More family for Christmas?
Scott Walker doesn't have time for a relationship. The sexy mechanic has career ambitions, not to mention a mother and three sisters to take care of. The last thing he needs is Carrie Jameson, the beauty he never forgot, arriving in Templeton Cove over the holidays with some unexpected news.
Scott still finds Carrie irresistible, and he's not one to shirk responsibility. Scott's issues with his own dad make the prospect of parenthood a minefield. But if he and Carrie can overcome their fears, this Christmas could bring them the best gift of all.
Rachel is a member of the Romantic Novelists Association and Romance Writers of America. When she isn’t writing, you’ll find Rachel with her head in a book or walking the beautiful English countryside with her family and beloved black Lab, Max. Her dream place to live is Bourton-on-the-Water in South West England.
She likes nothing more than connecting and chatting with her readers and fellow romance writers. Rachel would love to hear from you!
Behind The Scenes…Christmas At The Cove
One of the most common questions author are asked is “Where do you get your ideas from?” – well, the answer for me most of the time is, “TV, newspapers, past events in my own life or someone else’s.” As simple as that answer is, it rarely inspires readers or aspiring writers to sit down, find an idea and start to write.
Writing an 80,000 word + novel is HARD!!
Exploring that little nugget of an idea and making it funny, sexy and interesting enough to span over 300 pages doesn’t happen through divine intervention, but through hours of sweat, blood and tears. There is no way I can sugar coat it, I’m afraid. Haha!
The idea for my latest novel, CHRISTMAS AT THE COVE (Harlequin Superromance) came with the opening scene and the fact I wanted to write a reunion story. I was driving back from a concert when the image of my hero appeared like a photograph in my head. He was standing in the doorway of a bar, rain pouring down behind him and dressed in jeans and a soaking wet t-shirt. Yum!
As nice as the image was, I was contracted to write a Christmas book. Why wouldn’t he be wearing a jacket or coat in December? I thought on this for a while and then had the ‘aha moment’ that the scene was a flashback. Et voila! This was the scene when the hero and heroine originally met…but the crux of the story would be about the reunion that takes place at Christmas time several years later.
I had one advantage in that the book was to be the fourth story in an ongoing series with Harlequin so I already had the setting and secondary characters that would take part in what would become Scott Walker’s and Carrie Jameson’s journey. I loved writing this book and readers and reviewers seem to love it as much as I do. Phew-wee!
Another tip I have for anyone wanting to write but have no idea where to start, take a newspaper and pick a random page. Choose an article and open your computer – write! Anything. Don’t edit the work. Don’t stop until you have at least 4,000 words. You will be surprised how much will start churning in your imagination! You have the start/middle/end of a possible story. Now you need to honor it and find out where it wants to go. Good luck!
One of the most common questions author are asked is “Where do you get your ideas from?” – well, the answer for me most of the time is, “TV, newspapers, past events in my own life or someone else’s.” As simple as that answer is, it rarely inspires readers or aspiring writers to sit down, find an idea and start to write.
Writing an 80,000 word + novel is HARD!!
Exploring that little nugget of an idea and making it funny, sexy and interesting enough to span over 300 pages doesn’t happen through divine intervention, but through hours of sweat, blood and tears. There is no way I can sugar coat it, I’m afraid. Haha!
The idea for my latest novel, CHRISTMAS AT THE COVE (Harlequin Superromance) came with the opening scene and the fact I wanted to write a reunion story. I was driving back from a concert when the image of my hero appeared like a photograph in my head. He was standing in the doorway of a bar, rain pouring down behind him and dressed in jeans and a soaking wet t-shirt. Yum!
As nice as the image was, I was contracted to write a Christmas book. Why wouldn’t he be wearing a jacket or coat in December? I thought on this for a while and then had the ‘aha moment’ that the scene was a flashback. Et voila! This was the scene when the hero and heroine originally met…but the crux of the story would be about the reunion that takes place at Christmas time several years later.
I had one advantage in that the book was to be the fourth story in an ongoing series with Harlequin so I already had the setting and secondary characters that would take part in what would become Scott Walker’s and Carrie Jameson’s journey. I loved writing this book and readers and reviewers seem to love it as much as I do. Phew-wee!
Another tip I have for anyone wanting to write but have no idea where to start, take a newspaper and pick a random page. Choose an article and open your computer – write! Anything. Don’t edit the work. Don’t stop until you have at least 4,000 words. You will be surprised how much will start churning in your imagination! You have the start/middle/end of a possible story. Now you need to honor it and find out where it wants to go. Good luck!
She glanced around the garage. “I’m sorry to turn up unannounced like this, but I’m here and we need to talk.”
He stared at her in disbelief as questions, demands and weaknesses hurtled around inside him, battling with the intense sexual frustration storming through his body. “Just like that, you turn up and say, ‘We need to talk’?” He shook his head and turned away from her, lest he get caught in the snare of her wide, impossibly gorgeous eyes. “Go away.”
