Holiday Snaps!

Those of you who follow me on FB or twitter will know I'm just back from almost 4 weeks overseas. You'll have probably seen the pics so forgive me for the double up but hey...who doesn't like to look at holiday snaps, right? Beware, I found pano mode on my iPhone camera and went a little craaazy! You can click on any of the images to make them larger!

LONDON
Freezing cold but still a special place in my heart.
Iconic symbols and a Harrods red velvet cupcake to die for!

Catching up with some medical author mates at a posh hotel for after noon tea. Or afternoon chamagne...

The lovely Kate Hardy and Annie Clayton

Hiedi Rice and Lucy King - my fellow Fairy Tale of New York authors!

Two of my fav medical authors - Jennifer Taylor and Caroline Anderson - whose books I read obsessively when I was trying to get published in the line. Awesome women, awesome writers and I have to pinch myself to think I know these wonderful writes personally!

Lunch with a view at The Shard with my fabulous editor Megan! Wow - does she know how to impress this girl from DownUnder!

Why yes, that is the Tower Of London you can see in the background!

CRUISE BOAT

View from the lounge at the front of the ship!

 ITALY

Our male companions having a toyota moment in Pompeii!

 

GREECE

I cried standing in front of these amazing ancient monument.

ME AFTER TOO MUCH FOOD AND BOOZE :-)

There are hundreds more but I won't bore you!
Do you like looking at other people's holiday snaps or would you rather stick a rusty fork in your eye?

When Holidays Don't Work Out As You Expect - Annie West

When I picture an upcoming holiday destination I always imagine it with bright blue skies, usually balmy clear weather and mild temperatures. I don't picture crowds on the scene or weather extremes or travel delays or anything other than fun. Having said that, we have made a conscious choice sometimes to travel in winter for various reasons, and take our warm woollies so we're prepared. The reality is often quite different from my imaginings. For instance, I keep finding scaffolding on lots of major buildings I want to see. Either they're all crumbling badly at the same time or it's a conspiracy to deprive me of a good view. (All about me, of course!).

Recently I was lucky enough to visit Venice again and this is how I pictured it, a clear(ish)day with a blue sky and great views. And, even though I was there in early February (winter) that's what we got - for part of the time. I have lots of photos of Venice looking gorgeous and captivating and romantic, but our holiday wasn't quite as we expected so I thought I'd share some of the OTHER photos. Here's one:

Who knew it snows in Venice? It's not only on the coast of the Mediterranean but actually on islands off the coast. Ignorant Australian that I am, I imagined rain but not snow. It's not a brilliant photo, I know. I was too busy taking in the astounding views. Sadly the snow didn't settle, but it was an amazing experience. 

Now, I mentioned rain. We did have some - at least on one day. But what we had 5 times in our week's visit was the acqua alta - the high water which sees some of Venice underwater - not just the canals but the pedestrian zones as well. Here's a shopkeeper in Piazza San Marco mopping up after one.

The acqua alta affected the local fashions too. I knew to expect well-dressed Venetians, having been there years before. But I hadn't expected this sort of footwear. 

Fur coats with wellington boots? And what's with those tourists wearing yellow gaiters over shoes? I soon found out, as soon as I hit the high water near its peak.

Fortunately our hotel had a range of waterproof boots in various sizes, which we borrowed. I'd thought of taking some from Australia but decided the chances of needing them were slim. Ha! This will give you an idea of why they're needed. The water here was ankle deep but got much higher. Below is a view down a street towards the Grand Canal. Hard to tell where one ends and the other begins, isn't it?

Plus, yes, there was some rain. And on the day it rained we also had a little wind - enough to test the umbrellas.

We got to see a different side of Venice, one complete with duckboards so people could walk through certain areas without wading. 

It may sound perverse, but we were glad to got to experience this other side of Venice. It was an adventure for one thing (especially since we didn't have to deal with the flood damage). Lying in bed listening to the city's acqua alta alarm was a novel experience. We became adept at finding relatively dry ways around the city and were quite proud of our sturdy borrowed boots when some others weren't quite equipped for Venice in the wet. Of course, too, it gave us good reason to stop by inviting cafes that were dry. Here's the famous Cafe Florian in Piazza San Marco. If the weather had been fine and dry every day we'd probably not have visited.

Or time in Venice was wonderful. We had lots of new experiences, discovered great food, friendly people, romantic atmosphere and brilliant carnival costumes, But I'm sure what's going to stick in our memories is the fun we had wading through the high water, admiring the way the Venetians went about their business despite the conditions. 

Have you ever had a trip that didn't work out as you expected? Maybe it was better, or worse or just different? I love the unexpected on my holidays (though preferably not bad-unexpected) and would love to hear about yours. Do you go with the flow, or find it hard to enjoy yourself when things don't go as planned?

