Major announcement - Make over time!

Hello to all our aaamazing LoveCat blog readers out there. 

 

We LoveCats have been talking a lot the last months about directions, about reaching our beloved followers and the way social media sites have taken over from the humble blog and the need to adapt to the shifting winds. 

 

 So..the time has come for a reinvention. 

 

 

As of today, we're moving to a Facebook group. Yes, we opened a FB page a couple of years ago and we'll still be there but we wanted something exclusive and extra special just for our readers. Somewhere we can post the kind of content that we used to post here - from what we're reading to pictures of our pets to the ever popular Sunday Smooch! Somewhere we can interact with you guys in a much more organic way!

 

But...before we go, here are some stats!

 

The LoveCats first launched in the blogosphere on Jan 11th 2010 with the purpose of showcasing category romance through the eyes of some Aussie and NZ authors who were writing it! 

 

There were 7 inaugural members! Rachel Bailey, Zana Bell, Emily May, Sharon Archer, Nikki Logan and Tracie Sommers (Tracy O'Hara).

 

Since then there has been - 

 

1871 posts  and 631 908 page views 

 

The most viewed post was this one by Amy Andrews with 22304 pageviews.

 

The most viewed Sunday Smooch was this one by Rachel Bailey with 804 page views.

 

And multiple vistors have come from far and wide!

 

 

So, we're all very pleased and proud of what we've created and we hope you've enjoyed your time here at the blog. We also hope you'll join us in our new venture!

 

 

Come on on over to the FB group and join us there for fun and laughter and most importantly - category romance!!

 

How I met the LoveCats by Amy Andrews

The other day I was looking at the LoveCat’s blog header and remembering how I met each of the cats. It’s weird because I probably met most of them “online” before I actually ever met them in real life! But for sure we all eventually met through various Romance Writer’s of Australia functions over the years and I'm honoured and humbled to be in their tribe. The funny thing is I can really only remember clearly (or semi-clearly anyway) how I met three out of the thirteen. But I thought it might be fun to share a little snippet of what I do remember of each of the cats because, I don’t know about you, but I love hearing about how people met and not just men and women! I've even managed to dig up photos of almost all of us.

It will be interesting to see which of the cats has a differing memory because honestly, all these recollections could be wrong. I have a memory like a seive….

Rachael Bailey – I actually don’t remember which conference was the precise one in which we met, all I do know is that in about half an hour of meeting her, I’d agreed to be on the RWA committee… She’s sneaky like that, you gotta watch her!

Awww, aren't we sweet?

Bronwyn Jameson – it was actually at a Harlequin dinner during one of the conferences where I first met Bron. I remember chatting to her at one point, crouched down beside her chair. At some stage during that evening I lost one of my earrings, it was a dangly thing, not expensive but my favourite at the time. I looked for it but couldn’t find it. The next morning Bron tracked me down and gave it back to me – it had fallen into her coat pocket while we were talking.

I know I must have a pic with just Bron and I but I couldn't find one but Jen always makes a picture better!

Ally Blake – Ally and I were picked up by Harlequin at about the same time. She was registering at the conference desk the same time I was at our first conference since being signed. She had these amazing red-gold ringlets and, I cannot tell a lie, I developed a huge girl crush on her. Imagine my surprise to find the next day that she actually had straight hair!

See? Ringlets! Girl crusssssh!

Now for some memories with the others……

Michelle and Annie – you know, I don’t remember formally meeting either of these women but I feel like they’ve just always been in my circle. Michelle and I are scarily alike in many ways it’s almost like we were separated at birth and for sure, after every conference there’s going to be a 2am pic of us that is not very flattering…..I remember attending a couple of early Harlequin functions with Annie where I met her lovely hubby but the moment of introduction….I’m just not sure. 

Annie and I at one of those early Harlequin functions with Robbie Grady and Lisa Chaplin

This was breakfast at the Windsor, the morning after the last Melbourne conference. Because why not?

The most recent Harlequin do - haven't aged a bit.....

One of those 2 am shots.....

