Jul 24, 2016

Sunday Smooch Ruby Finalist "Seducing His Enemy's Daughter" by Annie West

Today I'm utterly delighted to introduce the second in our special feature of Sunday Smooches showcasing the LoveCat finalists in this year's Romance Writers of Australia RuBY Awards.


The RuBY is Australia's premier award celebrating the best the romance genre has to offer. It's open to all Australian and New Zealand authors and the finalists are chosen by reader judges. We're so excited that Annie West's phenomenal talent has been recognised once again.

Once again, I hear you ask? Why yes. :-) Last year, amid much cheering and stomping of feet, Annie's Damaso Claims His Heir took out the RuBY in the Short Sexy Category.


 Annie's books are reader favourites. Listen to what readers have been saying about Seducing His Enemy's Daughter:

"I loved the drama, the characters, the sizzling romance and in short everything about the story" Ipshita, Romance Junkies

"Loved this book! I didn't put it down from start to finish." Lynn B, Amazon

"I loved the ending so much. This is totally a must read for any romance junkie." Bootlover, Amazon

Happy sighs! Doesn't that make you want to rush straight out and read it?
Psst, buy links are below. ;-)


Donato Salazar can’t forget his tragic past and he has no intention of forgiving the man responsible. Jilting his enemy’s daughter will be the icing on the cake of his revenge, and beautiful Ella Sanderson is certainly sweet enough.

Except Ella isn’t the vacuous socialite he expected and she refuses to marry him! Her rebelliousness only makes Donato want her more, so he’ll have to persuade her…touch by breathtaking touch.

But soon Donato finds himself enthralled by their magnetic connection. As their fake wedding day approaches, one question weighs heavily on Donato’s mind: to love, honor…and betray?


Setup: Donato has come to Sydney with the aim of destroying Ella’s father. When her father suggests Donato marry one of his daughters to cement what he believes to be a once in a lifetime chance to get his hands on Donato’s money, Donato plays along. But his plans take a hit when he meets Ella, who’s not the vacuous socialite he expected. From the instant they meet the attraction between them is explosive. Ella knows Donato is playing some devious game with her father and she refuses to be a pawn. She confronts him but he turns the table by talking, not about deals, but about the powerful current of desire between them.
     
      ‘No one is forcing you into anything. Believe me, I would never force a woman into my bed.’
      Ella stared into his face, noting how those dark features set in stern lines of rigid control. There was hauteur in the flash of his eyes and pride in the set of his shoulders.
      She believed him. The realisation rocked her.
      ‘What we’re discussing now is sex.’ His voice turned deep and liquid on the word, matching the slow-turning need inside Ella. ‘You and me. Uncomplicated, satisfying, scorching.’
      ‘Scorching?’ Ella didn’t know how the word escaped. It wasn’t what she’d meant to say. Clearly the look in his eyes had incinerated part of her brain. ‘You assume a lot.’
      He shook his head. ‘I assume nothing. I know, Ella. Can’t you feel it?’ Again he reached for her, but this time he only clasped her hand lightly. Fire sparked from the point of contact and she had to work to suppress shivers of delight.
      How had she come to this? She’d raced halfway across Sydney to confront Donato, filled with righteous indignation and—
      But there’d been more, hadn’t there? No matter what she pretended, it hadn’t just been indignation. She’d been almost relieved for the excuse to see him again, despite her fine talk about never meeting again. She was angry, for sure. But she was also…enthralled.
      She swallowed, her throat scratchy as she confronted the truth. She wanted Donato Salazar as she’d never wanted any man. Her skin felt too tight, her chest too full.
      Donato stroked one finger along her palm and she gasped as pleasure rocketed through her.
      ‘Tell me you feel it,’ he purred.
      Ella bit back a groan of despair. She was out of her depth. She’d never been good at flirtation. Suddenly she didn’t care about pride or keeping up an image. This was about survival – and she felt like she was going under for the third time.
      ‘What do you want from me, Donato?’ I don’t play these games.’
      ‘I don’t play games either. Not about this.’ His face was grim, the hint of teasing erased from features that looked pared back and intense. He swallowed, his Adam’s apple bobbing hard and something within her eased at that visible sign he wasn’t totally in control.
      Suddenly he stepped back, releasing her hand, and cool air wafted between them.
      ‘What happens next is up to you.’ His heavy-lidded look was a challenge and an invitation.

