Happy Launch Day, Brenda Novak & Sekrit Projects!

Beach Bar Baby est Arrivé!

Whoopee! Beach Bar Baby launches today in North America and the UK and Ireland in Harlequin KISS and Mills & Boon Modern Tempted...

In case you don't know what I'm banging on about this is the final installment in my Brothers and Sisters series... With strong links to Cupcakes and Killer Heels (Ruby and Cal from that book have supporting roles in this one). Beach Bar Baby tells the story of cupcake baker Ella Radley who goes to Bermuda on a holiday of a lifetime - which is turning out to be anything but - until she has a wild fling with studly local boat captain Cooper Delaney on her last night on the island...

Here's a little snippet to whet your appetite, which takes place just as Coop and Ella are getting really well acquainted...

He turned up the lamp, giving the modest hut a golden glow.

Walking to the open deck, he closed two large shutters and then slid the screen door across, cocooning them in together against the Caribbean night. Only the sparkle of moonlight and the sound of surf and chirping insects seeped through the slats.

'Don't want to risk getting our butts bitten off my mosquitos,' he said, crossing the short distance back to her.

She laughed, the rough stubble on his jaw ticklish against her neck as he gripped her hips and nuzzled the sensitive skin beneath her ear.

'Especially such a cute butt,' he added, giving the butt in question an appreciative squeeze.

She wrapped her arms around his lean waist and slipped her fingers beneath the waistband of his jeans, to caress the tight muscles of the backside she had admired that morning in wet denim. ‘I can totally get behind that sentiment.’

He chuckled, warm, callused palms sneaking under her camisole to glide up to her ribcage and send a series of tremors through her body.

‘Flattery will get you everywhere,’ he said. Before placing his mouth on hers at last.

Releasing his bum, she lifted arms lethargic with lust and draped them over his broad shoulders, driving her fingers into the soft curls at his nape, she let him devour her. He angled his hips and the thick ridge in his pants rubbed against her belly.

Oh yes, I want this so much.

To be taken, to take. She wanted to let her body do the asking and have his answer, in the primordial mating ritual of two animals in need of an endorphin fix. The fact that she liked him, that he seemed a genuinely nice guy, didn’t hurt. But right here, right now, as the building firestorm made the pulsing ache in her sex unbearable, and her nipples tighten into hard, swollen nubs, all she really cared about was satisfying the driving hunger.

If you want more details on where to buy it check out the book's page on my website. Also watch this space as I will be giving away some copies on various blogs in the next few weeks. Then again....

Beach Bar Baby on the Block 

at Brenda Novak Online Auction

If you want to buy a copy and do something amazing for Diabetes Research... I've also got some signed Larger Print copies of BBB up for grabs at Brenda Novak's Online Auction. So get your bids on NOW! Here and Here. OR if you want Beach Bar Baby in a 2-in-1 with Charlotte Phillips fabulous The Plus-One Agreement you can bid Here or Here.

Cosmo #2 Hits Ed's Desk & New Projects!

In other news my 2nd Cosmo (working title: 10 Rules to Sex-Up a Blind Date) a tale of sex, lies and Twitter etiquette has winged its way to my editor... So I'm getting cracking on a super sekrit project which I hope will be quite a surprise for readers when I can announce it!

Brenda Novak's Auction... 4 Days and counting.

Hi All

Hope you had a great Easter Weekend. Weather was phenomenal here in the UK, spent four lovely days at my Mum's place in the heart of Thomas Hardy country in Wiltshire and the sun shined all weekend. Even went on an off-road bike ride down the Ox Drove (always makes me think of Hardy that journey, through the bluebell woods and across ancient chalk roads).

Anyway, just giving you'all a quick head's up to say I'm taking part in Brenda Novak's Auction again this year. Bidding starts on 1st May and runs through til the 31st.

I've donated an author critique of a first chapter and synopsis aimed at Harlequin Presents and a 'follow-up' meeting over breakfast at the RWA conference in NYC. Of course, if you're not going to be at the conference, I'm sure we can arrange an email chat.

I'm also donating a couple of signed copies of my books... Can't actually remember which ones, will have to go check.

Anyway, hope to see some good bids not just on my stuff but there's lots of stuff for aspiring authors from critiques to agent interviews, etc, so definitely worth a look.

Heidi breaks the Four Star barrier at RT!

Amazed to discover that my April release in the US of Surf, Sea and a Sexy Stranger has got a Four and a Half star review from the venerable Sandra Madan at RT Book Reviews! Cheers Sandra, never thought I'd manage it.

Here's the review:

SURF, SEA AND A SEXY STRANGER (4.5) by Heidi Rice: Lifeguard Maddy Westmore has had enough with fixing everyone else’s problems, though she can’t help but check on the “bad surfer” she rescued earlier in the day. For said surfer, entrepreneur Ryan King, his injured leg is the least of his concerns, as a previous accident has left him psychologically impotent. So when a solution to his most worrisome problem turns up in the form of storm-ravaged Maddy, he can’t resist. But when Maddy finds out Rye is actually her boss, he’ll have his work cut out for him if he wants their affair to continue. A steamy romance and interesting characters will leave readers smiling.

In other news, I'll be taking part in Brenda Novak's Diabetes Auction again this year and offering a critique of a first chapter and synopsis aimed at Harlequin Presents (or M&B Riva) with the promise of a follow-up breakfast meeting at the RWA Conference in NYC. Obviously, if you win it, and you're not going to RWA we can always have an email chat! Anyway, bidding is from 1st-31st May and there's tons of great lots on offer for readers and aspiring authors alike (Presents author Kate Hewitt is offering a critique of an entire manuscript), so definitely worth checking it out.

