Bought for Marriage

I was talking about holidays with a friend yesterday and she said, ‘I know who I’m going with next time.’ It didn’t sound as though she meant her husband so I kind of frowned and asked who.


‘Theo,’ she said.

It took only a couple of seconds for it dawn on me that she was talking about Theo Tsardikos in Bought For Marriage. I’d given her a copy of the Greek trio book that I mentioned here recently. And she’d fallen for Theo!

I was both amused and flattered.


Actually I fall for all of my heroes so it was good to hear that someone else had as well.



Here's the cover so that you can feast your eyes on him too.

Nicola Marsh

Nicola Marsh has a great post today on her blog in her The Write Whisper series. It's all about The Story Question. Why don't you go take a look?

Dieting

Disaster has struck.

I've been dieting since April because I'm going to a wedding in a couple of week's time and I've bought a very close-fitting dress for the occasion. I even bought new scales when I started to diet and have been losing about a pound a week. Now the scales are refusing to work!

Last week we ate out so many times that I know I must have piled it back on - but I have no way of really knowing. I'm going to take the scales back but I can't find the receipt. I'm a hoarder where receipts are concerned, I have them dating back to the year dot. But the one I want? Nowhere in sight!

I've yet to try on the dress!

Am I a coward? Or very brave?

Writing

My DH and I have been out and about this last week or so taking advantage of our lovely weather (although it has gone much cooler today) but I have managed at least a half hour on my book each evening. So it is progressing, although somewhat slowly. Kara has lost her virginity to Blake, something she had no intention of doing. And little does she know that she's going to find herself pregnant later on in the story. I can't wait to get there. Hope I haven't given too much away? Though by the time the book's published I guess you'll have forgotten.

Football

The weather's sweltering here this weekend - as it has been all the week and I'm glad to sit indoors and watch the football. I'm writing this before England play their game with Germany this afternoon. Fingers crossed that England win.

My fourteen year old grandson is here so my DH has someone to cheer England on with - me, I supply the refreshments!

Bought For Marriage

There's a three in one book sitting on the shelves in the bookshops at the moment. It's called The Greeks' Bought Brides and my contribution to it is Bought For Marriage. In this story Dione was compelled to marry gorgeous Greek billionaire Theo Tsardikos to help her father out of his money problems. It actually created problems for herself.

This was a book I really enjoyed writing (don't I say that about them all?) and I'm so glad to see it's been re-issued. I'm teamed up with Julia James and Lucy Monroe so I'm in very good company. The book is also on sale here either as a hard copy or an e-book.

Italy

I forced myself to have a computer free weekend and found it very hard. I couldn't even check my emails! It was Father's Day here on Sunday and my daughter came with our lovely two-year old grandson. What fun we had and how lively he is. I was actually glad to get back to work today.

Blake & Kara's chemistry is sizzling so I hope it continues under the hot Italian sunshine. Blake is only half Italian and he lives in England (they're in Italy on business at the moment) - but he nevertheless has a bit of the hot Latin lover about him.

Harlequin

I watched a movie on TV last night called The Waiting Game. It was advertised in the TV paper as coming from the Harlequin stable - so I just had to watch. It was from the book of the same name written by Jayne Ann Krentz and was published in 1985 under the Intrigue label. It certainly intrigued me. There was not much romance in it, there was more mystery, but it kept me watching till the very end to find out who the goodies and baddies were. Has anyone else seen this film and if you have what did you think of it?



I looked Krentz up and what a very profilic writer she is. Her output puts me to shame.

Milan

Another week's gone by. Where does the time go? It's virtually mid June and it seems like only yesterday we were celebrating Christmas. Kara and Blake are beginning to get to know one another really well now. The story started in England but we're now in Italy, in Milan actually, so I'm looking forward to exploring that city with them. Blake does have Italian blood in him but he's never lived there - and I've never been there either. Does anyone have good memories of Milan?

Weather

I have a few alterations to the first chapters of my new book but other than that it is all systems go. So I've been working hard and forgot to blog. Sorry!

Last night we had a BBQ. The weather was not promising but because we'd invited friends we decided to go ahead anyway. Then the rain came, but undeterred my DH pulled out the awning, set everything out beneath it, switched on the patio heater (yes, in June!) and a good time was had by all. The sauce that I mentioned in one of my earlier blogs went down a treat.
And DH even washed up afterwards. I told you it was a good night!

Red

I went to a funeral last week and because red was his favourite colour we were all asked to wear something red. What a difference it made. It looked lovely to see such a bright colour mingling with black and the odd flash of white. There were no flowers, just one wreath of red carnations from his immediate family. As far as funerals go this was one that struck just the right note between sadness and a celebration of life.


Now, completely changing the subject but keeping to the red theme, I have an Australian copy of my latest book Married Again To The Millionaire up for grabs. I'm keeping the contest in the UK this time, so the first person who comments from the UK will be the winner.

Bank Holiday

The hot weather seems to have disappeared into the ether, it is so much cooler now. Actually it's the right temperature for the time of year. But we're still hoping to have a BBQ this weekend - a treat after gardening. A very kind friend of ours has given us 4 trays of bedding plants to put in - with 50 in each!! I reckon I'll need a drink or two after that. It's Spring Bank Holiday weekend - so it might rain. It always seems to rain on bank holidays. Or is that just here in the UK?

On the writing front I'm now on chapter six - while I'm still waiting to hear from my ed about the first three chapters. I hope she doesn't ask for too many changes. None would be nice. Fingers crossed everyone.

Barbecues

Did you all see Marilyn's absolutely fabulous recipes yesterday? My mouth drools simply thinking about them. And here is my promised one for a divine sauce to go with cooked chicken, chops, sausages, etc. I had it out of an old cookbook years ago, which has since disintegrated from much use.

1 oz (25g) butter
1 small onion, finely chopped
4 tablespoons tomato ketchup
2 tablespoons vinegar
2 level tablespoons mango chutney - chopped
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon sugar
1/4 teaspoon French mustard

Melt the butter in a small saucepan, add the onion and fry gently until tender without colouring. Add the rest of the ingredients and bring to the boil. Simmer gently for two to three minutes and serve hot or cold with any simply cooked barbecued food.

It is much cooler here today in the UK - so BBQ weather it is not. But writing weather it is. Blake and Kara still haven't even kissed - but it might happen today!!!

Weather

It's been barbecue weather here today - while I've been stuck inside sat at my desk. Not that we had a BBQ - but DH did shift it out on to the patio. So that's a start. Last year we did not have a single one.

Has anyone got any good BBQ recipes they'd care to share? I have an excellent one for a BBQ sauce/dip that I'll dig out and post next week.

Happy weekend everyone.