And it grew like topsy - when you start something without realising where it will end - Annie West

It suddenly struck me how much of my life is shaped by things I didn't quite plan. Or only began to plan once they were underway.

Have you ever begun something only to discover the consequences are much bigger than you expected? I'm thinking of positive things here, by the way. 

For instance... I pinch myself (mentally) when it suddenly hits me that I'm a professional writer. All because I loved to read books, which lead to romance books, which lead to adoring that buzz of delight when a heroine and hero found their perfect match and got their happy ending. Which lead to wishing I could write like that, which lead to spending most of my spare time dreaming about and scribbling about romance and...well you know the rest. Of course, along the way I took stock and  began to plan, but when I look back, it's still with a sense of unreality.

For instance... when we moved interstate to our current home I was looking for ways to help our children settle in and decided to make shortbread and gingerbread with them as part of the lead up to the Christmas festivities in a new place. Now home-made shortbread (and to a lesser extent) gingerbread have become Christmas traditions in the West family. Not only that but shortbread in the shape of rabbits and pigs with silver cachou eyes - even now! If you look closely you'll see a rabbit and a couple of pigs on this plate of goodies.

For instance... I was having breakfast with some French romance readers, chatting about books and publishing when one asked if I'd come to Paris if they organised a reader festival. Feeling buoyant from having such a lovely time, I said 'of course'. Next thing I knew the Festival du Roman Feminin was organised and I've been to Paris for every one of them! Which has led to visits to some wonderful places I'd never have got to otherwise, and more importantly, to some terrific friendships. 

At a Paris booksigning

For instance... I had a gap in my publishing schedule with Harlequin Mills and Boon so decided to write a novella. I enjoyed it and so did readers so I thought I'd write another some time. So 'Bought by the Italian' followed 'Back in the Italian's Bed'. People read them so I wrote a third. Wouldn't it be fun, I thought, to have another in this Italian series featuring the letter B in the title? So 'Bound the Italian Boss' came next. I'd only intended to write a couple of these. However,  I've just published my 8th book in the series. In case you're wondering, yes, there's a B in the title 'Burning for the Italian'. 

No 1

No 8!

Have you ever begun something, maybe just for fun, and discovered it's taken on a life of it's own? Do you ever look back and smile to realise how some of those fun things are now so much a part of your world? I hope so! I hope to hear that you've created or discovered or continue to enjoy marvellous things that started as serendipity.

And if you're wondering about Burning for the Italian and all the other 'B' titled stories in my Hot Italian Nights, follow this link and you'll be able to read about them all.

Sunday Smooch - Burning for the Italian by Annie West

Welcome to another LoveCats DownUnder Sunday Smooch!


Today we have a smooch from Annie West but first ... the winner of last week's Sunday Smooch Giveaway is KERRI S!


Can you please contact clareconnelly(at)outlook.com to receive your copy of 'Bound by the Billionaire's Vows'.


And now for today's Sunday Smooch from Annie West's new release BURNING FOR THE ITALIAN.

It was only an affair – till they broke all the rules.

Fashion designer Sonia Rossi moves to Italy for a once-in-a-lifetime career opportunity and the chance to get over her boyfriend’s betrayal. She doesn’t bargain on finding a naked sex god living in her apartment! It’s impossible to eject six-plus feet of virile Italian male, and her bank balance plus Rome’s rental market mean finding another apartment isn’t easy. What choice does she have but to make the best of circumstances? Besides, it could be the chance to sear away painful memories and replace them with sizzling new ones.

Renzo Veracini is delighted to discover his borrowed apartment comes complete with a feisty and utterly desirable tenant. Soon he’s tempting the alluring Sonia into letting down her guard to enjoy la dolce vita. Along the way he finds himself changing his plans, and breaking the rules, to stay with his delectable lover. But then rules were made to be broken, weren’t they?

Scene set-up
It's been instant attraction between Sonia and Renzo from the day she arrived in Rome. But when Sonia finally admits her desire for her sexy flatmate the inevitable happens and that passion combusts.

Smooch  -

The front door closed behind them and relief flooded Sonia, along with welling anticipation.

