Motel Musings

 Today I was going to blog about dream hotels. You know the ones—those icons of luxury, sophistication and untold wealth that make your mouth water as you glance through their gallery of pictures. Why? Because Xavier Ramos the hero of my new release next month (The Spanish Tycoon’s Takeover) is an hotelier. His family owns a network of luxurious 5-star hotels.

Oh, but I started getting seriously distracted by the pictures! I could disappear down that rabbit hole for hours…days!

My favourite hotel ever is The Dorchester in London. It’s one of those amazing traditional 5-star British hotels like Claridges and Browns, which are havens of luxury, sophistication and good taste. We spent our wedding night there (hence the reason that no other hotel will ever hold the #1 spot in my mind). The rooms were gorgeous. Look, this is a picture of our room—a double deluxe with a four poster bed and views of Hyde Park. Gorgeous, huh?

The service was amazing. They knew it was our wedding night so had a bottle of complimentary French bubbles waiting for us on arrival. And chocolates! Happy sighs.

 But, here’s the thing, the staff uniform included a Hermes’s scarf, and I bet that scarf cost more than my entire suitcase full of Kmart classics. Did I feel like an imposter? You bet. Did I care? Not a jot. I enjoyed the experience to the full.

In contrast to all of this luxury, however, Wynne Stephens my heroine runs her grandmother’s little old motor-inn. And it can’t be denied that the place is getting a little squidgy around the edges. I based it on a motor-inn we stayed in Melbourne two Christmases ago. I fell in love with it and its faux Victorian manor house decor. It was definitely…quirky. Look at our room! Fun, huh? :-)

 I love staying in hotels, motels, motor-inns, serviced apartments or B&Bs. It feels divinely decadent after a childhood of holidays spent in caravan parks (which I loved, mind you). What about you? Have you stayed anywhere so swish it’s taken your breath away? Or do you have a firm favourite that you return to again and again?

*******************************************************************************
NB: In honour of "ghosts of hotels past" I’ll be giving away a copy of The Spanish Tycoon’s Takeover to one of my newsletter subscribers in a few weeks time plus a scarf (though it’s not a Hermes…but look at those hearts! Isn’t it the sweetest? I bought two—one as a prize and the other to keep for myself because I couldn’t resist). So if you haven't subscribed, and would like to go into the draw, pop on over to my website and sign up for my newsletter.

Oh, and The Spanish Tycoon's Takeover is available for pre-order now too! :)
Amazon
iBooks
Barnes and Noble
Harlequin

Desire Cover Love

by Robyn Grady.

I am dying to show off my latest cover!
Sadly it isn't quite ready.
It’s for my favorite Desire series – Billionaires and Babies. And I do have a title – Strictly Temporary – which suits the premise to a tee.
Here’s the blurb ...

Discovering an abandoned baby in the backseat of a taxi was not on hotelier Zack Harrison’s agenda. Luckily, a stunning stranger comes to his aid — and piques his interest. But before Child Services can arrive, a snowstorm strands the trio in Zack’s luxurious Colorado cabin.
Trinity Matthews wants to resist Zack’s advances, but his care and concern for her and the baby soon have her melting. As the snow falls and the heat sizzles, it’s not long before Trinity’s sleeping in his bed. And she finds herself wondering if their temporary arrangement could have permanent effects.

Babies and Billionaires are favorites with Desire readers. And why wouldn't they be? You've got oceans of passion, more than a touch of glamor and glitz, some drama and humor. Best of all you get to enjoy those cute-as diapered bundles who invariably work their way into the hero's life and, ultimately, his heart.

Strictly Temporary's NA release isn’t until July, so a touch early to offer a copy yet. But next best thing! Today I’m giving away a copy of Bargaining for Baby (warning: you'll need tissues!) as well as my first Billionaires and Babies book, Baby Bequest. Just leave a comment (maybe about a fave little-kid shot of yourself or your children or grandbabies) to be in the draw.

On a personal note, have I introduced you to the new little grand-baby in the Grady household? I think he looks like his dad.

A little bit of luxury...

by Michelle Douglas

Reading: Girl in a Bedouin Tent by Annie West

Watching: Dirty Dancing

Listening to: Dido

Making me smile: Patch Blackshanks

I’ve just returned from five days in our nation’s capital Canberra and it got me thinking…

Not about the tax forum that was taking place. Not about the state of the nation or democracy. Not even about spring and the glory that is Floriade.

It got me thinking about hotels and how much I love them.

As a child my family NEVER stayed in hotels. I’m afraid our budget didn't stretch to that kind of indulgence. We stayed in caravan parks. We camped. And I’m not complaining. We had a ball on our annual two-week holiday to Happy Hallidays Caravan Park. But it did give hotels an allure and a mystique that remains in my mind today

As an adult, however, I have sampled the delights of hotels…and I’m addicted. Oh yes, they are far more expensive than caravan parks, but there are no late night dashes for the amenities block (or, worse still, a convenient tree). They have staff whose sole purpose is to ensure you have an enjoyable hassle-free stay. There are complimentary lotions and potions and big fluffy robes. There are gyms and pools (mind you, I never use the first but have been known to take advantage of the second). There is room service. There are concierges. And in my opinion one of the biggest benefits—you are not responsible for cleaning anything! It is all so delightfully extravagant and self-indulgent.

So, what have been the highlights of hotels past?

The beds. This was my favourite thing about the Canberra hotel.The bed was HUGE! See…

It has to be said, however, that the bed in the Melbourne Langham has yet to be surpassed.

The views. This was the view from my room at the Langham. I could’ve watched it for hours.

And this was the view from the Crowne Plaza Coogee Beach. I had a cup of tea out here every morning. It was a wonderfully relaxing way to start the day.

The Foyers. I wish I had a picture of the foyer of the Hilton on the Park in Melbourne. It's divine. So to is the foyer in the Menzies in Sydney. I think, however, the Langham again takes the prize.

Quirkiness. Several years ago when I was in Geneva, I stayed in a hotel that had all this wonderful space. The foyer could’ve comfortably housed four camp beds. There was a huge living area with wicker lounges, a huge working area with big desk, not to mention a lovely big bed. Modern hotels would have utilised this space to create two rooms. What most endeared me to this particular hotel, however, were the tiles in the bathroom.

Aren't they a hoot!

However, my favourite hotel of all time has to be the Dorchester in London. I spent my honeymoon night there. It is the ultimate in luxury. Just check it out – isn’t it gorgeous.

So what about you? Do you love staying in hotels? And if so, do you have a particular favourite?