Sue and Louisa – my fellow medical authors. You know, I’m not sure which conference we met at, but I know it was in the bar 😊 I think it was Sydney but there have been many bar meetings since then!  And then they took me under their wing at the Auckland 2011 conference which will be forever seared into my brain because of the tragic loss of Harlequin author Sandra Hyatt who fell ill during the event. I've also hooked up with Louisa in New York in 2015!

Louisa and I with some other medical authors in NYC!

Melanie – I think we first met at a Harlequin author dinner too but again, I don’t remember where or when. Or maybe it was a medical author dinner…I do remember being utterly impressed by Melanie’s dedication to her craft and remember hoping that I could grow up to be like her 😍

Not a great shot of either of us I'm afraid.....we weren't drunk, I promise.

Helen and Kandy – again, I think I’ve known these two via osmosis for such a long time. Always at the same conferences together, hell, last year Kandy and I were on the same flight home from NY together in 2015 😎 Have looked high and low for pics but alas.....

Jen – she’s probably going to kill me for not remembering our exact meeting…it seems like I’ve always know her too. I think she introduced herself to me at a conference….I do know that Rach and I tag teamed to recruit her onto the RWA executive. I told you, you had to watch out for that Rachel Bailey 😊

Okay, I think we were probably a little tipsy in this pic...

 

Stef – I think Stef and I have only physically met once. Correct me if I’m wrong Stef…and that was in New York! I think most of our correspondence has been online but I think she’s coming to the Brisbane conference this year so we’re going to have to get a drink or two together Ms London for makeup tips if nothing else!

Stef and I with some fellow authors in NYC!

Another Love Cat pic with a ring in!

Five out of the six of us LoveCats at a conference somewhere...the lovely Sharon Archer one of our cats in the wild!

So there you have it. My recollections – patchy and imperfect as they are! I’m sure the cats are going to come on and completely correct me 💗

What about you? I’d love to hear about how you met one of your really good friends.

FanCATstic Acievements!!

I've just come back from the annual Romance Writers of New Zealand Conference in Auckland. It was, as usual, a wonderful weekend filled with good friends, enthusiastic readers, and great catch-ups with friends.

The weekend started for Louise, Sue and I on Friday afternoon with our friend Iona and then we were off to the cocktail party where we caught up with Yvonne and all the other conference delegates. I realised that it was my TENTH conference, and I remember hearing very inspirational speeches from Sue and Yvonne when I first joined so I know they've been attending longer than that. 

It was my very great honour to be asked to MC the awards dinner on the Saturday night and was so

excited to see Sue and Yvonne both go away with a Koru Award for Romance of the Year (and

Yvonne was third in her category as well!) Here are a few pics of the fab weekend.

 

Yvonne and Sue at the book signing.

Yvonne with her Koru Award in the Short, Sexy category for "Wanting What She Can't Have".

Sue celebrating after her win in the Short, Sweet category for "A Family this Christmas".

Louisa and I getting ready to cheer the cats on.

All the NZ LoveCats together!

Here's to another great year for the Lovecats and all our wonderful readers.

The Lovecats Live!

A few weeks ago Lovecat Sue Mackay posted about getting ready for conference and the anticipation of catching up with old friends, filling the well and generally wallowing in the world of writing. Today I thought I'd show you some cold hard evidence of what it looks like when a litter of Lovecats get together!

Although some very special Lovecats couldn't make it this conference season, quite a few of us caught up in Sydney at both the Romance Writers of Australia national conference and the Australian Romance Readers book signing also in Sydney. A week later a few of us got together again at the Romance Writers of New Zealand national conference in Auckland.

The first night was the Harlequin dinner where I hear there was much merriment and the odd topless waiter..... Always ready to do their bit to help half nekkid men feel comfortable, these Lovecats had a great night.

Lovecats know how to party: L to R: Rachel Bailey, Helen Lacey, Sue Mackay, Louisa George, Annie West. Front (and always centre) Michelle Douglas.

The next night was the cocktail party with a leather and lace theme. Rumour has it that someone in this group wore her Year 12 formal dress!

L to R: Louisa George, Michelle Douglas, Sue Mackay, Lovecat fan Elizabeth King,  yours truly

Apparently the point of conference is to advance your industry and craft knowledge but the Lovecats make plenty of opportunities to drink tea, sip champagne and eat corn chips. Wouldn't you like to do that with this lovely group?

