Free kindle book giveaways!

I've decided to celebrate the launch of Bound to Love, to give away ten Kindle copies of my book of short stories, New Beginnings to the first ten people to request one. Just contact me using the link to the right, and send me your email and one will be winging its way to you!

Seven Sassy Sisters visit

Today I'm out visiting the Seven Sassy Sisters - partytime!

http://sevensassysisters.com/

Chillin'

After the busyness of the past few days, today I'm just chillin.
Getting my head back into writing and getting ready for having family all home for half term holiday.
Thinking about gardening - and getting some potatoes chitting for planting.
Preparing to prune fruit trees, and do all the things I've been neglecting!
Ahhh (breathe out)

I'm visiting the Romantic Novelists Association today!

I'm on the RNA blog, talking about an unusual Valentine's day gift given last year - do pop over and say hi!
http://romanticnovelistsassociationblog.blogspot.com/
x Sally

Also, on the left is a new snowdroppy cover, which is for another new release, this one a collection of 3 romantic short stories, which is available now for your kindle, and will be available for ipads, sonys etc in a week or so at all the usual online stores. Titled 'new beginnings' it features 3 short stories of new love, and I hope you like it! The link attached to the picture is for Amazon.com, but if you'd like to read more buy or try and excerpt, and you're in the UK, the link is here.

News from Donna Alward, and Bound to Love Release Day!

Hi everyone. It's Bound to Love release day, in fact it's Embrace Books launch day! So I've got some info about the book, and an exclusive excerpt for you... It's available all over the place - but most notably here, at the Salt publishing sale site (this has the paperback version on 20% discount), and Amazon uk, and Amazon com.
I'm appearing all over the place today - On the RNA blog, On Joanna St James' blog, On Donna Alward's blog, On Talli Roland's blog, and on Rebecca Brown's blog. As well as being here. So if you happen to come across me somewhere, do please leave a hi in a comments box so I don't feel too friendless!

What it's about...
Jake Forrester, a controlled, self-reliant security expert scarred by his father’s murder is pursuing his goal of an independent life, relying on himself and logic, until he’s forced to accept the help of an impulsive, spirited goldsmith who follows her instincts, wherever they may lead.

When Tempest MacKenzie witnesses a gorgeous stranger being bundled into a van, she tries to help him, but becomes tangled in a complex web of intrigue. Tempest finds stubborn Jake attractive, compelling and infuriating, his logic the complete antithesis of her reliance on her instincts. And Jake is fascinated and attracted to the feisty redhead.
As they spend time together trying to thwart a heist at the British Museum, the attraction between them flares out of control. The thief has a grudge against Jake, and danger stalks their every move. Will Jake learn to trust Tempest’s intuition, before it’s too late?

An exclusive sneak peak!Tempest reached down and undid the belt that held her black raincoat in place, opening it slowly before unbuttoning the row of buttons that held it closed. Slowly, as if listening to her own private soundtrack she slid first one shoulder then the other from the coat, easing it from her body and letting it pool at her feet.
She’d had second thoughts about her crazy plan as she drove through the threatening storm, but the heated look in his eyes as they scanned her red lace bra and matching panties and the garter belt that held her stockings up proved her instincts were right on the money.
“Aw, Red. And it’s not even my birthday.” He grinned as she arched her back and reached both hands out to him. He nuzzled her ear. “You’re crazy, do you know that? What would have happened if you’d had a flat tyre?”
“I would have kept my coat on.”

And finally from me: today the winners of the CAPA's are announced, and whatever the outcome, I'd like to thank them for nominating me in the category of favourite author!
Now, my very special guest, Donna Alward is here to tell everyone about a fantastic valentine's day thing from her! Take it away, Donna (sorry I was hogging the blog).

