Happily Ever After.....

By Helen Lacey

It's probably no secret that most romance authors (If not all) love a happy ever after. Of course, some romantic books and movies don't always end with the traditional Happy Ending (Think Nights in Rodanthe). But I am a total sucker for a happy ending. The cheesier the better. I love it when the hero bares his soul for the woman he loves. I was cheering for Lucy in While You Were Sleeping when Jack tossed the diamond ring into the slot at the token booth. And who can forget the final scene in Pretty Woman when Edward (A swoon worthy Richard Gere) climbs the stairwell to reach Vivian even though he had a chronic fear of heights. And what about Harry running through the streets on the stroke of midnight to finally tell Sally she was the only woman in the world for him..... here it is.

One of my favourite movies of all time is The Mirror Has Two Faces. I love the chemistry between Jeff Bridges and Barbra Streisand in this final scene while the credits are rolling and they dance in the street and squee every time I watch it because I know Rose finally gets her happy-ever-after.

One of the first romantic comedy/dramas I saw when I was young is also one of my favourites - Love With A Proper Stranger. if you ever get the chance to watch this classic with Steve McQueen and Natalie Wood, I thoroughly recommend it.

And finally, another of my old time favourites....even though I couldn't find the link to the movie, I found the theme song. From the movie Promise Her Anything, starring Warren Beatty and Leslie Caron, here's the one and only Tom Jones.....

Do you have a favourite romantic movie - classic or modern day?

Favourite Flavours - Ice Cream and Heroes, Annie West

Researching in Italy

Some of you may have followed my recent FaceBook posts of a quick trip to Europe. Interestingly some of the photos that provoked the greatest interest were the pics of ice creams enjoyed along the way. What does that say about romance readers? Possibly that we're women of great taste who know the importance of a treat now and then.

Now I've returned home and am starting to turn my mind to my next story. Last night I was mulling over the question of what my next hero would be like and, in my slightly jet-lagged brain, the two subjects became linked: the nature of my hero and ice cream. Yes, I know, a writer's brain can be odd.

But think of it this way. When it comes to choosing a hero, we have a whole smorgasbord to choose from. Rather like this:

There are so many flavours of ice cream to choose from, but the same goes for the guys who strut across the pages of our romances. Each one is different, with his own foibles and fears, passions and strengths. There are an infinite variety to choose from. As fellow LoveCat Michelle Douglas and I discovered some time ago.  We invented a game of comparing our heroes with ice cream flavours. It soon became obvious that each of our heroes had his own particular flavour.

For instance, Fabrizio, the take-no-prisoners Roman aristocrat who stars in my current novella release 'Back in the Italian's Bed' is rich, strong coffee ice cream, probably made from dark, potent ristretto. His perfect match is a woman who's not afraid of that jolt of a high you get from a good, strong coffee or a challenging hero.

Then there's Damaso, the Brazilian slumdog tycoon in my September release. Definitely rich rum and raisin ice cream served with rum-soaked tropical fruit.

Or my most recently written hero, Asim, ruler of his own desert kingdom. His ice cream flavour is wild honey rippled through with pistachios and topped with Persian pashmak.

Looking back, I realise all my heroes have their own distinctive flavour. Maybe I should make it my business to recreate all of them next summer. In the meantime I've got the fun job of deciding what style of man my next hero will be and what sort of flavour. He's strong and ruthless but not uncaring and he definitely has a sweet side, albeit well hidden. I'm thinking possibly dark chocolate with rich cherry centre, but I need to do some more research before I decide. Usually I make those decisions by sitting staring into space, imagining my hero. Now I'm thinking I might also do some hands on taste testing. I wonder if that would help. I'm sure it can't hurt.

How about you? What flavour do you think your favourite hero might be? Chocolate and raspberry ripple? Strong peppermint? Caramel or even passionfruit? I'd love to hear your thoughts.

By the way, no heroes were injured in the making of the ice cream featured in this post.

Name This Book Contest!

by Rachel Bailey
 
I have a new book coming out in July, and it doesn't have a title yet. 

I'm not sure how many people know this, but a book's title isn't chosen by the author - authors usually hand a manuscript in with their own title, and sometimes they get to keep it. If not, editors usually ask for suggestions, we angst over options, then provide a list, and the editor lets us know later what it will be called. 

In all the books I've written for Desire, only two titles have been mine, or even from my suggestions (which, in many cases, was probably a good thing!).

This July book is something new for me: it's a New Adult rom-com coming out with Entangled, so it's probably not surprising they didn't want to go with my title!

So I thought it might be fun to see what other people think. I'll tell you a bit about the book, you suggest a title, and my favourite suggestion will win a copy of the eBook when it comes out. (Though, the actual title will still be chosen by the editors, not from this contest.)

Ingredients for the new book:

Genre: New Adult rom-com

Hero: Jake, a former world #1 pro surfer

Heroine: Annalise, a fledgling fashion designer

Heroine's pet: Rover, a cat who thinks she's a dog

Heroine's car: a yellow classic mini called Mindy

Connection between hero & heroine: Annalise has had a crush on Jake, her best friend's older brother, since she was fifteen.

