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Posts tagged with: Annie West
Annie West in the SpotlightPosted by Anna Campbell Mar 4 2013, 12:02 am in Anna Campbell, Annie West, Australian Author, Bandita Booty, Blackmailed Bride Innocent Wife, Captive in the Spotlight, Category Romance, Harlequin Presents, Imprisoned by a Vow
Today Annie’s going to talk to us about her spectacular new Harlequin Presents CAPTIVE IN THE SPOTLIGHT that is being released concurrently this month in North America, Australia and the United Kingdom. So pretty much all our Bandita Buddies can rush out and buy this passionate story of enemies into lovers with a touch of forbidden love thrown in as well. Yum! I’m not the only person to love CAPTIVE IN THE SPOTLIGHT. RT Book Reviews said, “Readers will enjoy West’s passionate star-crossed romance, set in picturesque Italian splendor, with a couple facing almost insurmountable obstacles – except in the bedroom.” Here’s the blurb:  Out of the limelight… Domenico Volpe has been a paparazzi target for years with his rugged Roman looks, glamorous lifestyle and, most recently, a family tragedy. Now that the woman at the center of it all is released from prison, he’ll do whatever it takes to keep her quiet.
And into the fire!
Domenico ensures that Lucy Knight “accepts” his offer of refuge on his well-guarded offshore estate. While the media furor abates on the mainland, things are heating up on the island! Domenico is beginning to doubt Lucy’s guilt as he uncovers the innocent, sensual woman behind the tough facade….
You can find out more about Annie and her books at her website: www.annie-west.com By the way, don’t be misled by the photos. Annie and I don’t spend ALL our lives sitting in restaurants, whatever the pictorial evidence indicates!
Hi, Anna, and thanks so much for the invitation. It’s always a treat to be here in the realm of the Bandit girls and their minions. I have a secret fear that one day the Banditas won’t have me back to visit and I’d miss the drinks (make mine bubbly), the company and the chat. CAPTIVE is about two people who shouldn’t fall in love. Their pasts should prevent it, his family loyalties scream out against having anything to do with her, and the world’s press is waiting, salivating for the opportunity to make scandal out of the pair of them. Domenico is the sort of alpha hero I’ve got a huge weakness for: he’s sexy and strong and he gets things done his way but he’s driven by a sense of honor and the need to protect. Right now he aims to protect his brother’s widow and young son from the renewed media hype when the woman who killed his brother is released from prison. He’s determined to keep her from the press till he can persuade her to sign an agreement accepting payment (though he hates to do it) for her permanent silence about her affair with his brother.
This is my ‘out of the frying pan, into the fire’ book, when for various reasons Lucy and Domenico hide away on his private island off the Amalfi Coast of Italy and things begin to steam… What were the inspirations behind this story? Inspiration came from my lovely editor. We were chatting about ideas for my next book and she suggested a story about a public scandal, something attracting media attention. Her idea resonated and I found my self thinking through and ejecting a lot of potential scandals. They’d have made a juicy story but for some reason didn’t seem quite right. As soon as I thought of a high profile (and deliciously charismatic) Italian aristocrat falling for the woman who’d been in prison for killing his brother, I knew I had to write it. Imagine the divided loyalties and conflicting emotions for both of them. Imagine the media frenzy. As anyone who’s read my books knows, I love making things difficult for my characters. I wasn’t sure how I’d rescue them from the tricky situation I’d put them in, but I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to try.
BLACKMAILED BRIDE was a bestseller when it was first released several years ago. This is a chance for people who missed it then to get it free with CAPTIVE. It features another dark, sexy Italian hero and a marriage of inconvenience. Yes, I know it’s supposed to be ‘convenience’ but in this wedding is the last thing either Dario and Alissa want. One of my favorite reviews called it ‘a luscious read that should not be missed’ (CataRomance).
August brings IMPRISONED BY A VOW, a marriage of convenience story with a twist and a half. Leila marries Joss to escape an untenable situation but finds both marriage, and walking away from her convenient husband, far more difficult than she’d expected, and not just for the reasons most romance readers will suspect. Hm, I’m wondering if I detect a theme here – a CAPTIVE followed by IMPRISONMENT. No, don’t tell me what you think that says about the way my mind works, Anna. Perhaps that I’ve been hanging around with you? Hey, don’t blame me! I think you’re doing fine on your own! What other exciting things have been happening in Annie West world?
