In praise of praise...

Today I want to share something special with you—the author promo video that Steve from InKit Publishing created for me. I LOVE it and I hope you do too.

Obviously I had to provide Steve with a list of my accomplishments… And, you know, I’ve published a few books and won a couple of awards and been nominated for another couple, and had some lovely readers and reviewers say some lovely things about my books. And don’t get me wrong—I’m proud of those things, I really truly am. But…

Why it is so hard to blow our own trumpets?

I found myself constantly having to fight the impulse to downplay and downgrade all of the things. How crazy is that? Why is it so hard to own my accomplishments loudly and proudly?

Why are compliments so hard to accept!

All of this, of course, started me thinking. And I’ve decided we all need become a wee bit more adept at recognizing and acknowledging our own talents and being proud of them -- to resist the urge to minimize and make light of them. I mean humility is all well and good in its place, but so is pride in oneself.

So you know what I did? Last week I entered my two Mills & Boon novels of 2016 in my university’s Research Higher Degree Publication of Excellence Prize. I detailed every bit of amazingness that those novels and Michelle Douglas represent. Because they're good--good enough to win. Keep your fingers crossed for me. :-)

And here it is! My wonderful author promo video (thanks so much, Steve, I love it):

Now it’s your turn—throw embarrassment and modesty to the wind and tell me something about yourself that you’re proud of.

Rainforest Paradise and In the News

Coomera Falls

Every year we head up to Binna Burra Mountain Lodge in Lamington National Park for a few days with the entire St George clan. We spend the days bushwalking and the evenings playing games in front of a roaring fire. The Lodge has limited internet and mobile phone coverage so it is a wonderful disconnect from the world.

Glorious Sunsets

This year we walked to Coomera Falls. It was a 13.5km round trip. It had rained the day before, so the falls were running beautifully.

Misty Afternoons

The sunsets were amazing. And one afternoon we were covered in a shroud of mist which made the atmosphere feel very eerie.

This year we played a lot of the game werewolf. You sit around in a group, are given a secret role to play and then the action starts. It was hilarious. I loved that our group, aged 13 to 86 could all join in and play.

I also made an appearance last week in the Gold Coast Bulletin talking about romance writing and the Byron Writers Festival. Always fun to see yourself in the news but always a little nerve-wracking actually preparing and doing the interview.

Do you like playing silly family/friend games? Board games (our favourites are Settlers of Catan and Risk). Made up games? Card games (500 anyone?). I’d love to hear.

Sunday Smooch - The Italian's Bold Reckoning by Annie West

Welcome to another LoveCats DownUnder Sunday Smooch!

Today we have a smooch from Annie West but first 


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


Can you please contact Melanie at melaniemilburne(at)gmail(d0t)com to receive your copy of 'Wedding Night With Her Enemy'.


And now for today's Sunday Smooch from Annie West's THE ITALIAN'S BOLD RECKONING.

 He’s lured her back. Will she take the bait?

He believed their passion could never fade. Yet it’s a year since Matteo De Laurentis lived with his gorgeous, talented, obstinate wife. Angela insists they’re mismatched, but Matteo refuses to give up the only woman he’ll ever love. Italy’s sexiest leading man is determined to get his wife back. By whatever means necessary.

 Angela is desperate to avoid working on this film with the handsome, charismatic actor-turned-director who happens to be her estranged husband. It was a mistake ever to think she could hold her own in his glamorous world. But now she’s trapped in Venice, unable to escape the one man who turns her brain to mush and her body to a blaze of passion.

 Is Matteo taking revenge to a whole new level, taunting her with everything she’s given up? Or is this seductive torture as difficult for him as it is for her? She can only pray he never discovers her secret weakness – that she’s still desperately in love with him.

Scene set-up

Matteo and Angela have been separated for twelve months. Now Matteo has forced his wife's hand, bringing in the lawyers to ensure she abides by her contractual obligation to work on his new film. There are issues to be resolved between them but their feelings for each other are still there, especially desire.

Smooch  -

Angela saw the fire in Matteo’s eyes, felt the strung-too-tight rigidity of his tall frame, and expected to be devoured.

She ached for him, was ready to lose himself in a rush of passion.

But her husband had other ideas.

