Shopping – love it or hate it?

I live in the small regional town of Byron Bay. It is a tourism mecca. The centre of town has lots of little shops but I very rarely go shopping. Why? Because I really don’t enjoy shopping. I know. Crazy. Aren’t all women supposed to like shopping? But I don’t.

Yesterday, my daughter had some shopping needs that were beyond our local offerings so we had to drive to our closest major shopping centre over an hour away at Robina (yes – in another state). It has all the major chain stories, DJs, Myers etc. With all that was on offer, the only store that I really enjoyed being in was Kikki K – the stationary store. I love all those notebooks, pens, books about being organized etc. I didn’t buy anything as I have so many notebooks already, it is going to take me a lifetime to use them all. But I do love all those pretty items and it was so hard not to add to my notebook collection.

Small sample of my notebooks

But the rest of it, I can leave (well except perhaps for an 85% designer clothes sale).  And as I discovered, so can my daughter. After about an hour she said ‘you know what Mum, shopping is really boring.’ So, like mother, like daughter.

I know we can’t be the only people for whom shopping is at the bottom of the list of fun things to do but I’m beginning to worry as all my friends love it.

So, is there anyone else out there who finds shopping boring? Or are we alone in the ‘shopping is quite boring’ sphere?

Sunday Smooch: Rachel Bailey's His 24-Hour Wife!

Welcome to another LoveCats DownUnder Sunday Smooch!


Today we have a smooch from Rachel Bailey but first... 


... we have two winners! The winner of last week's Sunday Smooch Giveaway is Sarah Lehman! Can you please contact Kandy Shepherd to receive your copy of Stranded with her Greek Tycoon. And the winner of Clare Connelly's Sunday Smooch from the end of last year is Michelle Cunliffe. Can you contact Clare to receive your copy of Innocent in the Billionaire's Bed!




And now for today's Sunday Smooch from His 24-Hour Wife. This volume is a shiny new release of three favourites: The Nanny Proposition, Bidding on Her Boss, and His 24-Hour Wife. The heroes of these three books are brothers: Liam, Dylan and Adam Hawke, and between them they run a huge florist company. The books were originally released as Harlequin Desires, and now they're together in one volume for the very first time! Today's smooch is from the third brother, Adam's book.

What happened in Vegas didn’t stay there for CEO Adam Hawke and go-getter Callie Mitchell. And their drunken lark of a wedding is coming back to haunt them. Because Adam and Callie are now working together, and she’s being blackmailed over their very personal connection by a coworker. To deflect the threat, Callie and Adam make their sham marriage look real. But the passion that ensues is no sham. Could their wedding lark have real wings after all?




Scene set-up: Adam and Callie have arranged a magazine photo-shoot to announce their marriage to the world, but they're still struggling to find the line between pretend and oh, so real...


Two days later, Callie found herself with a journalist, walking through the Hawke Brothers’ flower markets. She was wearing a pale gold dress and kitten heels, her hair and makeup photo-ready.

Adam was striding a few steps ahead with the photographer, who wore ripped jeans and a faded T-shirt. Adam, in contrast, was in a tuxedo, parting the crowd like Moses at the Red Sea. No one walked the way Adam Hawke did—powerfully, and always with a purpose. The jacket fit his shoulders perfectly, highlighting their breadth and strength. It was mesmerizing.

“You sure lucked out in husbands,” Anna Wilson said as she walked in step beside Callie. Anna was the first journalist she’d called when looking for a place to launch the story. She was already a friend, and she had a reputation for writing good, solid stories on famous people that neither simpered over the subject nor made snarky digs.

“Yep, Lady Luck was kind to me that night.” Memories of twisted white sheets and Adam’s naked physique rolled through her mind, causing her mouth to suddenly go dry.

“Maybe I should try Vegas,” Anna said. “If I’m going to try my luck anywhere, then surely luck’s hometown will work as well for me as it did for you.”

A stab of unease hit Callie squarely in the belly. Luck hadn’t smiled on her in Vegas. It had given her a night in heaven, sure, but the price had been high. Spending this time with Adam now might just drive her insane.

“You’re not wearing rings,” Anna said suddenly.

“Rings?” Callie repeated.

“You know,” Anna teased, “those little bands we traditionally exchange when we get engaged and married.”

Callie frowned, surprised at herself for missing this detail. When they’d originally exchanged vows, they’d paid for cheap rings that had come from a tray kept under the counter at the chapel. She and Adam had both taken them off the next morning. Hers was in her makeup case where she’d tucked it after sobering up, and she assumed Adam had thrown his away.

“We’re getting new rings for the new ceremony,” she said, thinking on her feet. “It’s symbolic of us starting fresh.”