L to R: Michelle Douglas, Rachel Bailey, Jennifer St George, Annie West

Saturday afternoon was the wonderful Australian Romance Readers book signing event at the Pullman Hotel and all of us were enormously grateful to be participating in this fabulous event. We met wonderful readers and I really enjoyed myself.

At the awards dinner on Saturday night we all had our fingers firmly crossed for Amy Andrews and Yvonne Lindsay who were nominated for Romantic Book of the Year. Although they didn't win we all had a wonderful time celebrating their achievements.

L to R: Louisa George and Sue Mackay at the awards dinner

It was only a week later a few of us met up in New Zealand and this time Louisa George took out the Koru award for Short Sexy Romance of the year and I was lucky enough to get the nod for Short Sweet Romance of the year.

 

I can't tell you how much I enjoy getting together with my writing friends. From my fabulous roomie, Rachel Bailey, to the Lovecats panel we participated in during the conference, I'll have wonderful memories of conference season 2014.

Sunday Smooch!

Welcome to another LoveCats DownUnder Sunday Smooch!


Today we have a smooch from  The Goddess, but first ...

the winner of last week's Sunday Smooch Giveaway is -- Lainey4!


Can you please contact Annie West annie (at) annie-west(dot) com to recieve your copy of Captive in the Spotlight.


And now for today's Sunday Smooch from The Goddess by Robyn Grady...

Cover coming soon!

Scene set-up:

Backpacker Helene Masters finds herself in the employ of a prince on an isolated Mediterranean island steeped in mystery. Needing a break from her housekeeper garb, Helene gets creative - cue a fun upsweep and fall of silk held together by a single broach pin.
But with dinner served on the balcony of Prince Darius Vasily's centuries old villa, has Helene under-estimated the power of the moonlight, not to mention the prince's priceless artefact...a figurine that embodies a legend which promises the delights of seduction as well as the consequences of fertility.




Kiss Scene... 

On the balcony, Darius placed the platter between the settings Helene had arranged on the table. Balcony torches were lit. In the middle of seeing to wine, he caught a movement and turned. He almost fumbled the carafe.

A woman stood framed by a high arched doorway, looking for all the world like a Grecian goddess. Her abundance of flaxen hair was swept up in a classic style off the elegant column of her throat. Her dress could tempt a priest to break his vows. The ankle-length silk gown lay draped expertly around her breasts and fell from the high-cinched waist in perfect folds to her dainty, unadorned feet. A glittering, palm-sized pin in the shape of a dolphin secured the fabric at one side while the other shoulder remained delectably bare. He didn’t care where Helene had found that outfit, he was only glad she had.

Blindly he set the carafe down as the vision moved toward him. With each step, the split in her gown parted enough for a tantalizing glimpse of shapely leg to be revealed.

“I found these bits and pieces in a drawer. I guess maids like to dress up, too. I hope no one minds.” She lifted and dropped a bare shoulder. “I was sick of shorts and baggy shirts.”

He tried to speak. Instead he cleared the knot from his throat at the same time she spotted the food.

“You didn’t have to bring that out,” she said, coming nearer.

“I’d have to do more if you weren’t here.”

She popped a plump olive in her mouth but rather than take a seat, she moved to the balcony rail. He followed.

“I like that music,” she said.

“It’s a Cretan lyra.”

“I recognize it. A man sometimes plays one in Alexio’s taverna.” She faced the sea. “I wish I could play an instrument. I’m hopeless at reading those black dots and squiggles. Reading history was always much more fun.” Leaning on the rail, her attention shifted from the view to meet his gaze again. “What did you study in college?”

He’d been examining her profile...pert nose, dimpled chin, the slender slope of her neck. Now he refocused.   

“I went to university in England. Studied business. Economics. History too. The palace library on the main island has some interesting volumes about these parts.”

She nodded but didn’t presume to ask if that was an invitation to inspect the library books firsthand, which was good because, seeing her in this moonlight in that dress, his thoughts were a little scrambled; he might have said yes. He had enjoyed their evenings together, listening to the sea and hearing her chat on about her life in America and how fascinating she found this part of the world.