      Donato looked down into stunning blue-grey eyes, grown huge and wary. He felt the doubt radiating from Ella, just as he felt the heat of sexual arousal.
      His body was taut, humming with need, and he couldn’t quite believe the effort it took not to step closer and persuade her into surrender as he knew he could. The attraction dragging at his belly, arcing between them, was powerful.
      But there’d been something about the way she mentioned her sister, on top of her talk of being forced, that held him back. He’d seen the quickly-veiled hint of fragility in Ella’s expression.
      He didn’t have her measure yet but one thing he knew. He needed Ella to come to him.
      The moment of silence grew to two pulse beats, three, four, more. His nerves and his patience stretched. He forced himself to stand unmoving, as if he wasn’t strung out.
      Then with what sounded like a muffled oath, Ella launched herself forward. She cannoned into him, soft and curvaceous, warm and delectably feminine. Automatically he grabbed her to him, catching her in a tight hold. Her arms looped up over his shoulders, her hands burrowing up through his hair, pulling his head down.
      He had a moment to register that fresh-as-a-garden-after-rain scent then their mouths collided and his brain shorted.
      So good. She felt even better than he’d expected. And she tasted—
      Donato plunged deep into her mouth, forcing her head back, swallowing her sigh of response. Ribbons of heat unfurled through him as he savoured Ella, so delicious, so right. Her soft lips, her demanding tongue, the way she melted into him even as she challenged him to give more. He angled his head, hauling her even closer, lost in a kiss that was so much more than he’d expected, despite his anticipation.
      He couldn’t get enough. Her lush body cushioning his instant erection. Her hot, eager mouth that tasted of peach nectar. Her thigh, sliding restlessly against his leg as their tongues tangled and lips fused.
      Donato grabbed her thigh and hauled it up, swallowing her gasp of shocked approval. There. He wanted her there. He bent his knees, angling his hips so he rubbed against the softest, most secret part of her.
      To his delight Ella’s hands tightened against his scalp, not pushing him away but clutching as if she couldn’t get close enough.
      Dimly he wondered what had happened to slow seduction. To years of expertise at pleasing a woman. To caution and taking things one step at a time.
      With Ella there were no steps. There was just a headlong plunge into riotous need.


* * * * *

Have you ever won something? Have you ever entered a contest, bought a raffle ticket or played roulette and won? Leave a comment and one name will be randomly drawn to win a copy of SEDUCING HIS ENEMY'S DAUGHTER.

And speaking of winners...last week's Sunday Smooch winner is riet_media. Please contact Amy via amy (at) amyandrews (dot) com (dot) au to claim your copy of Playing By Her Rules.
Come back next Sunday, when the winner of today's giveaway will be announced and a smooch from  Michelle Douglas's An Unlikely Bride for the Billionaire will be featured.


30 comments:

  1. I filled out a ballot and won a 7' long faux-leather couch from a local furniture store (so my 6'4" son now has somewhere to stretch comfortably).
    The following year there was a local draw (with not many ballots, I bet) where I won a handmade quilt, jams, soaps, etc. in a huge basket (which I shared with several friends and family).
    Last year I won (from yet a different company) a Sony PlayStation 4 that my son now enjoys.
    How come I never win a car, LOL?

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    1. Wow, Laney, that's amazing! I get your son loves the fact he can lie full length on the sofa. What a treat!

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  2. No I've never won anything I guess I don't have that luck

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    1. Hi Natasha. Hoping your luck changes eventually. If it's any consolation I've won so rarely I can count a lifetime's wins on one hand.

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  3. Hi Annie

    Woohoo and huge congrats on your nomination this one deserves to be there I loved it :)

    I often win fabulous books to read and we did win around $4000 in lotto many many years ago and what's more we were one number off the big one LOL

    Have Fun
    Helen

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    1. Thanks, Helen. I was absolutely delighted, and excited, to hear this book in particular got through to the finals!