Anna smiled dreamily. “I love that idea.”

Adam stopped in front of a large flower stall with shelves covered in buckets of bright blooms in every color. He said a few words to the photographer, and then turned to Callie. “How about we take some of the photos here?”

She surveyed the scene. The backdrop would provide color and evoke happiness, and the light was good. “This would be great,” she said, moving to take Adam’s hand.

He leaned in and placed a lingering kiss on her lips, and her pulse went into overdrive. It wasn’t difficult to find the blissed-out expression that she was supposed to be faking—in fact, she knew it was on her face, whether she wanted it there or not.

Anna glanced around and conferred with Ralph, the photographer, and then said, “This is good. How about we start with you replaying that kiss for us?”

Callie glanced up at Adam and he looked for all the world as if he could think of nothing better than kissing her again. He clearly had the acting thing down pat. Of course, he probably did still desire her—chemistry as strong as what they’d shared wouldn’t likely disappear overnight, but she was well aware he didn’t want to give in to it again. And one thing she’d learned about Adam Hawke in the short time she’d known him was that he had iron willpower.

“It would be my pleasure,” he said, and wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her against him as he lowered his head. This time it was no peck on the lips, it was more. So much more. Tempting, sensual and knowing. It was everything. She slid her hands along his wrists, past his elbows to grip his biceps through his shirt, partly to keep him in place and partly to hold herself up.

He trailed his lips to the corner of her mouth and then across to her ear. Whispering her name, he sent a shiver across her skin and bit gently on her earlobe. She turned her face, searching for and finding his kiss, feeling as if she’d found her home as well.

They eased apart and Callie held onto his arms for an extra beat, her knees too wobbly to hold herself upright, her mind too dazed to think clearly.

“Adam,” she whispered, and in response a lazy smile spread across his face.

“That’s great,” Ralph said. “Just hang on a sec while I adjust some settings.”

The three books in The Brothers Hawke feature lots of flowers - which makes sense since the three Hawke brothers run a florist company: Liam is in charge of growing the flowers and developing new and unusual flowers; Dylan is in charge of the retail arm, Hawke's Blooms; and Adam is the CEO of the company and also responsible for the flower markets. So to celebrate the re-release of the Hawke Brothers, tell me what your favourite flower is and I'll choose one commenter to send them a copy of the shiny new volume! 

Come back next Sunday, when the winner of today's giveaway will be announced and a smooch from Amy Andrews will be posted!

Smooch Graphic by WebWeaver

Random bits and bobs.

When I woke up this morning I was thinking about cutting the blackberry from the chicken run, getting the foldaway chairs down in readiness to take to the Wine and Food Festival we're going to tomorrow with a group of friends, and the next chapter of my current book. And my blog. Oh, what to blog about? What has been going on in my life lately apart from the usual clutter?

So here's what I've got, the everyday great things of the past few weeks, starting with Christmas.
Our daughter and family came to stay for a week and it was fabulous.

The weather was superb, always good when living by the beach, the fishing was productive, and the two little guys, aged five and two, well, they always stun me, and exhaust me, and leave my heart a total wreck, so full of love.

Of course I read as often as possible, and my favourite book all summer was 'the girl you left behind'. Have you read it? It is awesome. Set in World War 1 and the early 2000's not once did I get frustrated with the different eras. Jojo Moyes is a genius. I was always late with dinner or feeding the chooks while devouring this book.

 

 

And then came the moving into my new office day. The curtains are still to arrive, but that's another story and would take up a page. My man and I laid the carpet tiles after the family had returned home and then in came the cartons of books, the desk and chair, the two seater couch for drop ins, and the skite wall was put up. After working in a tiny space in the back room where everything got dumped I'm now in heaven. The space, the view of our sound, the sunlight. It's a wonder I do any writing, but I am half way through a new book, and planning one for another line. In fact, I'm writing more than ever.

Oh, there's one more thing to come apparently. We were in town at a large hardware, whiteware, you name it store the other day and my man went looking for a beer fridge - only I'll call it a wine fridge. There wasn't one suitable but it will happen. Then when he's hot in the vegetable garden which is close by he'll drop in and we can occasionally indulge.

 

 

Our summer has been extremely hot, with temps in the mid to high thirties which is more like Aussie than NZ. I've even been swimming which is rare for me and done a lot of kayaking. But already the sun's not rising as early and I'm awake and ready to start my day.

 

And that's it.

What was your favourite read this summer?