Just wanted to also add a quick word for the people of Christchurch, New Zealand. One of our lovely Riva authors Natalie Anderson lives in the city and as I'm sure you all know the earthquake there has been absolutely devastating. My thoughts are with them.

Moments of Escapism... Are you getting yours?

The sun has been shining in London Town this week (and about time too) and I've been busy helping those nice people at Starbucks Discoveries publicise a recent survey they did with 2000 British women. Spent the morning on Friday doing a series of local radio interviews answering questions about the survey (and trying to do a few shameless plugs for Unfinished Business with the Duke) which I enjoyed immensely, because as you all know I'm a bit of a media tart!!

Shocking news is that one in six of us don't even have time for a brief moment of escapism during the day. I'm thinking that doesn't include many romance readers, though, as one thing we've all got in abundance is an ability to have a brief moment of escapism when necessary.... Preferably backed up with lots of hero research.... In fact I've managed to make a career out of my brief moments of escapism!!

Also had a whale of a time meeting up with fellow Presents authors Natalie Rivers and Abby Green in a swanky West End hotel bar for champagne cocktails. Any similarity between us and the Sex and the City ladies was purely intentional!!

All of which has helped immensely taking my mind off what my ed thinks of my latest partial (yes, that would be the one with the ten-page synopsis which had everything in it bar the kitchen sink!!). No news yet about Ruby and Callum's story (have renamed my heroine because son number one told me "Suky" was too ridiculous, even for me... the cheeky little...!). So fingers crossed and double crossed on that one.

In other news my offer to critique a first chapter and synopsis aimed at Harlequin Presents only has a few days left on Brenda Novak's Diabetes Auction. Currently the bidding stands at $60 which is still fairly cheap. If anyone wants to put in a bid, click here. But frankly I'd go have a look around anyway cos there's lots of other great stuff on offer, especially for aspiring writers.

'Surf, Sea and a Sexy Stranger' and Brenda Novak's Auction

Book Eight has a title and it's a winner... Surf, Sea and a Sexy Stranger! And it will be out in December in the UK.

Copyright: Nick Reader


To celebrate the fact  I surfed the internet (geddit) to find a picture to illustrate this post and found this fabulously atmospheric photograph of Watergate Bay in Cornwall. Now, not only was Watergate Bay the inspiration for my original story (I was boogie-boarding on that beach last summer), but the photo here has a lone surfer on the beach below the cliffs (where Rye's fictional mansion sits) and it was taken in October, which is when my opening scene is set. So how cool is that? I got in touch with the photographer Nick Reader, who has very kindly allowed me to use his beautiful photograph here.

Nick does landscape and wedding photography in Cornwall and, surprise, surprise, is a keen surfer... The coincidences just keep piling up don't they. I've included a link to his wedding photography site, his blog and his landscape site (which is going live shortly) so check it out. There's some really gorgeous photos on them which give a real ambience for the story.

I also wanted to alert any aspiring authors here (and I know there's a few of you!!) to the fact that I'm taking part in Brenda Novak's Diabetes Auction again this year. I'm offering an author critique of a first chapter and synopsis of a manuscript aimed at Harlequin Presents (ie Modern or Modern Heat). At the moment it's going for $17 so it could be a mighty good deal. You can bid here. There's also lots of great offerings from the Pink Heart Society and a load of authors, editors, agents etc.

Public Affair gets Four Stars from RT

Am currently doing the snoopy dance after reading my four star review in the March edition of Romantic Times for Public Affair, Secretly Expecting! Here's the review which had my head swelling to impossible proportions:

PUBLIC AFFAIR, SECRETLY EXPECTING (4) by Heidi Rice: Juno Delamare is determined to get her friend's estranged brother, Hollywood actor Mac Brody, to his wedding, even if she has to meet the plane he's on at Heathrow to hand him the invitation. She hadn't planned on kissing him at the same time. Mac had no plans to go to the wedding, but he can't get Juno off his mind. What they agree will be a short-and-steamy fling turns serious when Juno finds out she's pregnant. Rice has a knack for setting up story openings that immediately catch your attention. Here she starts with the fun and flirty, gradually leading into a heartfelt, emotional tale. 


And to add to the kudos my Modern Heat buddy Kelly Hunter went one better with her March release Exposed: Magnate's Misbehaving Mistress and got a Top Pick. So congrats to Kelly too!


And anyone who has the sneaking suspicion that I am using my excitement to avoid my current WIP would be entirely incorrect. Of course.


BTW, I have just signed up again for Brenda Novak's Auction which they are putting together as we speak and goes online in May. I'll be offering a critique of a first chapter and synopsis aimed at Harlequin Presents or Presents Extra, plus two signed books... So will keep you posted on that one.

Win a copy of Hot-Shot Tycoon, Indecent Proposal for May Day

Just popping in to say if you fancy a copy of my latest Modern Heat Hot-Shot Tycoon, Indecent Proposal (which isn't even out until next month in the UK and September in the US) then nip on over to The Pink Heart Society for my monthly Must-Watch Friday blog tomorrow.

I'm waxing lyrical on the gothic teen romance Twilight (and somehow managing to compare it with Jane Eyre!!) and also giving away a copy of my book to one lucky commentator.

In other news I'm offering 'An Author Critique of a Full MS Aimed at Harlequin Presents' (as well as some other odds and sods) on Brenda Novak's Online Auction So if you're an aspiring author and want the benefit of my vast knowledge brought to bear on your very own ms (and haven't been reading my blog, so you are completely unaware of how many mistakes I'm still making with my own manuscripts), shoot on over here and stick in a bid. It's for a good cause, namely Diabetes Research.