“No.”
Keeping his back to her, he uncrossed his arms and planted his hands on his hips. He tipped his head back and smiled as insanity rushed his bloodstream. He wanted to grab her, shake her, kiss her and make love to her. God, he wanted to drop to his damn knees in front of her and beg her to tell him where she’d been and now she was back, was she back for good?
“Scott?”
He closed his eyes, barely resisting the urge to cover his ears with his hands and block out her tempting voice, achingly laced with the unmistakable sound of a plea. “Whether you want to see me or not, I have to talk to you, and I won’t leave the Cove until you hear me out.”
Her heels clicked closer and his body tensed, waiting for what came next. The dangerous, musky scent of her perfume wafted under his nostrils and he inhaled. She approached the bench beside him and put down a business card. “My number’s on there. I’m staying at the Christie. Call me when you’re ready to talk. It’s important or I wouldn’t have come.”
He glanced at the card. Carrie Jameson. Producer.
She turned and walked away. He let her go, feeling like a smashed up car after a hurricane, tossed and turned through the air before being spewed crudely across the highway, left to rust and burn.
He picked up the card. His hand shook and the rare sting of tears shamed him. What the hell was he supposed to do now? Carrie was back and his libido told him only too clearly there was no way in hell he wouldn’t go to her. How was he supposed to let her go a second time when he’d lived the last three years regretting he didn’t stop her the first time?
He stared at her in disbelief as questions, demands and weaknesses hurtled around inside him, battling with the intense sexual frustration storming through his body. “Just like that, you turn up and say, ‘We need to talk’?” He shook his head and turned away from her, lest he get caught in the snare of her wide, impossibly gorgeous eyes. “Go away.”
“No.”
Keeping his back to her, he uncrossed his arms and planted his hands on his hips. He tipped his head back and smiled as insanity rushed his bloodstream. He wanted to grab her, shake her, kiss her and make love to her. God, he wanted to drop to his damn knees in front of her and beg her to tell him where she’d been and now she was back, was she back for good?
“Scott?”
He closed his eyes, barely resisting the urge to cover his ears with his hands and block out her tempting voice, achingly laced with the unmistakable sound of a plea. “Whether you want to see me or not, I have to talk to you, and I won’t leave the Cove until you hear me out.”
Her heels clicked closer and his body tensed, waiting for what came next. The dangerous, musky scent of her perfume wafted under his nostrils and he inhaled. She approached the bench beside him and put down a business card. “My number’s on there. I’m staying at the Christie. Call me when you’re ready to talk. It’s important or I wouldn’t have come.”
He glanced at the card. Carrie Jameson. Producer.
She turned and walked away. He let her go, feeling like a smashed up car after a hurricane, tossed and turned through the air before being spewed crudely across the highway, left to rust and burn.
He picked up the card. His hand shook and the rare sting of tears shamed him. What the hell was he supposed to do now? Carrie was back and his libido told him only too clearly there was no way in hell he wouldn’t go to her. How was he supposed to let her go a second time when he’d lived the last three years regretting he didn’t stop her the first time?
http://goo.gl/GtzQfS
Rachel lives with her husband and two young daughters in a small town near Bath in the UK. After having several novels published by small US presses, she secured agent representation in 2011. In 2012, she sold two books to Harlequin Superromance and a further three in 2013. She also writes Victorian romance for Kensington--her debut was released in April 2013 and she has since signed for three more.Rachel is a member of the Romantic Novelists Association and Romance Writers of America. When she isn’t writing, you’ll find Rachel with her head in a book or walking the beautiful English countryside with her family and beloved black Lab, Max. Her dream place to live is Bourton-on-the-Water in South West England.
She likes nothing more than connecting and chatting with her readers and fellow romance writers. Rachel would love to hear from you!
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ReplyDeleteI like the excerpt, thank you.
ReplyDeleteGoing on my TBR list. Thanks for sharing, loved the excerpt!
ReplyDeleteThe excerpt indicates to me a *hot* one! :-)
ReplyDeleteI'm here! So sorry to not drop by before now - my planned day torpedoed into the unplanned :) thanks for hosting! I am so glad you all enjoyed the excerpt :)
ReplyDeleteRachel x
thanks for the excerpt
ReplyDeleteinteresting blurb
ReplyDeleteGood morning, everyone! I am thrilled how well this book is being received - glad you are enjoying the snippet!
ReplyDeleteThe fun facts give an interesting insight
ReplyDeleteHi, Sarah! Glad you enjoyed my fun facts. Thanks for stopping by!
ReplyDeleteYou have a great overall page and I enjoy all the excerpts. Thank you for all the contest you have
ReplyDeleteTHANK YOU!!! And thank you for your continued participation on Romance Novel Giveaways!
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