This current edition contains two Italian-set books. Do you have a special fascination for Italy? There are just some stories that cry out for an Italian hero, especially ones involving questions of family loyalty and honor or maybe revenge. Sometimes too, I just lock in on the idea of a volatile, flashing-eyed Italian hero – and who am I to ignore temptation? Plus of course the settings in Italy can be fabulous. This book is set in Rome and on island off the Amalfi Coast. Every time I worked on the book I could feel myself soaking up that lovely Mediterranean warmth.
Get commenting people! Annie has very kindly offered us TWO giveaways today. One lucky person will win a signed copy of the marvelous CAPTIVE IN THE SPOTLIGHT with its bonus book BLACKMAILED BRIDE, INNOCENT WIFE. Another lucky person will win a signed copy of their choice from Annie’s backlist (excluding CAPTIVE IN THE SPOTLIGHT). You can check out her other books here: http://www.annie-west.com/books.html Annie West’s Winners!Posted by Anna Campbell Jun 8 2012, 11:02 pm in Anna Campbell, Annie West, Bandita Booty, Protected by the Prince, RT Reviewers Choice Awards, Undone by His Touch
Annie very generously offered up two prizes to commenters. Our winners are: KATHLEEN O. (UNDONE BY HIS TOUCH)
BANDITA SUZ (PROTECTED BY THE PRINCE) Congratulations, girls, and happy reading. Please email Annie on annie @ annie-west.com (no spaces) with your snail mail details and she’ll get your books out to you. Annie West Is Undone!Posted by Anna Campbell Jun 7 2012, 12:02 am in Anna Campbell, Annie West, Australian Authors, Bandita Booty, Beauty and the Beast, Blue Mountains, Category Romance, Defying her Desert Duty, Guests, Harlequin Presents Extra, Protected by the Prince, RT Reviewers Choice Award, Sydney, travel, Undone by His Touch, Write Touch Readers' Awards, writing life
I’m delighted to welcome back lair favorite and fabulous writer Annie West who is here to tell us about her latest North American release UNDONE BY HIS TOUCH. UNDONE BY HIS TOUCH recently received a glowing review from RT Book Reviews magazine where they called it “an emotionally compelling read.” Annie’s books are receiving accolades all over the place. At the recent RT Reviewers Choice Awards, her wonderful PROTECTED BY THE PRINCE was chosen as best Harlequin Presents Extra of 2011 and RAFE’S REDEMPTION recently placed in the Wisconsin Romance Writers of America Write Touch Readers Awards. Congratulations, Annie! I’m not surprised. Your books are fantastic.
You can also find her on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/annie.west.9619 To buy a print copy of UNDONE BY HIS TOUCH, just click on the cover below. Kindle edition: http://www.amazon.com/Undone-Touch-Harlequin-Presents-ebook/dp/B007BBVEJC/ref=sr_1_5?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1338847220&sr=1-5 Book Depository: http://www.bookdepository.co.uk/Undone-by-His-Touch-Annie-West/9780373528691 Welcome back, Annie. Congratulations on the North American release of UNDONE BY HIS TOUCH, your latest Harlequin Presents Extra. Can you tell us about this story?
UNDONE is about a scarred, reclusive hero whose main interest is in finding the woman he blames for his brother’s death. Declan is determined to wallow in regret and guilt until Chloe, his new housekeeper, drags him, protesting, to the realisation he’s not ready yet to give up on the world. In fact she makes him feel emotions he’d never expected to experience. She brings him hope. But Chloe’s no plaster saint. She’s got problems of her own and dealing with an anti-social boss is one of them. Until she sees beneath the surface to the man of integrity and honour who’s struggling to find a foothold in a world that’s changed around him. Of course I had to make it interesting by ensuring each was the worst possible person for the other to fall in love with! That’s where the fun began – and the intensity and passion. I had a ball writing this dark hero who eventually finds the light. I’ve been having fun lately, thinking of who I’d cast in the role of sexy but prickly recluse and I’m torn between Clive Owen and Hugh Jackman. I think either would be perfect as Declan.
