calling all germans!

Thanks to the ever lovely Robyn Grady, I have discovered I have TWO books out in Germany this month.

First up we have UNSER GARTEN DER SEHNSUCHT which first came out as a Harlequin Romance FALLING FOR THE REBEL HEIR. Here's a bit from inside the book...

The pool house was clean. The mottled green tiles around the margins sparkled and the dozen white marble benches were spotless. Miniature palm trees in plant boxes edging the length of the room were luscious with good health. And the water in the pool shimmered dark and inviting against the black-painted concrete bottom.

A sound broke through Hud’s reverie. A soft ripple as water lapped gently against the edge of the pool. And he was hit with the sense that something was about to break the dark surface. He held his breath, squared his stance, squinted into the shadows and watched in practised silence as...

A mermaid rose from the depths.

From there everything seemed to slow; his breaths, his heartbeat, the dust floating through shards of sunlight, as the nymph waded through the water, away from him, leaving a trail of leisurely wavelets in her wake.

Water streamed over hair the colour of brandy. It ran adoringly over pale, lean, youthful arms. And as she swayed up the steps, water gripped to her willowy form as long as it could before cruel gravity claimed it back to the dark depths.
Hud felt like he ought to avert his gaze. Like he was too old, too cynical, too jaded to be allowed such a vision. But those same qualities only meant that his curiosity far outweighed his humility, and his eyes remained riveted to the back of the exquisite stranger.

Read more ~ Buy it here

And we also have SÜNDIG SÜSSE KÜSSE , a three book collection in which my story was originally released as a Modern Heat STEAMY SURRENDER. Here's another sneak peek...

Once inside, Saxon replaced his beanie for a black Bacio Bacio cap, left his leather jacket over a chair in the staff room, and tied a deep red apron around his waist, tightening the knot in front.

He tucked his hair behind his ears, decided he’d better get a hair cut before his mother saw him again, and then hastened out into the warm inviting surrounds of his home away from home to find a woman had entered his haven.

He slowed. For this was not just any woman, but a woman who deserved a second glance. And a third. And dinner and a movie and at least an attempt at a nightcap.

Blonde she was. Dirty blonde with luscious waves trailing long and unkempt down her front. Huge dark sunglasses covered half her small face. At least three gold chains hung around her slim neck, carrying oversized charms that jingled against one another as she moved through the room, giving her a kind of musical quality. And poking out from her ridiculously high-heeled bronze sandals the nails of her dainty toes were painted working-girl-red.

Read more ~ Buy it here

Modern Heat Treasure Hunt

As part of the Valentines Month Modern Heat Treasure Hunt, I'll be giving away a copy of my most recent Modern Extra novel, STEAMY SURRENDER.

Saxon Ciantar, the hero in STEAMY SURRENDER is one of my favourites. Shhh, don't tell my other heroes! But how can you not love a guy who has a nineteen sixties Jag, wears 'The Clash' t-shirts tow work and owns his own log cabin in the snow. Added to that the guy owns a string of gelato shops. If that doesn't put him over the edge I just don't know what could.

In my head he's a lot like Christian Bale, but that's a no-brainer really as I reckon I could cast that gent in every book I've ever written ;). But in casting heroes it's never so much about the particulars of the actor I use, it's more about a look in the eye of a particular picture that gives me the essence of my guy. So how else could I describe Saxon? Maybe I ought to leave it up to the heroine Morgan to fill us in on her first impressions...

For the moment her eyes had met his she'd felt... peculiar. Not bad peculiar. But funny in the tummy peculiar. Like she'd had too much coffee. But considering she congealing latte in her hand hadn't deserved the three sips she'd afforded it...

Okay, maybe, just maybe, the peculiar feeling had nothing to do with milk overload. Maybe it had everything to do with the fact that the guy was the most overtly male person she had ever laid eyes on. Even though he was blokey; no doubt the type who roved in a pack and thought calling out to a woman that she had a nice butt was commensurate to a first date, he was also just so...big. Tall and broad. A silver chain clung tight to his solid neck, allowing a small medallion to rest in the dip in his clavicle. Smooth, tightly bound arm muscles strained under a dark t-shirt advertising a rock band she was fairly sure had broken up before she was even born. They were the kinds of muscles that made her want to reach out and touch. And she just knew his stomach would be washboard flat. And rippled. The potential for ripples was super high.

All that healthy robust manliness was something if she really thought about it. Especially when compared with the overly thin, overly coiffed, overly gay types she worked with every day. And she was thinking about it. Quite a lot.

She risked a sideways glance at the guy to find he was watching her and she had to hold a hand over her stomach to quell the sudden strange bouncy uncalled-for butterflies within.

Can you see now why I love the guy? And why I love love love writing for Modern Heat?

TREASURE HUNT CLUE: Who inspired Ally's hero choice in Steamy Surrender?

To find out how to win a slew of fabulous signed novels by your favourite Modern Heat authors, head on over to the Modern Heat blog all through this month! Visit the blogs and websites of the MH authors and enter your Treasure Hunt clues by the 28th of February for the chance to win big! Good luck!

(HINT: We've already had clues by Natalie Anderson and Kate Hardy and next up is... Robyn Grady!)

aaawwww...

Here's my Aussie cover for my lates Modern Extra novel, STEAMY SURRENDER. Out now in the UK and in Aus/NZ come November.

Also... The lovely Sheryl at Cataromance just let me know that she gave the book a 4.5 star review!!! Here's what she said:

"Within the first ten pages of Steamy Surrender you are given a glimpse of the highly passionate, humorous and tender relationship between Morgan and Saxon, one that will have any reader hankering for more. The relationship between Saxon and Morgan is explosive, with each trying to outsmart and sometimes even seduce the other into giving up in their game of wit and strategy. I also loved how both these characters are written as down to earth but also intelligent people, people who have their own demons to bear. Ms Blake is a talented author who never fails to give me a fantastic story to read as she has done with Steamy Surrender."

