Riva Returns!!

Yippee it's happened, the Riva Relaunch is finally upon us and it's AWESOME.

The sparkling new look is much more in keeping with what the editorial has to offer readers: namely fun, flirty, sexy stories with feisty heroines, hot alpha heroes, glamorous settings and lashings of the sparky, snappy dialogue I love to write (and which I sincerely hope you guys enjoy reading!).

Anyway, I've stuck up the banner header in honour of the new look which lists all the books in the Relaunch. They're available from today on the M&B website and nine of the above (including mine) will be available in book form to buy from WH Smiths as of October 1st.

 If you haven't already read my Riva Relaunch book Cupcakes & Killer Heels you're in for a treat. I loved creating this book and just to get you in the mood, here's an advert I found featuring gorgeous hero inspiration Henry Cavill (currently being hotly tipped to play Christian Grey in the Fifty Shades movie, no less) which I think gives you a heady taste of what Cupcakes has to offer. Although I'll admit the woman he's dancing with here is a bit too skinny to be my luscious cupcake baker Ruby Delisantro, Mr Cavill definitely does the business as Cameron Westmore, a dark, dashing and dangerous British barrister who's made a career out of his erudite way with words and yet has never been able to talk about his feelings - until our Ruby crashes into his life! And those glamorous London settings are also a feature of the story... Which is set in my home town (and which I am currently feeling mighty proud of thanks to our fabulous Olympic summer!)



Yum, delicious eh... Almost as irresistible as a chocolate cupcake.

We have loads of exciting treats on the blogesphere to enjoy in the next few months including the Love Bites on Youtube for the Riva Relaunch titles provided by the ladies at Romance HQ. And the lovely Natalie Anderson and Ally Blake have some really fun Riva-flavoured His and Hers blogs planned (with giveaways!) which my hero and heroine, Cal and Ruby, shall be taking part in.

And don't forget to Check Out the Riva App on Facebook - there's loads of great info on the books, the authors, a new blog and there's even a chance to win lots of Riva Goodies.

Enjoy!

The Riva Re-Launch Covers!

So have finally gotten ahold of my sample cover for the Riva Re-Launch which will be coming to a WH Smith's store near you in October (if you live in the UK that is!)

Tell me what you think? I like the fun, flirtatious style. It's a daring departure from the Series look of other Mills and Boon books but I think these new covers are going to stand out a mile on the M&B rack. I think it's a bit of a shame that this is a previously released book, but as the intention with these sample titles is to see if they can attract new readers to the brand, it makes sense. And in the 15 books on offer online and in stores there are some new titles (just not mine!)

Hopefully the new design will be a roaring success and we'll be back in stores with all new editorial in early 2013.... Fingers crossed.

In other news, I am having an absolute ball working on my first ever continuity with fellow Kiss authors Kimberly Lang, Aimee Carson and Amy Andrews... We were simply given a theme and we've worked something amazing out from there. Last night I had an hour-long Skype chat with Ms Lang in Alabama to sort out the backstory for our respective books (as my delicious Southern hero is her heroine's brother we needed to trash out their family background). Have to admit I was quite wary of getting involved in this project to start with, the thought of writing books with other writers characters in was daunting. But the brainstorming process with a group of such smart and talented women has been an absolute hoot... And now I've discovered Skype I may never talk to anyone without it ever again.

Let's hear it for Voluptuous Heroines...

I'm over at I Heart Presents this weekend talking about my heroine Ruby Delisantro from Cupcakes and Killer Heels... And why I loved her curves so much! The book is out in the US this month as a Harlequin Presents Extra, btw..

In other news it looks like Nate and Tess's story will be an autumn release and (hopefully) part of the Riva relaunch at the end of this year... No title yet though, so stay tuned for that.

Also, if anyone has been following my Pinterest page, I had a little panic this week and have deleted my boards for the time being. I thought I was allowed to pin any pictures I found on the internet, but it turns out it's not quite as simple as that (Duh!!). But I hope to be pinning again soon once I've read the terms and conditions properly! If anyone else knows for sure what you can pin and what you can't, I'd love to hear from you....

Nick and Eva's Story has a Cover!

Check it out! Nick and Eva's story, my brand new Riva release 'The Good, the Bad and the Wild', has a cover... And it's gorgeous. Hunky hero and seductive heroine... Yummy.

It'll be out in March in the UK and I can't wait to see it on the shelves now (funny how that never gets old). In case you don't already know this is the story of my Cupcakes heroine Ruby Delisantro's long-lost brother Nick and shy and inexperienced genealogical researcher Eva Redmond. Eva's been dispatched to San Francisco to locate the illegitimate heir of an Italian Duc... Who just happens to be none-other than bad boy screenwriter Nick. One wild ride on a motobike across the Golden Gate Bridge and an even wilder night of pleasure later, and it's not just her job that's under threat.

Will be posting a sneak peek on my website soon. And doing a giveaway here and on Goodreads.