Darius found her fascinating, and it was more than the outfit. She was easy to talk to. She made him laugh. Helped him relax. He simply liked her being around. If Helene knew, she might blame his interest in her on the goddess and her seductive powers. She was familiar with the legend: should it serve her purpose, the goddess was able to inspire deep, even mindless desire between a couple, particularly here on this island. But he had no intenion of losing his heart...although he had speculated on testing the more physical waters. Tonight, the idea of bringing Helene close was beyond tempting.

She was gazing out over the slopes.

“I recognize the olive trees and pines. And all the fruit trees in the orchard. What kind is that big green one over there?” She nodded at the nearby monster.

“A hickory.” Darius leaned both forearms on the rail. “An early Greek myth surrounds them. The story grew over time but the original version involves a woman named Carya.”

“Who was she?”

“Among other things, Carya was a virgin.”

“Not the sacrificial type, I hope.”  

“Dionysus, son of Apollo, visited King Leon and fell passionately in love with one of his three daughters," he explained.

“Carya.”

He nodded. “Dionysus left the court but when he returned for her, Carya’s sisters tried to stop her from leaving with him. As punishment for their jealousy, he sent the sisters mad. Then he and Carya escaped together. Later, when she died, Dionysus turned his beloved into a tree.”

“Why?”

As Helene gazed out at the hickory, he became more aware of the rise and fall of silk draped over her breasts.

“I suppose a tree can still breathe,” he said. “Can still feel.”

A breeze picked up. Nearby, a torch threw sparks and Helene moved back. To shield her, Darius skirted around to stand close on her other side. Closer than he had been to her before.

“It’s said that when Dionysus and Carya first kissed,” he went on, “all the birds in Greece began to sing.”

The silk of her dress, moved by the breeze, fluttered against her body; every curve and peak beneath was thrown into tantalizing relief. When his gaze met hers again, her eyes were glistening. He tried to read the emotion waiting there. Apprehension?

No.

Anticipation.

“Maybe the birds started singing on this island first,” she whispered.

His hand slid along the rail toward hers. “I wouldn’t be surprised.”

Her gaze dropped to his mouth before she cast a look out over the surrounding trees again. “All the birds are asleep now though.”

“Perhaps we should wake them.”

“Wake them how?”

His hand scooped around her waist. Bringing her close, he inhaled her lavender scent and murmured, “I’ll show you how.”

As Darius's lips touched hers, and lingered, Helene let her eyes drift shut. A heartbeat later, he drew her closer and she dissolved like a tablespoon of sugar in hot water. One warm palm cupped her nape and gently angled her head. As the kiss created in heaven deepened, Helene leaned in more. But when the hand on the small of her back slid lower, her pulse began to pound in a way that left her reeling.

Out of breath, she broke away.

His mouth found hers again and this time he held her so security against him, every cell in her body seemed to catch fire. Rubbing against the hard span beneath his shirt, her breasts felt so full. Their tips, so sensitive. Through to her core, she was tingling. Everything, everywhere, sizzled and ached for his touch.

Darius’s mouth finally left hers, but his arms remained, iron bands supporting her.

"Listen.” His smile grazed her lips. “The birds are singing now.”

Robyn's giving away a digital copy of The Goddess today. To be in the draw, simply leave a comment and tell us about some mysterious or simply wonderful somewhere you've visited in your life.


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

I'm Talking Good Chests!

...of the male variety...

by Robyn Grady

We all have different tastes. Some of us are partial to jaws or lips. Maybe you're an abs girl. Hard strong thighs are always well appreciated. But there is nothing that says, "I will find you/rescue you/protect you" better than a built broad chest.







Presenting, our own Hugh Jackman! This shot's been doing the circuits for years and from my heart, I'd like to thank all those astute magazine editors for trusting their instincts there! (He was *fabuous* in Boy from OZ!)











You may or may not be a fan of the new series of "Two and a Half Men". You might have opinions on his breakup with Demi. But you simply have to agree that this man has a dynamite chest! He's also a great actor. My suggestion "The Butterfly Effect." Take it away, Ashton Kutcher!