I'll leave you with a final shot of Venice early in the evening. Sigh. It really was enormously attractive!

Travelling as Inspiration

I love to travel. Many of my stories have been inspired by places I’ve lived in or visited ... Venice, Paris, London, Melbourne, the US, the Lake District. I spend a lot of time thinking about the perfect setting and it’s not simply about pretty or interesting backdrops but locations that shine a little light on the characters…creating an environment that helps their story unfold. 

Many of my romances feature an heiress or a billionaire, and with that kind of incredible wealth it’s important to sketch a gloriously luxurious setting, one that is glamorous, fabulous, international.

My first novel, The Convenient Bride, was inspired by a trip to Venice where I was entranced and moved almost to tears to see so many gorgeous but decaying historic buildings crumbling into the canals. If I were as rich as the characters in my stories, I would have brought one on the spot and have it restored to its former glory. Long after leaving Venice, its tragic beauty continued to haunt my dreams and so I set The Convenient Bride there, with one of those Venetian gothic buildings playing a special part in the plot.

Being under the hot and harsh spotlights on a reality TV show was the experience that sparked the idea for Seducing the Secret Heiress. I took part in the Australian version of Dragon’s Den and the call for ‘action’ alone was enough to raise my heart rate.  Add judges, camera close-ups and a demanding Director, for an experience that was unbearably intense, yet exhilarating. I thought this pressure-cooker environment would make good fodder for a sexy romance. Not to mention that much can happen in a dressing room and those dressing rooms have mirrors, which adds a whole new dimension to a scene.

Parts of Seducing the Secret Heiress take the reader to London.  I lived in that amazing city for seven years. The seasons, the parks, the history, the pubs, the incredible mix of people who live there, left an indelible impression. Actually, London pops up a few times in my novels and one day I’d love to live there again. Who knows?

The Love Deception was inspired by my days working in the top end of town in Melbourne – think high-rise corporate offices with stunning views across the city, suits with high heels and stockings, business-class travel, luxury hotels. My heroine didn’t have a chance spending all those long stressful hours locked away in legal meetings with her hot boss in his private office.

A few scenes in The Love Deception are based on the terrifying experience of living through the remnants of a hurricane in North Carolina. A scary night! I’ll never forget the noise. My hero and heroine are in Barbados when they find themselves in the eye of the storm, literally and figuratively. They are only on the island for a very short time before nature unleashes itself and the hurricane hits. Of course I had them return to the island later in the book so they could enjoy everything this tropical paradise had to offer when a category five storm wasn’t causing mayhem. (It’s nice as an author to give your characters a reward when they have worked so hard to deserve happiness).

The core idea for The Billionaire’s Pursuit of Love popped into my head after attending a seminar dedicated to saving the world’s Orangutans. The wildlife workers lived in very basic conditions, working in the mud, rain and heat to ‘mother’ the vulnerable baby Orangutans until they could look after themselves – a little like nurturing human babies. When I read an article about a man worth millions who’d designed one of the world’s most successful computer games, I wondered what it would be like if these two people from incredibly different worlds were brought together through a twist of fate that just wouldn’t let them go. 

My latest release, Tempted by the Billionaire Tycoon, was inspired by a trip to a health retreat, an experience that gave me my heroine’s profession. Another trip to France and the UK inspired the lavish, deeply romantic locations in Tempted. Each time I visit Paris I fall under its spell – again. Seeing Versailles for the first time left me in awe of the beauty and romance of France, its history and great art. My heroine, Poppy, feels this too when she visits France for the first time. My billionaire hero of course has seen it all before, but it feels that little bit different now he is with Poppy!

At the moment I’m busy conjuring up my new billionaire novel. The hero and heroine are having a tortured time in a gorgeous old stately home in the UK, complete with a beautiful secret garden. That locked-up walled garden plays an integral role in the twists and turns in the story.

I hope they both find the key!

Is there a place you've visited that you found inspirational? I'd love to know.

Jennifer St George is a romance author whose sexy stories feature courageous, career-minded heroines, strong heroes in glamorous international settings. She has five books published with Penguin's digital-first imprint, Destiny Romance. 

Sunday Smooch with Jennifer St George

Welcome to another LoveCats DownUnder Sunday Smooch!

Today we have a smooch from  Jennifer St George but first 

... the the winner of last week's Sunday Smooch Giveaway is Sharlene. 

Can you please contact amy (at) amyandrews (dot) com (dot) au to receive your copy of The Most Expensive Night of Her Life.

And now for today's Sunday Smooch from Sweet Seduction.