Location: Bondi Beach, Sydney, Australia

Opening line: 

At five past midday on the day after my birthday, my phone rang and – based on the laws of Murphy – I knew it had to be more bad news, so I was glad I hadn’t changed out of my pajamas yet.

So, hit me. What would you call this book? I'll send a copy of the eBook to the person whose suggestion tickles my fancy!
 

Sunday Smooch - Stefanie London

Welcome to another LoveCats DownUnder Sunday Smooch!

Today we have a smooch from  Stefanie London but first 


... the two winner of last week's Sunday Smooch Giveaway is librarypat!


Can you please contact jstgeorge.author(at)gmail (dot)com to receive your copy of The Billionaire's Pursuit of Love.

And now for today's Sunday Smooch from 'Only the Brave Try Ballet'.

Step up, Grant Farley…not your typical ballet student!
Football pro Grant Farley is nursing an injury and needs to get back into shape fast. Ballet wouldn't be his first or even his last choice, but he's desperate. Enter tantalizingly prim teacher Jasmine Bell one disapproving arch of her eyebrow and Grant knows he'll enjoy getting her tutu in a flutter!
But it's not only Grant's flexibility that Jasmine's pushing to the limit! He knows she feels the heat between them, so why won't she give in to it? Time to convince Jasmine that if she's brave enough to dance en pointe she can certainly handle a fling with him!

 

Scene set-up

Grant is an AFL player suffering with a recurring hamstring injury, under his physio’s orders he’s taking ballet lessons to regain muscle flexibility and strength. Jasmine is an ex professional ballerina who has ended up teaching after a car accident ended her career. Jasmine’s ‘hands on’ way of teaching has been testing Grant’s restrain and finally the tension has gotten too much for our hero and heroine.

Smooch  

‘Are you ready to do it on your own?’ Jasmine dropped down from the position so she was an inch or two below eye level with Grant. She tried to unscramble her senses, to focus on the lesson.

‘I can.’ His voice was low, predatory. ‘But don’t you think it’s much more fun when we do it together?’

The air between them was thick with electricity, its gravitation pull unravelling her sensibilities. She so desperately wanted to touch him. Her mouth was dry, anticipation making her pulse race.

He placed his hands over hers and Jasmine jumped at the way her blood pulsed harder and harder.

‘Why so jumpy? Are you uncomfortable being alone with me?’

‘No,’ she whispered.

The problem was she was far too comfortable as he stood close to her. All she wanted to do was melt against him. She envisaged herself pressing against his broad chest and sturdy thighs. Her entire body crackled with excitement as they stood, merely inches apart, in the empty ballet studio.

Why was she feeling like this? He was out of her league—in a league she never wanted to be a part of again. Ever, ever again.

He reached his hands up to her face, cupping the sides of her cheeks in his palms. It was the wrong thing to do; she shouldn’t be going down this path. But desire raced through her veins and filled her with irresistible warmth, overpowering logic. He was intoxicating.

Up close, she felt the pull of his hypnotic stare. The endless blue of his eyes made the rest of the world fall away. It made sense and reason evaporate. Her lips parted.

Grant drew Jasmine’s face to his in a swift and practised movement. Her eyes fluttered closed as his mouth came down. The soft fullness of his lips pressed hungrily against hers, his tongue hot and probing. Jasmine sighed into him. It had been so long since she’d been kissed, and a lifetime since she’d been kissed in a way that made her weak in the knees.

Grant moved one hand from her face, down the length of her arm, and snaked it around her waist, drawing her closer to him. Every inch of her burned as their bodies fused together, the thinness of their workout clothes mimicking the deliciousness of skin on skin. Her hands found their way into the wavy depths of his golden blond hair. It was thick and silken against her palms. Her fingers gripped tightly as he dipped her, demanding deeper access to her mouth.

His breath was hot on her face as his lips moved down her jawline to the slender column of her neck, each kiss searing her skin. He backed her up until she pressed against the wall of the studio, crushed between plaster and the hardness of him.

Stefanie London

To be in the draw to win a copy of 'Only the Brave Try Ballet', leave a comment answering this question from Stefanie:

There are a lot of sexy professional athletes out there, which sports star would you most like to share a passionate kiss with?

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

Smooch Graphic by WebWeaver

Sue MacKay's keeping warm this winter

I don't mind winter - as long as I'm warm and dry, right? And as long as it doesn't last too long. Anything past a month ... ok I know how unrealistic that is.
So out here in the Sounds it's a given that we have a fire. There's so much wood lying around it's easy and inexpensive. There are many pine plantations (the national weed) which are thinned at regular intervals. These thinnings are often quite large trees - perfect for fire wood.
Keeping warm starts here:

 
Then there's a wee amount of effort required. And yes, some did fall down the bank which is a regular occurrence if I do the stacking. Who'd have thought there was a science to wood stacking!

When the wood's dried some we move it so make room for more, and to keep it dry.