I’m really thrilled to be hijacking Sally’s blog today! It’s a big day for both of us…and not just because it’s Valentine’s Day…


To be honest, the biggest hearts and flowers day of the year is pretty low key in our house after 20 years of them. LOL. We might splurge on a bottle of wine or a teensy bit of chocolate, but there’s usually not grand gestures of any sort. Which suits me okay – we are more the spontaneous kind of couple anyway. We might ignore official “occasions” and then out of the blue surprise each other with something.
But that doesn’t mean today’s not special. And for Sally and I – well, it’s also about new reads being available to our readers.
Mine’s an online read – so yay and Happy Valentine’s Day to you, it’s FREE!  Head on over to http://www.eharlequin.com/ and look under “Extras”. It’s called Remember Me, Cowboy and it’s my first online read AND my first amnesia story.  Or you could just click here.

I didn’t expect to write an amnesia story, actually. The offer came through for the online read and I e-mailed my critique partner very excited about the opportunity. “But what am I going to write about?” I asked.
She came back with: “You haven’t done an amnesia hook yet.”
I replied: “There’s a very good reason for that.”
Amnesia plots are not my faves. Mostly because I don’t find a lot of them believable. BUT my CP knows me very well. The gauntlet had been thrown. The challenge issued. And my brain started working – okay, a PLAUSIBLE amnesia plot resolved in 10,000 words.
Then there was a seed of an idea. And a few e-mails between myself and an ER doctor friend for medical deets. I came up with the way to link it to my current Romance release, Proud Rancher, Precious Bundle. And I was off to pair sexy cowboy Logan up with the wallflower, Carrie.
I hope you’ll come by and read the first chapter, which is posted today! Then look for the rest for the next three weeks on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

Donna
http://www.donnaalward.com/

The Day of Lurrve? Or not?

I'm blogging about Valentine's Day NOW, because I won't be blogging about it, THEN. Yup, on the 14th, I'll be welcoming a very special guest on to Love and Chocolate who'll be telling me all about what she's got going on on Valentine's Day, and bleating about my own news, the release of Bound to Love. (Which, for anyone who has a Kindle and likes to get a jump on things, can now be ordered on Amazon for delivery to your kindle on Valentine's Day, first thing!).

I've been thinking about the whole 'Day of Lurrve' and here are my thoughts. Warning - not particularly romantic!

Back in 1382, Geoffrey Chaucer in his poem, Parlement of Foules, first made mention of Valentine’s day when he wrote:

For this was seynt Volantynys day
Whan every byrd comyth there to chese his make.
Which apparently means ‘For this is Saint Valentine’s Day, When every bird cometh there to choose his mate.’

In 2011, the tradition has morphed into a huge money making industry, with over 190 million valentine cards sent each year in the US alone. Amazingly, over half of the cards sent are to family members who aren’t in a romantic relationship at all, mostly children.
Am I a bad mother for not sending valentine cards to my children? Looking at the figures, I guess I may be! (although I only know one family who send valentine’s to their kids, but maybe things are done differently in other countries!).
After experiencing many 14th Febs, I’ve come to a few conclusions about the day:
The first is that men universally dread it. No matter how organised a man, they always forget, causing a mad dash to the petrol station to see if there are any ‘red flowers’ left, and a battle through the scrum to grab a dog-eared card or the last, rather beaten up, box of chocolates. I’ve questioned the DH in great detail, and winkled out the truth. He’s sure women love Valentine’s Day. But in questioning my female friends I had my suspicions confirmed. Many of them hate it too.

For those in relationships, it’s mandatory to spend on something red, something chocolatey, or something overpriced. My local supermarket has extended its range to include Valentine’s day underwear, nighties, candles and toys. I almost fell over the large cardboard display holding cards on the way in. I feel like not buying. Just because I’m being forced into it. But if I don’t, what will DH say when asked what he got? Admitting he got nothing is bound to make him feel unloved.

And if I give nothing, I’m bound to receive nothing too.


And people ask. They want to see evidence of love. Bought in a shop. Proof that someone has braved the crowds to flick through millions of cards before finding the perfect one. If I say ‘I asked him not to get me anything, it’s over-commercialised,’ then I’ll be smiled at pityingly. Probably patted on the back with an ‘Ah never mind, have one of my chocolates.’

They say love can survive anything –

but can it survive Valentine’s Day?