yourselves to find out!), but suffice it to say, I adored this book. Aimee's writing is so fluid you get sucked right into the story and right into a showbiz world that rarely has substance behind the floss - The Monster of Fame has substance aplenty. There were moments when I laughed out loud and, I am not ashamed to say, moments of despair that made me cry.<br />
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All-in-all, this is a cracking debut and a book I will gladly shout about from the rooftops. <br />
<br />
(The Monster of Fame can be purchased via <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Monster-Fame-Price-ebook/dp/B009Q0VCUM/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1350132254&sr=1-1" target="_blank">Amazon.co.uk</a> , <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Monster-Fame-Price-Series-ebook/dp/B009Q0VCUM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1350137174&sr=8-1&keywords=the+monster+of+fame+by+aimee+duffy" target="_blank">Amazon.com</a> and <span style="color: #a80000; font-family: Calisto MT;"><a href="http://webmail.tiscali.co.uk/cp/ps/Mail/ExternalURLProxy?d=tiscali.co.uk&u=mlsmart&url=http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-monster-of-fame-aim-eacute-e-duffy/1113474368!!ean~~2940015587425&urlHash=6.051706532749069E-173" target="_BLANK"><span style="color: #a80000;">Barnes & Noble</span></a><br clear="all" /><br /><span style="color: black;">Take care all xxx</span></span><br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143782431402325771.post-47924092406888495552012-09-29T15:36:00.000+01:002013-05-25T12:44:11.976+01:00So Much Talent (SYTYCW 2012)(scroll down for update)<br />
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Approximately ten days ago I was doing my best to fight off flu. I was working on the book I wanted to enter So You Think You Can Write, Harlequin Mills & Boons competition where the winner gets a book contract with them. I am now ineligible! (I'm sorry, I'm still struggling to come to terms with being a bona-fide HMB author and keep squealing at random intervals). Having entered New Voices in 2010 and 2011, I know all about the craziness that can take you when entering a competition of this magnitude, and while I am relieved I can no longer enter, a part of me is jealous that I'm missing out on all the camaraderie that occurs between the contestants. At least it means I can read the entries without constantly comparing the writing and storyline with my own and trying to second guess the judges. I can read them simply for the pleasure of reading, and it really has been a pleasure. For me, the only disappointment with the competition is the lack of facility to leave comments on the entries - there are some fantastic entries out there and I would have loved to shout it out to the world what I loved about them. Instead, I am providing the links to the ones I particularly enjoyed.<br />
<br />
So, without any further ado, here are my recommended reads:<br />
<br />
Joanne Cleary (Catherine Coles): <a href="http://www.soyouthinkyoucanwrite.com/manuscripts/the-midwifes-reluctant-family/" target="_blank">The Midwife's Reluctant Family</a><br />
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Aimee Duffy: <a href="http://www.soyouthinkyoucanwrite.com/manuscripts/flirting-with-trouble" target="_blank">Flirting With Trouble</a> <br />
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Amalie Berlin: <a href="http://www.soyouthinkyoucanwrite.com/manuscripts/mountain-man-md/" target="_blank">Mountain Man MD</a> <br />
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Joanne Ryves (Jo Fereday): <a href="http://www.soyouthinkyoucanwrite.com/manuscripts/the-sweetest-gig-of-all/" target="_blank">The Sweetest Gig of All</a> <br />
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<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody">Fiona Marsden: <a href="http://www.soyouthinkyoucanwrite.com/manuscripts/after-the-funeral/" target="_blank">After the Funeral</a> </span></span><br />
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<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody"><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody">Jennifer Drogell: <a href="http://bit.ly/Sebok4" target="_blank">The Divorce Party</a></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody"><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody">Incy Black: <a href="http://www.soyouthinkyoucanwrite.com/manuscripts/sins-of-the-fathers" target="_blank">Sins of the Fathers</a> </span></span></span></span><br />
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<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody"><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody"><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody">Jennifer Stroka (Jennifer Faye): <a href="http://www.soyouthinkyoucanwrite.com/manuscripts/her-cowboy-hero/" target="_blank">Her Cowboy Hero</a> </span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: blue; color: white;">Update 2nd October 2012:</span><br />
<br />
Unfortunately I have not had the time to read many more entries but here are a couple more of my recommended reads:<br />
<br />
Jennifer Satterfield (Edie Danford): <a href="http://www.soyouthinkyoucanwrite.com/manuscripts/maid-by-day/" target="_blank">Maid by Day</a><br />
<br />
Jane O'Reilly: <a href="http://www.soyouthinkyoucanwrite.com/manuscripts/once-a-bad-girl/" target="_blank">Once a Bad Girl</a><br />
<br />