 

New Beginnings - Clare Connelly

With my daughter

"The days are long, but the years are short." UGH. I cannot tell you how much I came to resent that phrase when I had little kids. The first time I heard it was out of the mouth of a well-intentioned stranger in a supermarket. My then two year old had thrown himself to the linoleum floor of Woolworths in a fit of pique because I wouldn't buy him a Kinder Surprise, and my six month old was stuck in a loop of pushing her dummy from her mouth, spitting it to the bottom of the apple cart, and wailing until I retrieved it.

I wanted to throw myself onto the ground alongside my son. The last thing I needed was to be given a platitude!

I love my children to bits, and I am so grateful - really, grateful beyond words - to have been able to have two healthy babies (particularly when many diabetics struggle to conceive and deliver.) Whilst being mindful of my good-fortune, I have to say, there have been times along this mummy-hood journey that have caused me to doubt my temperament to parent. Before I had children, I thought I would be such a relaxed mum, a fun mum! I swore I'd never be one of those screechy mummies who snapped at children in the supermarket or on the street. Or at all, come to think of it! I would never shout! I would only ever use a calm voice, and we would sing songs and read books, and do craft (because I would have endless energy to wipe paint from fingers and dust glitter from toes!). And there'd be so much laughter, all the time, except when they were sleeping, because they would sleep hours and hours, wouldn't they?

Aherm.

I had two kids close together and my sanity began to sap in the middle and my exhaustion grew to epic proportions and all my good-intentions seemed to muddy in the waters of reality.

My mantra

Around the time my son reached two and a half years,  out of desperation, I wrote this note to myself and jammed it to the fridge door. I read it over and over like an incantation, a meditation to find patience.

The note is still there, five years later, and yet already I know how much less I need it. The little voice that used to follow me around all day, telling me all of the things he found interesting, all of the adventure he adored, asking me question after question after question, has become quieter. Less frequent. More considered. He's a big boy, on the way to adulthood, and he needs me less now than he did then. 

This week, my daughter started school. And a huge part of my heart broke. She's bright and sweet and kind and funny, and so ready for this stage of her life - the heartbreak was all for myself.

For seven years I have been wading through the days, exhausted, tired, and with the benefit of hindsight, so very happy and heart-full.

For a brief window of time, I had two constant little sidekicks, and I was so lucky and blessed to have had that experience.  On the morning I dropped my daughter at her first day of school, I went to my shopping centre to pick up essentials (and a much needed cup of coffee!). I found myself looking at the little people there, the way they were following their parents around, or were being pushed in prams, and my heart was heavy. In particular, I found myself watching one mum with three little children in a trolley. She looked so tired, so frustrated, so close-to-tears, and I so badly wanted to go up to her and say, "The days are long, and the years are short."

Two school bags and shoes in the hallway, sob!

Obviously, I didn't. The years might, in fact, be short but my memory isn't. I sent her a sympathetic smile and kept going on my way. But really, it turns out, the platitude is true. 

One of the things I did to 'keep calm and carry on' was take the kids to the park - the one nearest our house is great for kids of all ages. I could take a book and a cup of tea and sit on the bench while they played for HOURS. What's your favourite way to get through situations that are a little bit stressful? Do you read? Meditate? Watch movies? Listen to Metallica at full volume? Cook lasagne? I'd love to know, and I'm giving away a signed copy of HER WEDDING NIGHT SURRENDER, my upcoming Harlequin Presents/Mills & Boon Sexy title to a random commenter.

HER WEDDING NIGHT SURRENDER.

Pietro has strict rules for his marriage…

And he’s breaking every one of them!

Pietro Morelli is breaking his own rule—seducing his virgin bride! Heiress Emmeline is meant to be a wife of convenience, but the intense chemistry between them is more powerful than either can deny. But while Pietro hides a devastating secret, can they ever have more than a marriage in name only?

Using Imagery to Create Stories

I'm very blessed to be on a research trip at the moment, but I wanted to share something with y'all (guess where I am!).

There are so many things that can be attributed to the genesis of a story... a conversation, a scene from a movie, a song... you never know when inspiration might strike.
Sometimes, though, it might be something as simple as an image that can spawn a novel, or perhaps even a series.
On my trip, here are some images that I've taken, and that are already getting my creative wheels spinning... 😀

This makes me think of a camping trip that goes horribly wrong...
(It's actually a beautiful area in a Canadian forest).

This makes me think of buried secrets, and hidden messages to those who know where to look...
(It's actually a grave in Bonaventure Cemetery, Savannah).

This makes me think of a) more buried secrets, b) a murder scene, c) a romantic first meet for a hero and heroine from opposite ends of the world, d) a ghost on a mission, e) fairy folk, f) a time-slip historical romance of a love separated by time...
(It's actually part of the Urquhart Castle ruin at Loch Ness),

So there are many budding stories here that come from just an image - who knows, you could read one of these, soon!