Cast into a world of black, Declan Carstairs is a man in torment. Consumed by guilt, he sees no way out of the darkness his world has become. Only one thing drives him – finding the woman who caused his brother’s death, and the accident that took his sight. Housekeeper Chloe Daniels refuses to pity her devastatingly gorgeous boss, but treating him as the strong, capable man he is soon proves dangerous. As Chloe falls deeper under Declan’s spell, awakened by his touch, she forgets all about the secret she keeps that may destroy them both… I loved this book. I think it’s one of your best. What inspired you to write this story? Maybe it’s your influence rubbing off on me, Anna – the fact that when I read your books I’m so often reading a Beauty and the Beast style story. Who knows? But I can tell you I had two ideas in my head for a long time. One was of a dark haired man with intense eyes and a bad attitude, who’d turned into a recluse after his brother’s death in a climbing accident. The other was of a love triangle between the brothers and a woman. The woman was rather shadowy but fortunately she came to life when I started to write. It just took me a couple of years to pull the various ideas together.
By the way, thank you for sharing these beautiful photos. You need to add photography to your list of talents! Can you tell us about your next release? I’d love to. Next cab off the rank is called DEFYING HER DESERT DUTY. It’s out in the U.K. in October but I’m waiting for news on the North American release. The title is a little misleading. Yes, the hero is from the Middle East, but most of the book is set in western Europe – principally France. And boy, did I have a wonderful time with that setting! It’s a story that owes a lot to the Tristan and Iseult legend. The hero is sent to Paris to bring back the woman who’s been betrothed to the king, ready for a royal wedding. What he doesn’t expect is to fall for the king’s fiancée or to discover she’s falling for him too. Now that spells trouble! Add to that the fact that my hero is absolutely loyal (the king is like a father to him) and my heroine has strong reasons of her own for needing to go through with the royal wedding and the scene is set for drama and high emotion.
I’ve just handed a book in to my editor. Superstitiously perhaps, I don’t want to say too much about it until I’ve had some editorial feedback, but I can tell you it’s a story with quite a twist. It features a very suave and self-assured Italian hero and a heroine who’s just starting her life again after the most horrendous ordeal. Lucy refuses to let anyone, especially a bossy businessman, dictate to her. Lots and lots of sparks in this one, but I hope, plenty of tenderness too. We’ve had you as a guest so often on the Banditas and I don’t think I’ve ever asked you what you do when you aren’t writing. What sort of things do you like to do to refill the well? I’m wary about admitting that I do anything other than write, since I don’t want that to get back to my editor. I’m trying to persuade her I’m glued to the computer, slaving over a hot story! Actually I am, most of the time. But as you say, it’s important to fill the well occasionally. I count my visits to you, Anna, as one of my well-filling activities. Good company, good food, good wine and far too much chat, make for a wonderful time. They always leave me energised to tackle almost anything. Actually that picture of us together is from a lunch out near when I live when you were up. Always lovely to see you. What else do you like to do?
Reading! Actually, I think you could put this down for my top 5 pastimes. Walking, preferably in the bush (wilderness if you’re not in Australia) or by water. Visiting new places (I’m dreaming about another Europe trip). If I can’t travel, then hearing about someone else’s trip or poring over maps and pictures of far away places is fantastic. Cooking – not the just home and must get dinner organised cooking – that’s no treat. I mean cooking when you’re actually in the mood for pottering and trying something new, or tackling an old favorite. I love it when people ooh and ah over home made baklava for instance, and even better, when the family gets involved in the cooking with me.
Movies. Love them, particularly (yes, I know I’m predictable) if they leave me feeling good. Theatre fits in here too – a real treat. Long bubble baths with a good book, especially if someone else is cooking dinner while I relax and soak in the tub. Ooh, lots there to inspire new stories which is what we dedicated fans like to hear. Annie, is there anything you’d like to ask the Banditas and Bandita Buddies? Since we’re talking about refilling the well, can you share your favorite activities that leave you relaxed and rejuvenated ready to tackle the daily grind? Is there one perfect experience that still makes you smile and feel better every time you think of it? Right now, my favorite perk me up experience is remembering a marvellous high tea at Claridges Hotel in London. So refined, so luxurious and so yum!