It was as if, after twelve months apart, he was intent on learning her all over again.

His face blotted out the light and his mouth touched hers, gently brushing her lips.

A quiver ran through her from the barely there point of connection where her lips trembled, to the back of her scalp where tiny pinpricks of sensation exploded. It sped right down through her melting vital organs to the soles of her feet in four inch stilettos that waved helplessly somewhere above the polished floor.

Angela had no point of reference but him. His tall frame against her, his arms, rigid as steel girders, lashing her to him, his straight shoulders supporting her arms. His breath warmed her face and the rich scent of mountain pine and spicy male skin teased her nostrils.

Matteo’s mouth slid along hers, sealing her lips, but not yet entering. She’d forgotten how soft his mouth was, for in repose his face was all hard masculinity. She felt the brush of his short beard, rasping against her chin, awakening long-dormant nerves.

Eagerly Angela angled her head, pushing closer. Matteo slicked his tongue along the seam of her lips.

Instantly, hungrily, she opened for him, needing the give and take of his open-mouthed kiss. But he’d already moved, his mouth at the corner of hers, then nipping at her bottom lip, making tingles of delight wash through her.

‘Matteo.’ It was barely a sound, more a vibration on the heavy air between them as he bit gently at her earlobe, then lower, nibbling down the side of her neck. She arched in his hold, her head flung back in abandon.

Angela’s heart beat double-quick time. Surely it throbbed too high in her chest, as if seeking to escape.

‘You drive me crazy.’ The words rasped against her throat, a graze of lips and whiskers and warm lips. She clutched the back of his skull, fingers buried in the thick comfort of his glossy hair. ‘I want every part of you, Angela. I want to start at the top and work my way down and then start over again.’

THE ITALIAN'S BOLD RECKONING is about a reunion and a new start. Matteo goes to great lengths to get Angela back in his life so they can sort out the issues that drove them apart. If you'd had an argument or disagreement with your partner what gesture would you like your hero (fictional or real) to make as a start to bridge the gap between you?

I'll give away an e-copy of 'The Italian's Bold Reckoning' (via Amazon) plus a Harlequin book of mine featuring a sexy Italian hero to someone who leaves a comment.

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

Smooch Graphic by WebWeaver

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!

Created by Mrsiraphol - Freepik.com

Yesterday was my birthday.

Yes, thank you, thank you.  I am rather chuffed to have survived another year without falling down stairs, or overindulging on M&Ms – both high up on the possible ways I will one day meet my demise.

It is strange how we do that, don't you think? Tick off (or count down) the number of time we’ve revolved around the sun.  I think so.  But fun strange.  A strange I can get on board with.

I don't actually mind the 'getting a year older' thing. It's good being my age, in fact.  I remember being told in my twenties that the older you get the less you give a hoot what others think and its true.  It's brilliant, in fact!  It leaves more room for being in awe of all that you've have, all that you've done, all that you am.

So for all that, I do love a birthday.  Mine or anyone else’s.  Any chance to indulge in a little giddy delight, I say.  To watch someone, anyone, blush and shine under the smiley attention of people who care about them is as close to bliss as it comes.  As much of that as possible please.

As a mum the biggest lashing of smiley attention comes from my kids.  The cake they’ve decorated so thoughtfully (using dark chocolate buttons for me even though white chocolate is their favourite).  The home-made cards (You are the best mum in the world because you hugged me while watching the last Harry Potter even though you cried and I didn’t.)  The thoughtful gifts (not one ruler but two!  Because I love stationery that much.

Created by Freepik.com

It’s funny too how truly I love those rulers.  As a kid, my ‘birthday list’ could fill an A4 page. 

Now there’s not much I wish and hope for that comes from a shop.  (Except the beautiful garden swing chair my hubby got for me. Talk about bliss.)

As for a party?  Nope.  No.  Not for me.  A terrible host (like really awful, if you ever come to mine please feel free to help yourself to some water as I will be too busy chatting to think to offer it) I’ve never hosted a birthday party for myself.  EVER.  A tradition I’m happy to continue.

But again, taking any chance I can do indulge in giddy delight, my latest revolution around the sun will be marked.  I’ll take up the babysitting offer and go to the movies with my hubby tonight.  I’ll drag my babies to the city for a day of exploring this weekend, delighting in their chatter and energy and bright lovely faces as we make memories together.  And the Max Brenner for dinner tradition I started last year? That might be a keeper too.