It had taken fifteen minutes to walk back from the party. Fifteen minutes with Renzo’s arm around her waist, and her wondering how much longer she could survive the exquisite torture of being near but not near enough. Pressed against his hard body, feeling the imprint of his splayed hand hot through the fragile silk of her dress made her eager for more, so much more.

She turned to him. ‘I think...’

Her words died as he bent and swung her up into his arms, close against his chest.

She’d never been held in a man’s arms like this. Never felt that rush of disorientation mixed with heady awareness of his superior strength and the physical differences between them.

‘I wanted to do that at the party.’ Renzo’s mouth curved in a wry smile. ‘But I figured you wouldn’t appreciate being carried through the streets.’

‘I...’ He expected her to say it would have been outrageous and inappropriate. Yet all Sonia could think of with his arm cradling her legs and another circling her back, his hand on her ribs just below her breast, was that it felt perfect.

‘I like it,’ she said, when she finally found her voice. ‘I like how strong you are.’

Instantly she felt muscles flex around her. The gleam in his eyes brightened. It was as if she looked into molten onyx, burning almost black with passion.

‘And I like how soft you are.’ The hand on her ribs shifted, making her aware that only the thinnest layer of silk separated their flesh. ‘Soft but not weak.’

Then he was walking, no, striding down the corridor and Sonia’s heart kept pace, quickening as he shouldered open a door into a moon-washed bedroom.

She hadn’t been in his room before. Saw it now as a play of silver on black. The vast bed, neatly made. Then Renzo changed his hold, putting her down and in the process, letting her slide against that hard, honed body. His belt buckle caught her dress, making it ruck up a little, but it was his solid erection that made her breath stop and her pulse gallop. Sonia swallowed hard as she felt each proud centimetre press against her.

Had she ever wanted a man as desperately as she wanted Renzo? She shuddered as she slid to the floor, coming to rest between Renzo’s legs.

‘You’re cold?’

Sonia shook her head. ‘Anything but. I’m burning up.’ Her hands rose to his shirt, flicking the buttons undone. Her fingers brushed hot skin and grew unsteady.

At her waist Renzo’s hands clamped hard as he tilted his hips against her. Fire shot through her belly to her womb and she heard herself gasp.

‘That feels so good.’ She tugged harder at his shirt and heard it tear. A couple of buttons flew off, pattering against her breasts. ‘Sorry!’

‘Don’t apologise, tesoro.’ Renzo’s voice was rougher than usual, husky and deep. ‘It’s only a shirt. I love that you’re eager too.’

Eager? She was desperate! She wanted to rip his clothes away and—

Maybe he was a mindreader for a second later Renzo released her to shrug off his jacket, then haul the mauled shirt from his trousers and tear it off.

Each movement created a mesmerising play of etched muscles across his torso and powerful arms. His chest hair and the dark line that arrowed from it down to his belly fascinated her.

Sonia dragged her fingers across one pectoral muscle, feeling the heat, the crisp hair, the thud of his heart. She paused at his flat nipple, scraping her nail across it and watching, enthralled, as it tightened.

She leaned in, pressing her mouth to the dark disc, laving, tasting the salty, spice tang of his flesh. Then she sucked, drawing his nipple into her mouth and unleashing a storm of fractured Italian.

Renzo’s husky voice did alarming, wonderful things to her. His lips moved against her hair and her scalp tightened.

‘Renzo. Please. I want—’

‘I want you too. All of you.’ On the words he backed her towards the bed and guided her down onto the mattress. Kisses rained across her cheek, her ear, her neck. Sonia linked her hands behind his head, tunnelling her fingers through his thick hair, straining towards him, offering her mouth as he blanketed her with his tall frame.

Renzo’s dark eyes burned so hot she felt the lick of flames across her lips. ‘No, tesoro. Not yet. If I kiss you...’ He shook his head. ‘I promised you pleasure. That takes time.’

We didn't get quite as far as the Smooch, but you get the idea!

I hope, if you read BURNING, you enjoy it as much as I did!

I'm currently finishing the book that I've been working on and am beginning to think about what story next. Do you have any suggestions?

I'll give away a Kindle copy of BURNING FOR THE ITALIAN to one person who leaves a comment.

Come back next Sunday, when the winner of today's giveaway will be announced!

Smooch Graphic by WebWeaver