And also out in March, Cupcakes gets its long-awaited (well, by me anyway) Harlequin Presents Extra debut - also with a very hot cover and love that tagline 'Men Who Won't Be Tamed'.

 

Will be doing a Goodreads giveaway for this one too... So stay posted.

Cowboys, Aliens and a variety of Hotties!

Am over at the Pink Heart Society today doing my regular Must-Watch Friday movie spot on Cowboys & Aliens, the all action genre mash-up which has the added benefit of Vintage Tottie and Hottie Tottie in the shape of Harrison Ford and Daniel Craig...

Actually I could have watched anything with those two in it, but all the alien and western action did not go amiss with the men in my family!

Also, have just got a US release date for Cupcakes and Killer Heels:

It's March 2012 when it will be coming out as a Harlequin Presents Extra (will be interesting to see if they keep that title). For those not in the know this is the sequel to Surf, Sea and a Sexy Stranger... Featuring my lushous cupcake entrepeneur heroine Ruby Delisantro and her brooding barrister hero Callum Westmore. Sexy, sassy and with chocolate frosting on top!

Some heartfelt thanks

Thanks to fabulous-o blogger Rebecca at the Every Day Is The Same Blog, I have pictorial evidence of my latest Harlequin Presents Extra release, Surf, Sea and a Sexy Stranger on the shelves in New York City.... As I consider NYC one of the coolest cities on the planet, this photo brought a special little glow to my day yesterday. Gotta say, it never gets old seeing your book on the shelf. So muchas gracias for that, Rebecca!

And I also discovered this lovely review of my latest Riva book Cupcakes and Killer Heels on romance novelist Louise Rose-Innes's blog... She's turning into a bit of a Riva fan. Go Louise!

Here are a few snippets while I bask...

"I was surprised to discover that the main characters, the hero in particular, apart from being drop-dead gorgeous, are also fairly flawed, which adds a depth that is seldom found in category romance these days."

"The first chapter starts with a bang, quite literally, as the hero and heroine connect in a funny encounter that had me laughing out loud."

"Ultimately, the hero and the heroine reach a point in their emotional development where the crazy, all-consuming passion they feel for each other can evolve into a mature and rewarding relationship."


Wow! How cool is that? So thanks Louise for the review! It's always so great to hear that the effort we're all putting in to make Riva fresh and fun and flirty and something a little bit different for category romance readers is appreciated!

Happy Super Mum Day!!

Am feeling all blissful and pleased with myself today... First off, it's Mum's Day and I got a great card from my supremely talented oldest progeny! Not sure if he really thinks of me as Super-Mum or he just knows how to suck up really well (probably a bit of both is my guess), but the design he did hit all my happy buttons: particularly liked that he thinks he and his brother are Powerpuff Boys. And check out my cleavage and my knee-high boots! Wonder Woman eat your heart out. So I'm sharing it with you all, and wishing mums everywhere a Happy Mother's Day.

Not only that, but I got some lovely blogger reviews for Cupcakes and Killers Heels — which I'm also going to share, cos I'm very proud of them, and because I'm hoping to persuade a few more punters to buy my book (now we know where my son gets his sucking-up genes!!).

First up is the fab Doris O'Conor who reviewed Cupcakes on her Tardis Scribbles blog

"I laughed, I gasped, I wanted to bang their heads together...and the ending left me with a nice warm fuzzy feeling like any good romance should.

This is Heidi Rice at her best, funny, sassy, sensual and a jolly good read. If you have read any of her other books, you will love this one too and if you haven't? Why ever not? Where have you been?"

See, I'm blushing here.

Then a couple of days later I got this from RLA at the Every Day is the Same blog, where she's busy embarking on her challenge to read 365 books in a year. That's a book a day, folks (for those you who are as statistically challenged as I am). And mine came in at number 11!

"I have been a big fan of Heidi's books for a while, I find her writing is always full of quick wit, sparky characters, as well as having a very modern feel. To me her books are like the love-child of 'Sex and the City' and 'Bridget Jones', which can only be a good thing!"

Now I should fess up and say I sent copies of my book to both these bloggers because I know they like my stuff. But it's still lovely to find out that they enjoyed the book enough to write really great reviews of it. Not only that but RLA got her hubby to read it, and he loved it too. As I can't get my own hubby to read my books, that is pretty darn cool!

So here I am on Mother's Day happily basking in my own brilliance. Now if I could just get past Chapter Four on my current WIP, which is unfortunately due at the end of May, I'd be even more brilliant!

Another chance to win a copy of Cupcakes and some Barcelona boasting!

Many thanks to all those who have already entered yesterday's competition to win a copy of my new book Cupcakes and Killer Heels (and cheers for the comments about the sneak peek.. that was the idea, to get you all hooked... Brawahahaha!)