<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody"><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody"><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody"><span style="color: black;"><span class="js-display-url">I really wish I had more time to read some more - unfortunately stupid life keeps getting in the way of my reading pleasure! There's a few I want to read tomorrow but I can't guarantee I'll be able to put any more recs up. If anyone wants to post the link to their entry in the comments below then please feel free and hopefully your chapters should find some new readers. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody"><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody"><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody"><span style="color: black;"><span class="js-display-url">To those of you who don't make it into the top 28, please, try not to be too dejected (it's hard, I know). I entered New Voices 2010 and 2011 and got nowhere. Nada. The slush pile worked for me and it can work for you too.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody"><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody"><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody"><span style="color: black;"><span class="js-display-url">I wish you all the very best of luck.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody"><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody"><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody"><span style="color: black;"><span class="js-display-url">xxx</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143782431402325771.post-42275756076248700122012-09-20T14:26:00.000+01:002012-09-20T14:26:06.586+01:00The Call!!!As I'm sure the whole world and its cat knows by now, yesterday I received The Call. Yes, Harlequin Mills & Boon want to give me a two book contract for the Presents/Modern line. Naturally, I turned it down... Not! <br />
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I am over the moon! I have wanted to write for them since I was fifteen years old, and have spent the past five years actively trying to get published with them. This really is a dream come true.<br />
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The actual call came out of the blue. I knew my editor there was moving on to a different position and would no longer be my editor. When she emailed me last Friday to confirm this, she said she would be in touch early this week with her thoughts on my ms and promised I wouldn't be left stranded. I was gutted at the news but delighted for her. I sent her a card to congratulate her and to say thank you for everything she had done for me. Then, yesterday just after 5pm (I so wish I'd looked at my watch) she called me. First of all she said thank you for the card. Just as was thinking how sweet she was to call me about a card, she followed it with "and I want to offer you a contract." At least I think that's what she said. It's all a bit of a blur!<br />
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Suffice it to say, I've been offered a two book contract and appointed a new editor to work with, who everyone tells me is lovely. If you want to read more details of The Call, you can find it on the eHarlequin site - go into forums, then writers circle. There you will find the party thread.<br />
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This really means the world to me and to my family (my kids are already asking for iPads the cheeky sods). Thank you all for your support and I promise (again!!!) to keep this blog updated more frequently. I'll certainly try my best to share my journey through to publication with you all.<br />
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Take care, xxxUnknownnoreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143782431402325771.post-87074406732040954382012-08-21T17:42:00.001+01:002012-08-21T17:42:16.441+01:00School Holidays and Tropes.It dawned on me a couple of hours ago that if I waited another day it would be a whole month since my last post. In many respects this is understandable: the kids are off school for the summer holidays so every scrap of spare time (when they're sleeping) has been spent writing. But now I no longer have that excuse. My mum has taken them away for the week so I'm not limited to writing in the evening. In fact, my time is my own and I celebrated it this morning by staying in bed until 10am (I would be grateful if nobody mentions that to my husband who left the house for work at 7.30am).<br />
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On the whole, the past month has been productive. I sent my Kickass Cinderella book to my Entangled editor and I finished my M&B book for my editor there too. Now it's a matter of the waiting game. I know my M&B ed will have *lots* of revisions for me to get stuck into. Being weird, I'm looking forward to them. All I can hope is that she doesn't get to the end then blow a big fat raspberry at me and tell me to try again. Or worse, shuttle me back onto the slush pile.<br />
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So now I am turning my thoughts on to my next book. As I write contemporary books that rely heavily on tropes, I am busy thinking of what the next main trope should be. I should clarify at this point that until a few months ago I had no idea what a trope was. It transpires that tropes are what I have been unknowingly writing for ages. When I started writing my latest M&B sub, which is about a marriage of convenience, I didn't know that a MoC was a trope. Tempted by Trouble, my book being published by Entangled has an Enemies to Lovers trope. <br />
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Are there any tropes any of you, my lovely readers, particularly adore? I'd love to hear them. My particular favourite has to be Secret Baby! Which has got me thinking... *scuttles off to brainstorm secret baby trope*.<br />
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Take care all xxxUnknownnoreply@blogger.com4