Tell me, what do these photos make you think of? Do you have a story in you? I would love to hear from you, so tell me in the comments below!

And, as always, happy reading!
Shannon Curtis

Sunday Smooch with Kandy Shepherd

Welcome to our first LoveCats DownUnder Sunday Smooch for 2018!


Today we have a smooch from Kandy Shepherd 








And now for today's Sunday Smooch from STRANDED WITH HER GREEK TYCOON


Blurb: One night to win back his wife! Can Hayley resist Cristos’s seductive charms?

After the demise of her marriage, Hayley fled to nurse her broken heart. Now she’s back to ask her husband, Cristos Theofanis, for a divorce—but he has other ideas! When a storm hits and they’re stranded together, Cristos has one night to prove himself. Can Hayley resist the temptation of Cristos’s kiss or will she find herself back in his arms?

Scene set-up: Hayley hasn't seen her husband Cristos for more than two years when she travels to his family’s private Greek island to deliver divorce papers. She finds herself in the middle of a family celebration and Christos asks her to keep quiet about the divorce so as not to cast a shadow over the festivities. His large family are in a fervour of speculation about the unexpected return of Cristos’s estranged wife. His grandmother, who had always been hostile to Hayley, confronts Hayley about her intentions. Hayley doesn't want to make a scene—it's bad enough that she's having to fight the flood of feeling that has enveloped her on seeing Cristos again and the rush of attraction that has never gone away. 

Smooch: She looked up to him in mute appeal. In response, Cristos looked deep into her eyes and smoothed the flyaway hair from her forehead with gentle fingers. Her breath caught at his touch, so familiar and yet so startlingly new, and she could not break her gaze from the deep green of his.

 ‘I am so happy to have my wife back with me,’ he murmured in that deep, rich, lightly accented voice that had always thrilled her.

Hayley knew he didn’t mean that. It was a message for his grandmother—a subtle way of defusing the situation. But it felt anything but subtle to her as shivers of awareness rippled through her. Her body had not forgotten the pleasure his touch could bring.

It had been so long.

She lifted her face and closed her eyes to better savour the sensation as he made the act of smoothing her hair into a caress. She was so lost in the feeling she was totally unprepared when he kissed her.

Oh!

His mouth firm and warm on hers, the roughness of his chin, his scent, spicy and male. Her own lips soft and yielding under his. His hands sliding around her waist, pulling her closer. This felt so good. Too good. Her eyes flew open.

She didn’t want this. Not this languorous warmth overtaking her. Not this feeling of being lost in his possession. Not this surge of awakening when she’d worked so hard to suppress her

longing for him. She didn’t want him. The marriage had been all on his terms—and in loving him so desperately she had lost herself.

She tried to pull away. ‘We have to make this look believable,’ he murmured against her mouth.

Why? She had agreed to play along with the charade of reconciliation so as not to disrupt his cousin’s festivities. Not to kiss Cristos. She did not welcome the whoosh of long-banked-down embers igniting into flames. Because of a kiss. A simple—you could almost call it chaste—kiss.

‘Don’t kiss me again,’ she murmured back against his mouth.

Question: Cristos and Hayley are stranded together on a snow covered Greek island. If you were to be stranded for the night with the man (or woman!) of your dreams, where would you like it to be? 

Your comment will go into the draw for a free copy of STRANDED WITH HER GREEK TYCOON. 

Come back next Sunday, when the winner of today's giveaway will be announced and a smooch from Rachel Bailey will be posted!

Smooch Graphic by WebWeaver

Odd Woman Out

Today is the second day of the second month of 2018.

All even numbers. Did you notice?  It’s no surprise that I did, for I looove even numbers.  They make me happy.  Little thrills actually shoot down my spine at the very thought.

Same thing happens when I manage to achieve an even number at the petrol pump.  A whole dollar, now that'd make me weak at the knees.

And TV volume HAS to be even.  Always.

I colour code my M&MS. In rows of two, in fact. Because…even.

I'm just stating to write my 36th book. The fact that its an even number makes me just a little more excited!

 

Symmetry does it for me, too.  I adore a city building. I find bridges things of supreme beauty. Tunnels and archways too.  Jetties and clear horizons.  Art Deco design.  Black and white tiles. (Yum!)  The films of Wes Anderson.

When driving to the north coast, I'll take the long way just to go past that forest that was planted in neat straight lines.

On the flipside...

 

Odd dates, those “you had one job” meme in which a tiler put just one tile out of place...?  Fingernails down a blackboard.

 

All of which is all completely normal, right?  Right???