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!

Thank You Roanne and the other M&B reviewers!

With the fun and inspirational good times of the RNA conference in Greenwich passing into memory, I was sitting at my desk yesterday staring at my current WIP for the first time in over a week and feeling a little despondent about it... As is often the case when I catch up with my characters again after an enforced absense, I discovered that much of what I've written so far (all 30K words of it!!) is good but not nearly good enough. The story is at a crucial crossroads and I know I need to push on with it, forget about the bumps that I've left behind and get to the end before I go back to smooth the path... Or I'll end up going over the same ground forever and Ruby and Cal will be mighty peeved with me because it'll take them forever to get to their happy ever after... But the temptation to stop and fiddle was overwhelming, so to distract me from it and give myself a little incentive for continuing on I decided on a short jolt of internet surfing.

Now, this is of course an excellent time suck, so - taking a leaf out of Kate Hardy's Planner's Guide to Creativity, I decided to time myself. I had exactly ten minutes to browse while I took a coffee break and, after doing a quick round of my favourite blogs, ended up on the M&B site where to my great joy I discovered some very nice reviews of my books! What a pleasant surprise, and what a nice treat... But then on closer inspection I discovered that one particular reviewer has done some really sterling work - posting up a host of wonderfully expressive reviews of my books which not only lifted my spirits considerably and gave me the incentive I was looking for but, completely by chance, brought a really big smile to my face.

So first off I just wanted to say a great big thank you to Roanne Gomez - and all the other reviewers who have taken the time to post such lovely reviews of my books... I'm really chuffed that you enjoyed them and that I've now got a guaranteed pick me up the next time I get a bad review.

 But also a special thanks to Roanne for this particular review of Hot-Shot Tycoon, Indecent Proposal:

"I have just finished reading this piece of romance engineering, because that indeed is what it is. It was sensual, seductive and wow. Rice really knows how to make a romance novel realistic and without cliche. I did not want this book to end. Definitely a must read."

Unbeknownst to Roanne, the term 'romance engineering' struck a particularly lovely chord with me because my dad just happened to be a world renowned structural engineer - engineering such buildings as Pompidou Centre in Paris, the Sydney Opera House and the Lloyds Building in London. A softly spoken Irish man with a huge love of literature and the arts, sadly he died in the prime of his life over 17 years ago and I and the rest of my family still miss him. But I know he would have been tickled to bits by that reference too - and the fact that I have become a romantic novelist.

So thanks Roanne, for helping to kick-start my creativity and for really making my day! I'd love to send you an advance copy of my next book which I should get copies of in October or thereabouts, so feel free to email me your contact details on heidi@heidi-rice.com

A Rising Star? Moi!

Met up with my fellow Mod Hot author — and RITA nominee — Kelly Hunter at the Globe Theatre bar on London's South Bank as she's making a flying visit to London this week from her home in Oz.

Neither of us remembered to bring our cameras (I am so going to have to remember to take mine to Frisco!) so I've bunged in a piccie of the Globe to give you the general idea. Of course, it looks much nicer in this picture as it wasn't pissing with rain and freezing cold when they took it (what the heck happened to the British Summer anyway? Was last Tuesday it?). We enjoyed a few glasses of Pinot (at an exorbitant cost) and had a very lively chat about writing for Mod Hot, the direction of the line, Paris, London, small towns in Oz, Posh Frocks and the like (Kelly's already got hers sorted and it sounds fab so we didn't stay on that topic too long I can tell you — alright, I admit it, I'm starting to get a complex about this now). Really lovely to meet her and we're looking forward to seeing each other again in Frisco.

Got home to discover two new fabulous reviews for The Tycoon's Personal Assistant on The Pink Heart Society and Cataromance. Oooh, I love the good review days, makes all the angst and agony worthwhile. Here are a few snippets while I blush with pleasure in the background...

Cataromance gave it Four Stars and said:

'Sexy, flirty, feel-good and emotional, Heidi Rice has written another wonderful contemporary romance that is bound to delight her growing legion of fans. Fast-paced, moving and totally compelling, let Heidi Rice sweep you off to a world of passion, glamour and sizzling seduction with her latest Modern Heat, The Tycoon’s Very Personal Assistant!
If you like your romances hot, steamy, intense and absorbing, then pick up a copy of The Tycoon’s Personal Assistant – you certainly will not regret it!' Read the rest.

Mmm, I love that 'growing legion of fans' bit, does that mean it's not just my mum now and my best mate Catri??

And The Pink Heart Society gave it five hearts and said:

'The Tycoon’s Very Personal Assistant is a terrific Modern Heat from one of the imprint’s most-talented writers. Witty, sexy, funny and absolutely unputdownable, The Tycoon’s Very Personal Assistant is another fabulous read from a wonderful writer whose star is rising fast: Heidi Rice!' Read the rest of the review.

One of the imprints most-talented writers?? Rising Star?? Moi! I'm thoroughly chuffed, especially as I know how fantastic all my fellow writers are at Modern Heat.