And finally: what we've been aiming for all along.

 

Of course this is time consuming and takes a fair amount of energy so there is an alternative.

 Nah, not quite the same ambience is it? Guess all that effort is worth it after all. Must remind my self of that next time I'm in the forest trying to haul logs with my man.

Do you enjoy a fire? Or do you prefer the ease of flicking a switch and having instant warmth?

Random Thoughts with Michelle Douglas

Well…you know, I think I’ve been working my brain too hard. We’ve been doing PhD work, my brain and I, and it’s left me brain-mushy with a sadly-depleted attention span. Hence, random thoughts... ;-)

#1 On Saturday I attended an Open House. I LOVE going into other people’s houses and imagining the life I would lead if I lived there. I would of course be more organised, would dust more often, be a better cook, and write deliriously good books. This particular house was different, though. It’s at the very end of a cul de sac on a bluff that overlooks the sea. It’s a dream home. It’s going to be auctioned and it will sell for a motza. This is the view from the deck.

If I lived in this house nothing would get done. Ever. I wouldn't be an improved version of myself. I'd just sit and stare at that view all day. :)

# 2 I’ve been exercising with concerted regularity for the last 5 or 6 weeks. This exercise consists of a weekly yoga class and a 40 minute walk 5 days a week (roundabout). Lawd, I can’t tell you how much my mood has improved. I’m so chipper! Okay, well maybe not, but I’m not as stressed as PhD stuff usually makes me. Also, today, I noticed my jeans weren’t so tight in the butt. Of course, I’d like it if they weren’t so tight around the waist. But that’s progress right?

# 3 I’ve been pondering on the way male and female body parts can be used as symbols to praise and/or denigrate heroes and heroines in romances. For example, a hero in a recent romance I read thinks this after an exchange with the heroine: “Yeah, chicks loved it when you begged. How about if he went ahead and handed her balls and said, Do what you will.” At a different point when he’s grumpy and working on her house the heroine thinks: “He was still ripping and tearing stuff. Obviously having his period.” These snippets made me laugh, but on reflection they make me uneasy. Men’s bits are symbols of strength while women’s bits (or their biological processes) are symbols of weakness or irrationality. Nuh uh. Wrong. I am woman here me roar!

# 4 I have just glommed Call the Midwife. Can’t wait for Season 4. Anyone else out there love the series? I love, love, love it! Those in the know, tell me, should I read the book?

# 5 My August cover is GORGEOUS. It’s my favourite cover yet. My July cover is nice too. But it will be hard to top this. What do you think?

# 6 My song crush at the moment is Eric Clapton’s Layla. The acoustic version. It’s so mellow and cruisey. Click here if you want to go and listen. :)


So what about you? Been having any random thoughts lately?

Romancing the Byron Bay Writers Festival

I’m excited to announce that I, along with fellow LoveCat Amy Andrews, will feature on a panel at the 2014 Byron Bay Writers Festival. Amy and I will be in discussion with, and at the mercy of, local celebrity comedian Mandy Nolan.

It’s going to be great teaming up with Mandy again. Mandy, whose latest book is titled Boyfriends We’ve All Had (and Shouldn’t Have), launched my book Sweet Seduction at Mary Ryan’s in Byron last December. I laughed so hard, I could barely answer her hilarious questions. She got people so excited, the book sold out that night.

The panel titled Be Still My Beating Heart: Writing Romance, will explore the world of romance writing and discuss what it's like to be a contemporary romance author.

It seems so many people are unaware of the enormous popularity of the romance genre.  I’m looking forward to quoting statistics and facts such as:

...romance fiction generated over $1.3bn in sales in the US alone in 2013

...romance was the top-performing category on the best-seller lists in 2012 across the NYT, USA Today and PW lists.

As I’m also the Communications Manager for the Festival, I have to spruik some of the other amazing writers attending. Securing celebrated UK author, Jeanette Winterson, is an enormous Festival coup. Winterson considered one of the world’s Top 10 writers to see live and will deliver the Festival’s Keynote Address. I just finished reading one of her latest offerings, The Daylight Gate based on the trials of the Lancashire Witches in 1612. A disturbing but powerful read.

The Festival will also probe into our past with authors of fiction and non-fiction including the 2014 Stella Prize winner, Clare Wright, M.L. Stedman, James Brown, Ashley Hay and Mike Carlton. Also see Geoff Dyer, Benjamin Law, Bob Brown, Tim Flannery, Julian Burnside, Antony Loewenstein, Joanne McCarthy, Kate McClymont and so many more.

Of course, it wouldn’t be a festival without food events. Travel the Indian spice route with fêted chef Christine Manfield at her Literary Lunch at the Byron at Byron resort.

 

With over 130 writers, thinkers and creative spirits and a world of ideas over three action-packed days there’s something for every literary taste. The Festival runs from 1-3 August and there are lots of fantastic workshops on offer too.  Be Still My Beating Heart: Writing Romance will be held on Festival Sunday and you can buy tickets online. I'd love to see you there.