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Do you have any birthday traditions?  Throw a massive party in celebration? Balloons, cake, pass the parcel? Hide away and lament the passing time? Light a fire, strip down, howl at the moon? Book yourself into a spa in an effort to halt time just a little?

Happy nation day!!

Happy 4th July to all our American readers and friends! (We're nudging into the 5th here down under, but the sentiment still counts!)

Happy Canada Day to all our Canadian pals for 1st July!

I love the idea of celebrating a country's heritage and history...mostly, I love the idea of eating the kinds of food people eat on celebration day!

When my boys were younger we used to try to celebrate as many 'national' days as possible throughout the year so I could try to cook a signature dish (usually fairly badly) and teach my kids a bit about the diversity of our world and get them to eat something different. 

Obviously, with 196 countries in the world I couldn't celebrate them all or I'd be in a constant state of cooking panic! But, my favourite day is Bastille Day 14th July because I get to eat pate and French cheese and eclairs and try (badly) to converse in French. I also enjoy India Day (Republic Day, 26th January) because of the yummy things we get to eat then too. A few years ago we happened to be in New Delhi for Republic Day and we saw the rehearsals for the celebrations which involved armed soldiers atop beautifully decorated camels and lots of marching. It was all very serious but we loved seeing the pomp and ceremony and the pride the country has in itself and its people.  

When I lived in the UK we never seemed to celebrate being British, although each country has its own day; England being St George's Day, 23rd April (coincidentally, Shakespeare's birthday), Scotland has St Andrew's Day, 30th November and Wales has St David's Day on 1st March. (Although we did have a plethora of Morris dancing around 1st May...). 

What's your perfect way of spending your national day? Do you cook national dishes on that day? If so, what? Do you cook national dishes to celebrate other nations' days? 

Writerly Research

For the last little while I've been plotting a series. Okay, a number of series (I'm easily distracted with other stories!).

So I thought I'd share my process of setting up Book #1 in a series. Generally, I'll have a germ of an idea - it might be a springboard from a scene I've seen on TV, or something that I've seen happen to me, family, friends, or even strangers.

For example:
Shadow Breeds was started with a group of readers filling out a questionnaire about what they wanted to read in a story, and then I incorporated as many items, quirks and character traits suggested as possible, and created a universe out of it that has spawned to date four books, with another two still to come.

My romantic suspense novel, Runaway Lies, was spawned by an incident my sister witnessed (the opening scene), and I played the game of 'What If...' and 'Why on Earth...'

This novel featured a family who are, in their own way, dedicated to upholding the law (except for the black sheep, but that's a completely different story!) That family's series starts with my romantic suspense novel, Heart Breaker.

Then I have to set my series somewhere. City? Small town? An alternate reality? A cruise ship? I will admit to be being a massive fan of the following shows: Underground Cities, The 100, Stargate, etc., and the settings used in these shows inspired the underground facility I used in Vampire Undone (due out late 2017).

Then I have to 'cast' my series. I create an ensemble of characters, make them unique and special in their own way, with their own backstories that contribute to who they are now, and also their own story when it's time to share.

This is possibly the most challenging, and most time-consuming element of my series set up. What do my characters look like? (I'm the first person to forget what colour my hero's eyes are, so having pictures is handy. At least, that's my excuse).

Some of my leading men...

See, I told you it's hard work.

So tell me, is there an interesting setting or hot hunk you'd like to see in a story? Please share in the comments (you never know, you might end up reading it in one of my books!)

Sunday Smooch-Melanie Milburne

Firstly, last week's smooch winner is Therese Ferguson and you can contact Amy at amy@amyandrews.com.au

Two Enemies. Two highflying careers. A Marriage of Convenience. 

Thanks again for having me back as a guest this time. It's lovely to be back to share with you my latest release out this month- Wedding Night With Her Enemy.