Sweet Seduction brings together The Convenient Bride and Seducing the Secret Heiress for the first time in one fabulous volume which is now available in print as well as ebook.

The Convenient Bride

Sienna De Luca will do anything to save her family's hotel, and ruthless Italian businessman Antonio Moretti knows it. With problems of his own, he proposes a marriage of convenience that will secure his next business deal and save Sienna's hotel.

In keeping with her part of the bargain, Sienna travels to Venice with Antonio, who introduces her to a life of luxury and opulence. Antonio soon realizes he has vastly underestimated Sienna. Unexpectedly, she gets too close, and when she discovers his dark secret, Antonio's perfectly planned life begins to unravel . . .

Scene set-up: Sienna is bound up in a marriage of convenience with Antonio Moretti. Just before she cuts the wedding cake, she discovers the 'real' reason Antonio wanted the marriage and she's horrified. 

Sienna allowed Antonio to lead her to the enormous three-tiered cake. The crowd gathered around as they held the knife together and cut the first piece. Cameras flashed. The rich aroma of chocolate and cream fed the turmoil in her stomach. The noise, the crowd, the cameras threatened to close in on her.

‘I need some air,’ she said, rushing from Antonio’s side to the nearest door she could find. She stumbled into the long hall that led to the foyer. People turned to stare. Where could she go? She had to get away from the continuous scrutiny and the innocent faces of Antonio’s aunt and uncle.

Antonio pushed through the door. He came up close. ‘What are you doing?’

‘How can you deceive your own family?’

‘Quiet.’ He ground out the word. ‘Someone will hear you.’

‘You didn’t tell me your aunt and uncle owned the hotel.’

‘What does it matter? The facts are still the same,’ he whispered harshly, fixing her with stony eyes. ‘They read everything that’s written about me and believe every word. They won’t sell me Villa Paradiso because of those lies.’

‘Lies?’ She knew she should keep her voice down, but she couldn’t help it. ‘What is written about you is all true from what I’ve seen.’

His icy stare matched her own. ‘What? That I’m a womanising, hedonistic playboy?’ he bit out.

After seeing Antonio interact with his staff, she knew there was more to him than his shallow tabloid reputation, but anger consumed her. ‘If the shoe fits,’ she threw back at him.

A camera flashed nearby. Sienna jerked in the direction of the light.

‘Then let’s give them what they want,’ he said through clenched teeth before his lips claimed hers. Sienna felt her mouth explode with sizzling heat. His tongue forced her lips apart.. His teeth grazed her bottom lip as he deepened the kiss.

She willed herself to pull away but her mind didn’t seem to control her body.

His hands slid down her back pulling her close. Her breasts crushed against his chest and desire pooled deep inside her. She’d never been possessed with such fiery passion. She knew she should protest, push away, but his mouth ground against her, bringing her body to life as never before.

She pulled away, breathless.

‘Antonio,’ she breathed. ‘Not here.’

Without a word, he swept her into his arms and carried her to the bank of lifts. She wanted to object but found she couldn’t. Or was it that she didn’t want to? Her emotions swirled in a wickedly seductive combination of raging desire and a huge dash of apprehension. She gazed into his dark eyes but looked away quickly. Determination mixed with lust shone in equal parts. What she felt and what she saw in his eyes scared her.

The lift arrived quickly and he pushed through the doors before they’d opened completely. Cameras covered their every move. He swung her round to reach the button for the penthouse.

‘Antonio, you can put me down now.’ She needed to escape his strong, hard body. It made her want what she didn’t want. Not with this man.

‘No.’ His voice was heavy with lust.

She tried to wriggle from his grasp, but he held her in an iron grip. ‘Put me down.’

‘No, you wanted me back there. Don’t deny it.’

‘No,’ she said, hoping her voice wouldn’t betray her lie. She couldn’t want this man. The man who forced her into marriage, forced her into deceit. ‘It was just for the cameras,’ she said, stiffening in his arms. ‘A fight on our wedding night wasn’t going to convince anyone this marriage is real.’

He placed her feet on the floor and held her steady until she found her balance on the four-inch heels. ‘Just an act?’ he asked, his black eyes searching hers as the lift doors opened.

She looked at him squarely. ‘Of course.’ If he touched her now, she’d agree to anything.

I hope you enjoyed the Smooch. I'm giving away an e-copy of Sweet Seduction. Leave an answer to the following question for a chance to win. The Convenient Bride is set in Venice, which is one of my favourite cities in the world. It has everything...fabulous architecture, romance, history, gastronomic delights, art, music and so much more. I would love to visit again and again. Is there a city you'd love to return to and if so, why? 

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

Smooch Graphic by WebWeaver