Isn't that lovely?

melting moments

I forgot to tell y'all that this month sees the release of my second Modern Extra as STEAMY SURRENDER hits bookshelves in the UK! But though the cover makes the book seem all warm and beachy this is most definitely a story all about melting. Melting gelati, melting snow, melting limbs, melting hearts.

Here's a taste test to see if it' has the romantic flavour you prefer...

‘We’re actually closed.’

‘I saw the sign.’ Morgan motioned towards the front door with a hand that held a cup of coffee from a nearby competitor. Cheeky little so and so.

Saxon ignored it for the moment and leant against the wall. ‘But still you just had to have a shot of Lime gelato. I get that. When the craving takes you...’

Her eyes flickered to glimpses of shiny glass at the far end of the room as though she had forgotten they were even there. ‘Ah, no. I came to see you.’

‘Well that’s flattering to be sure, especially when compared with the standard of my gelato. Maybe you should try some. Make the comparison honest. That way I can be sure you’re really into me for me.’

‘I’m not into you, Saxon,’ she said, though her eyes shifted away from his right at the last moment, ‘I just need to talk.’

‘We’ll see.’ He took her by the hand, tucking it beneath his arm as he shepherded her through the crowd to the counter where Trisha was manning the scoop, handing out mounds of chilled heaven to the kids.

He snagged the coffee cup from Morgan’s hand and threw it into a bin behind the counter.

‘Hey. I wasn’t done with that,’ she said, bending over the counter so far he thought she might follow it in. He grabbed her around the waist and pulled her to safety, which happened to bring her flush against him, her hands flat against his chest.

She blinked up at him, and he stared down at her.

‘Oh yeah you were,’ he said.

Again she smelt of black cherries; tart and sweet all at once. And again, just like that, he was spellbound. It seemed eating dinner alone, followed by a cold shower and a lonely night in his big bed hadn’t cooled his attraction to the woman one bit.

When she began to unconsciously melt against him he felt things stirring down below that he didn’t think entirely appropriate for the venue. He gently set her aside and spun her to face the gelato, but he kept his hand resting lightly against her back, marking his place.

‘Now which one takes your fancy?’ he asked. ‘Chocolate? No, that’s far too common. Strawberry? Nah, too sweet for the kind of person who purposely brings another man’s coffee into my house. Hazelnut?’

She screwed up her nose.

‘No? A woman who doesn’t like hazelnut. Aren’t you just one in a million?’

‘Aren’t I just. Now Saxon, can we please just – ‘

‘No. Choose. Taste. Then we talk.’

‘Fine! If that’s what it will take.’ She turned back to peruse the colourful array without any discernible interest. It really was the dandiest thing. He supplied something women the world over would kill to get their hands on, but this woman didn’t give a hoot. Conversely it only made him want her more.

"STEAMY SURRENDER"

Modern Extra ~ out now in the UK!

Sexy Sensation ~ Australia & New Zealand November 07

Check out more behind the scenes stuff on my website

steamy surrender

So excited! My September UK release, and my second Modern Extra, STEAMY SURRENDER is not only available already on the Mills and Boon website, it is also highlighted on the front page! Woohoo!


This is the book about a photographic set designer for a Parisienne fashion mag who has an addiction to good coffee and free designer stuff, & a seriously sexy entrepreneur who loves his mother and extinct British rock bands, a midnight blue 1968 MK II Jag named Bessie, an Italian gelataria called Bacio Bacio, a green Versace dress, many an Italian guy with roving hands, a chalet in the snow, and the best of Melbourne in winter and Paris in summer...


Sound like your cup of tea, or coffee as the case may be? Then check it out on the Mills and Boon website here... or find out more on my website page here...

new cover!

I stumbled upon the cover for my second Modern Extra Sensual STEAMY SURRENDER online today. Steamy enough for you? I reckon!

Funny thing is she looks kinda like me! Same colour hair, same skin type. And he could just as easily be my handsome hubby with the dark hair and olive skin. Not sure that we'd be out and about dressed like that right now as its the middle of winter in Melbourne but... Morgan and Saxon could be a whole other kettle of fish.

Here's a sneak peak of some of their tale which hits bookstores in the UK this November:

‘What’s good here?’ Morgan asked.

It was simply too good a line to leave be. Itch or no itch. He held both arms wide to take in the whole shop. ‘Everything here will be the best you’ve ever had.’

Morgan laughed. Out loud. For she had no doubt the guy behind the counter had included himself in that statement. Cocky as well as cute, she thought. Though she only said, ‘That’s quite some claim.’

He placed a hand over his heart. Long fingers splayed out across a wall of cotton clad muscle. ‘I back it up with my own personal guarantee.’

'Brave business practice.’

‘Bravery suggests doubt. I’ve simply never had any complaints.’ His smile slid easily into a grin, all strong cheekbones and creased eyes and light-handed persuasion.

Morgan cleared her throat and trained her expression back towards ambivalent politeness. She was here to case the joint. Not to admire the merchandise. ‘I’ll take your word for it.’

You can pre-order STEAMY SURRENDER at Amazon UK, or check out more about the book on my website.

And if you like a bit of steam, my first sexy book, GETTING DOWN TO BUSINESS is available online now in Australia and New Zealand from eHarlequin.com.au, or if you prefer to browse bookstores as I do, you can wait until next month.

And do keep an eye on Kate Walker's fabulous Fiftieth Book blog party as I'll be making an appearance there later this month with a fabulous giveaway! And Sid just chose me as the winner of a prize in appreciation of the crazy menagerie I have at my house. Thanks Sid!!!