This is book one of a Greek billionaire's duet and features two career driven people who have always locked horns in the past. Allegra Kallas must marry Draco Papandreou or see her father and his young wife and baby son lose everything. But Draco's offer of a bailout has conditions. He wants to marry the feisty young career driven woman who claims not to feel anything for him but loathing. He will prove how much she desires him by marrying her and seducing her into his bed! But Allegra didn't forge out her legal career without guts and gritted teeth determination. She will do her level best to resist the ruthless Greek but it would certainly help if he wasn't so darn irresistible! 

Here is a little glimpse of the battle of wills between these two...

  Draco came back to where she was standing but she had moved back against the wall, which gave her nowhere to escape. And with her hands crossed over her body she didn't have room to unwind them to push him away. She breathed in the scent of him-lime and cedar with a hint of something that was unique to him. It unfurled around her nostrils, making them flare to take more of him in. She felt drunk on him. Dazzled by the pheromones that swirled and heated and mated with hers.

  He slipped a hand to the side of her head, his fingers splaying through her hair until every root on her scalp shivered in delight. His eyes had that dark, twinkling spark of amusement that did so much damage to her resolve. Lethal damage. Irreparable damage. 'And how long do you think an on-paper marriage between us will last, hmm?' His voice was a deep burr that grazed the length of her spine like a caress from one of his work-callused hands. 'I want you and I intend to have you.'

  Allegra couldn't stop staring at his mouth-the way his lips shaped around every word; the way his stubble made her way to press her mouth to his skin to feel the sexy rasp of his regrowth. Kiss me. Kiss me. Kiss me. The chant was a pounding echo in her blood. She didn't want to be the one to make the first move. Not like she had done all those years ago, when she'd thrown herself at him only to be brutally rejected. She wasn't that girl anymore. Making the first move would give him too much power. She could resist him. She could. She could. She could.

  As if he could read her mind, he brought a fingertip to her mouth a traced a slow outline of her lips, setting off a round of miniature fireworks under her skin. 'Such a beautiful mouth. But I'm not sure if you're going to kiss me back or bite me.'

  She inched up her chin. 'Try it and see.'

  His smile was lazy and lopsided and sent her belly into free fall. But then he tapped her lower lip with his index finger and stepped back. 'Maybe some other time.'

And since you've been so patient in waiting for their first kiss, here is a little sneak peek...

  Allegra moved like a sinuous cat against the hard frame of his body, her arms winding around Draco's neck, her fingers tugging, stretching and releasing his black curls. His erection was hot and heavy against her belly, the pounding of his blood echoing the deep, urgent thrumming of her own. She could feel her own moisture gathering, her body preparing for the pleasure it craved. Never had she felt desire like it. It was a raging fever, a torrent of need that refused to be ignored. Allegra wasn't going to sleep with him, but one kiss would be enough to take the edge off it, surely? What harm could one kiss do?

  'You want me so bad,' she said.

  His body pressed harder against her as if he hadn't the strength of will to do otherwise. His hands tightened their grip on her hips, his fingers digging into her flesh as if he never wanted to release her. 'Yes. I want you.'

  Draco didn't say it out loud, but she could hear the word 'but' somewhere in that statement. Allegra brought her hand around to trace the outline of his mouth, her stomach pitching when the soft pad of her fingertip caught on his stubble. 'I bet you've kissed a lot of women in your time.'

  'A few.'

  She sent her fingertip down the shallow stubble-covered dip between his lower lip and child. Her eyes came back to his intensely dark gaze. 'Did you know you were my first kiss?'

  'Not until you kissed me.'

  Did he have to remind her how inexpert she had been?

  'I've learnt since then. Don't you want to see how much I've improved?'

  Allegra sensed he was wavering. He kept silent but his body spoke for him, his desire for her pulsing invisibly in the air like sound waves. His breath mingled with hers. His body was hot and urgent against hers, increasing her hunger for skin-on-skin contact. She slipped her arms back around his neck and rose on tiptoe, bringing her mouth to his in a soft touchdown. When she lifted off, his lips clung to hers like a rough surface does to satin. Allegra touched down again, moving her lips against the warm, firm heart of his in an experimental fashion, discovering their texture. Their shape. Their danger.

If you want to read how Draco takes over that kiss then leave a comment below and you might be the lucky winner to receive a signed copy ( open to  all regions). Just answer the following question: What is one thing you have zero will power over? 

Best wishes,

Melanie Milburne