      Hey, how wonderful to win $4,000. I'm sure it was fun deciding how to spend it.

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  4. Hello Annie, first of all congratulations! I read the book and it deserves not just to be a finalist, but also to win.
    I have participated in several lotteries and won 2 times, once an iron and the other a huge Easter egg.

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    1. Franca, I think I'd rather win a huge chocolate egg than an iron! Though I suppose the iron is more useful.

      Thanks for the kind words. I'm thrilled you enjoyed Ella and Donato's story so much.

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  5. Annie, congratulations again on your RuBY nomination -- You totally deserve it! Also, we're going to have such a fun time at the Awards dinner. I can hardly wait. :-)

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    1. Aren't we going to have a ball, Michelle? Several LoveCat finalists to cheer!

      Thanks so much for hosting me today. It's lovely of you.

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  6. congratulations on your nomination --any Annie West book is a good read---------LynW

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    1. Ah, that's so kind of you. Thanks very much, Lyn. :)

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  7. Romance junkie, that's me! Somehow I strayed from romance stories for many years. Whatever was wrong with me? I think it was winning one of Annie's stories that got me started again. Congratulations on the nomination and best of luck.

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    1. Thanks so much, Grandma Cootie. I'm thrilled that Seducing has made the finals. Chuffed too, to think it may have been one of my books that got you back into romance reading again!

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  8. I've entered many book contests. I've won a few. They are so much fun.

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    1. Jennifer, I love book contests too. I find they're a good way of discovering new authors.

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  9. I once won $500 on a lottery ticket and won a few author contests.

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  10. I love entering book contests. I've won a few, including 2 books from Annie West 2 years ago. Best part was the package that came from Australia. I could take it to school and the kids look to see where Australia is in the world. And when I contacted her to thank her, we talked about the seasons and how they were flip flopped on the opposite sides of the equator. Had that to share with my students as well! ;-)

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    1. Waving a big hello from Australia. I'm glad to think my parcel was so useful at school, broadening the horizons of your students! Thanks for dropping by.

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  11. Congrats on your nomination!! I've entered many book and gift card contests and I won a few :-)

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    1. Hello, Natali. Thanks so much for the congratulations. I'm very excited about it. Book contests are fun, aren't they?

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  12. Hiya Love Cats!!! Hiya Annie!

    Annie, firstly huge congratulations on the RUBY nom! Wouldn't it be wonderful if you won back to back? I'd be cheering my head off if that happened. Loved Seducing his Enemy's Daughter - those opening scenes where it's passion at first sight. Whew! Great stuff. Wonderful kiss too.

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    1. Hi Anna. Well, I'm not expecting another win - far from it. But I AM thrilled to make the finals, especially with this one which I so enjoyed writing. Lovely that you like it so much too! :)

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  13. The RUBY nomination is just fabulous, Annie. So thrilled for you.

    When I was young I used to win things all the time, like flights to Spain - amazing things like that. Lately, not so much.

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    1. Thanks so much, Jennifer. It's definitely thrilling.

      I'm so impressed with you winning flights to Spain. Wow! I know someone who won a first class trip for two to India staying at palaces and so on. They had a ball. But it was the first time they'd flown and they got rather a shock when they had to fly economy after that.

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  14. The first thing I ever won was a hand poppet in primary and had to choose his name and it was Peter. I won a hand poppet ;) Congrats on the Ruby nomination and hopefully another win. :)

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    1. You started winning early then, Jan. Thanks very much for the RUBY congrats! I'll hope to see you on the awards night!

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  15. Congratulations on your RUBY nomination - well deserved.
    I won a holiday to the south of France last year - included flights, a week in Cannes, Michelin star dining, private cookery lessons and private tour of Monte Carlo. Of course I just had to go into the Casino if only to say I'd been there. Allowed myself 10 euros to bet with and lost the lot, but remained entertained by the people around me placing bets that made my eyebrows melt in a permanently raised position.

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  16. Pam, what a wonderful experience! That's definitely a once in a lifetime sort of win! I bet it was terrific fun.

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