Okay. So you've been waiting. Y'all know me well! I do have a favourite celebrity/actor/singer/chest. And this is maybe my favourite shot of it, er, him. Gerard Butler...

There are people who don't have the natural 'got what it takes'. They take the fast track. Not sure that it works...


What's your fave part of the male anatomy?

(Remember, this show's G rated =) )

Corresponding names will be appreciated!

Sunday Smooch - Wendy S. Marcus

Welcome to another LoveCats DownUnder Sunday Smooch!


Today we have a smooch from Once A Good Girl... by Wendy S. Marcus







Prim Victoria Forley’s perfect life changed forever the night she slept with Kyle Karlinsky, baddest boy in town. These days, single mum and uber-perfectionist nurse Victoria has goals that nothing – not even Kyle’s shocking reappearance! – can derail.

But behind Victoria’s oh-so-frosty exterior is a heat that only Kyle can unleash… maybe it’s the right time to be with the wrong guy after all?

[Setup: Head Nurse Victoria Forley has just overheard that the bad boy from her past, the father of her son who’d recently returned to town, got drunk last night and went home with the biggest tramp in the hospital.]

After hanging her coat on the hook behind her office door Victoria turned back to her desk to see Kyle, his hair more unruly than usual, his clothes rumpled and his eyes glassy.
“There’s something I need to -” he said, looking guilty.

“Shhh. Come here.” She motioned for him to move closer. “Bend down,” she whispered. He did. She moved her mouth close to his ear and yelled as loud as she could, “Rough night?”

“Jeeze.” He gripped his temples as if trying to contain the vibration of a gargantuan gong. “Sadist.”

“I’m working. Go away.” She tried to move past him to get to her desk.

He blocked her path. “I forgot how fast news travels here in Madrin Falls. Victoria, nothing happened.”

“That love bite on your neck tells a different story.” It shouldn’t matter, but it did. Hearing about Kyle and Leanne together was hard enough, but seeing evidence of their tryst made her want to strike out and hurt someone. And since Kyle just happened to be handy… “I don’t care what you do or who you do it with.”

“Based on how ornery you are this morning, one might think you care about what I do a little more than you let on.” He reached for her chin, tilted it up and looked directly into her eyes. “Nothing. Happened. When you’re ready to hear the details I’m happy to tell you everything. I’ve got nothing to hide.”

“Except for Leanne’s brand. I may have some concealer in my purse.” She studied the offensive discolored blotch on the left side of Kyle’s neck, tilted her head, pursed her lips, and tapped her index finger on her cheek, pretending deep consideration. “On second thought, flaunt it. It marks you as an easy lay. Maybe you can parlay it into a few more drunken encounters with loose women.”

Kyle’s response wasn’t at all what she’d expected.

He smiled then laughed. “God I’ve missed you.” And he swooped down and kissed her.

Only their lips touched. His soft and supple, sensual as he pressed them to hers. Familiar. He didn’t demand, he offered, exerted the perfect amount of pressure to draw her in. Exquisite. Each one of her protective instincts failed, her thought processes taken over, transported back to innocent times, consumed by rapture. This is what she liked, the promise of more, not the actual more.

A voice sounded in the hallway. Victoria pulled away.

Kyle gawked at her, stunned. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have. I didn’t expect…”

“Go,” Victoria said. Half in a daze, her lips numb, her heart pounding. How could she have let that happen, at work, in her office? Anyone could have walked in. Her face burned with embarrassment and anger. How dare he put his moves on her. And why, after everything she’d been through because of him, did she lack the willpower to resist his kiss?


Once A Good Girl is available now in stores and online the UK and Aus/NZ, and online in the U.S. For links to purchase online, visit Wendy's website here.

To win a signed copy of Once a Good Girl… answer one of these two questions.

1) Is there a bad boy from your past who you’d welcome the opportunity to kiss again? And I want names and details people!

2) Have you ever been the recipient of a heated kiss at work? How did you handle it? Please keep your answers PG rated! (Wendy says: But if you’d like to share the specifics in private, you can e-mail me at Wendy@WendySMarcus.com!)

Come back next Sunday for a smooch from Helen Lacey's Made for Marriage.