Anyway, there's another chance to win a copy on The Pink Heart Society today if you leave a comment on my extremely interesting and informative post about where my ideas come from, why inspiration is everywhere but why it isn't as important as you think... Or something like that! I've also included some great pictures of my recent weekend trip to Barcelona to make you all jealous... Sorry, I meant to say, which are extremely relevant to the post. And that smug smile on my face in the photo of me in Barcelona last weekend illustrating this post is entirely coincidental, by the way.

Anyhow, nip on over to the PHS and stick a comment up, so far the only one is from Abby Green and I've already sent her a copy! So she ain't getting another.

Win a Copy of Cupcakes and Killer Heels!

Okey, dokey, so the nice postman delivered a huge box of brand new books yesterday. Yippee! Cupcakes and Killer Heels has finally arrived. As you know I love the cover and the title, so am mighty proud of this book.

Anyway I've got a couple of autographed copies to give away. All you have to do is take a gander at the fiendishly clever question below (you'll  probably have to check out the sneak peek on my website here for the answer, unless of course you're clairvoyant) and then send your answer to heidi@heidi-rice.com by Monday 21st March (that's next Monday for anyone without a calendar) to be included in the prize draw.

Question: What is the name of Ruby Delisantro's cupcake-making business in Cupcakes and Killer Heels which she has printed on the side of her VW Beetle in glittering pink lettering?

 

The manuscript has left the building... And a special thanks to Ms Katy Perry!

Muchas celebrations here in North London after I pinged off my latest manuscript to my wonderful editor (notice the sucking up, for added good karma) on Saturday... Only a day late! Yippee! Of course it may soon come winging back to me with a 20 page revision letter attached, but I'm not letting the prospect dampen my spirit, or my wine intake tonight!

As the ms is out the way (for now) I have spent some quality time updating my website with a brand new Books page, which lists all my books in order of publication (for all those readers who are as anal as me and like to know this sort of thing!). I've also added a sneak peek of Cupcakes and Killer Heels which is due out in the UK and Ireland in May. Check it out and let me know what you think? Wanna read more? I certainly hope so.

Unfortunately I've been told the release of Cupcakes in the US (which is a linked book to Surf, Sea and a Sexy Stranger - as it's Maddy's brother Cal's story) will be delayed until 2012 as my next book in the US will have to be the one I've just sent in. See, the new ms is all about a scorchingly hot winter fling in London at the height of the festive season (complete with shopping at Selfridges, where else!) so needs to go out in the Christmas period in both the US and the UK... Now why didn't I think of this before I started writing it!! Doh!

Amazingly, I already have a new idea cued up and raring to go as it's a linked story to Cupcakes (and Sexy Stranger)... While writing Cupcakes I discovered that my heroine Ruby Delisantro had a very interesting brother. Nick Delisantro is a North London bad boy turned Hollywood scriptwriter living in San Francisco. He and his sister Ruby have been estranged since he ran away from home at age 16. As it turns out he's had a very dark and tortuous journey to Hollywood success which means he's of particular interest to a bookish ancestral geneologist called Eva Cooper - a woman who knows everything there is to know about long-dead people but very little about living men. Eva specialises in tracing the long-lost heirs to European estates and is about to uncover the secrets of Nick's past... What she doesn't know is that she has some pretty hot revelations of a more personal kind in her own future when she makes the mistake of tangling with Nick - who's sexy, surly, has a killer instinct for seduction and doesn't take too kindly to women who want to know more about him than he's willing to reveal.



Nick btw has been inspired by the rather tempting guy from Katy Perry's Teenage Dreams video. Don't have a clue who he is, but he's got just the right quality of sex, smoulder, surliness and shock value! And Katy certainly looked like she was enjoying herself!

Can't wait to get writing this one, and after the tortures I had with kick-starting my last story I'm hopeful it won't be as hard... ie no re-writing the first three chapters twenty times. But don't quote me on that!

Cupcakes cover! Woohoo!

Off to Selfridges today to impart much wisdom about how to write a Mills and Boon (or at least try to fake it convincingly)! As you can probably tell current pineapple is still causing a few problems. Have several gem moments in there but as I finish the rough draft I know I'm going to be having a lost weekend trying to winkle them out of all the dross..

But to perk me up I got a sneak peak of my first bona fide Riva cover from my good mate Kelly Hunter (thanks Kelly!). As you know (if you read this blog) Cupcakes and Killer Heels is a linked book to Surf, Sea and a Sexy Stranger and features Maddy's charismatic, wildly gorgeous and completely closed off brother, barrister Callum Westmore, and his flashfire one night stand with lush, sexy and fabulously reckless cupcake entrepeneur Ruby Delisantro... A one night stand that turns into a lost weekend of epic porportions (complete with cupcakes!). Loved the title and now love the cover. Will be posting a sneak peak on my website very shortly... Once pineapple has been birthed!

This for me is one of the best bits of writing... The chance to enjoy the fruits of your labour when all the hard work has been done. It's also a good way to persuade yourself that the bald patch you created while tearing your hair out over your characters and their conflict was worth it (and then you can go out and buy a nice hat with the proceeds!).