Annie West’s Winners!Posted by Anna Campbell Mar 3 2012, 11:00 pm in Annie West, Bandita Booty, Girl in the Bedouin Tent
Annie very generously offered us two prizes. The winner of the signed copy of GIRL IN THE BEDOUIN TENT is: EFTHALIA! And the winner of their choice from Annie backlist (go to www.annie-west.com/books.html - offer doesn’t include anthologies – to choose which book you’d like) is: ARETHA ZHEN! Congratulations, girls. Please email Annie on annie @ annie-west.com (no spaces) with your snail mail details and Annie will give your book off to you ASAP! Happy reading!
Blowing in like a Lion! March Coming Attractions….Posted by Jeanne Adams Mar 1 2012, 12:23 am in Addison Fox, Anna Campbell, Annie West, coming attractions, Diane Kelly, Jana Oliver, JD Tyler, Jo Robertson, Joan Swan, Jules Bennett, Kate Carlisle, Robin Perini, Teresa Morgan, Trish Milburn
Is it blowing in like a Lion where you are, or as mild as the proverbial Lamb? Aas usual, we’ve got a great lineup for March and a lot of exciting things going on. There’s also the Ides of March and the ever popular, green-beer-drinking joy of St. Patrick’s Day! WOOHOO! We’ll all be lifting glasses of Guiness in March (or other beverages of choice…Irish Coffee, perhaps?) to celebrate book releases and MAJOR MILESTONES! Lesseeee, where do I start? Bandita Trish has a fabulous new book coming out with Harlequin American. Her March release is COWBOY TO THE RESCUE, second in her Teagues of Texas trilogy. Bandita Jo’s wonderful FRAIL BLOOD will hit the market later this month as well. It’s another brilliant read from Bandita Jo! (And I’m dying to get it b/c I only got to read a little bit….) Our own Bandita Kate has a great new book out, ONE BOOK IN THE GRAVE, and yes, I know we talked about it last month, but did you know it hit the WOOT!!! Party Hats and Shamrock stew for EVERYONE!!! Let’s see…ahem…okay, back to our regularly scheduled Coming Attractions pot…. So, what’s up in MARVELOUS MARCH? Look out tomorrow, March 2, becauase our own Anna Campbell is coming on with the fabulous Annie West! (www.Annie-west.com) It’ll be a rocking day in the Bandit Lair with those two! Annie’s popping in to tell us about her latest American release, teh fabulous GIRL IN THE BEDOUIN TENT. Get out your Lawrence of Arabia gear for this wonderful sheikh romance, gals! I don’t know about you, but I’m always up for (har, har!) a great read from Annie West! And when you get Anna and Annie together, in the same blog space….WATCH OUT!! Now you KNOW you want to be here for that! I’m betting that something goes BOOM! in this book, so I’m going to be front and center on Saturday to chat with Diane! Now, as much fun as that’s going to be, brace yourselves for the wild and wonderful trio of authors coming on March 5! JD Tyler and Addision Fox visit with Bandita Suz to talk about their forthcoming e-novellas BLACK MAGIC and WAVE OF MEMORIES. A lot of you have your e-readers poised and ready to go for this one, I know. With all the wonderful success of Suz’s book, and the
On March 8, join Bandita Nancy for a Reader-Writer-Roundtable! Nancy hosts Maureen Hardgree, Eilis Flynn, Gerri Russell, Louisa Cornell, and Barbara Monajem for a discussion of who’s reading (and writing) what this month. I know you’ll want to join in THAT as all the Banditas, and Bandita Buddies are constantly updating their To Be Read piles!
Oh my, THAT should get some interesting posts going, don’t you think? Hmmmmm? Grins. Be sure to stop in. Sven and the gang are making hummus, importing a wide variety of olives, dates and other “desert-y” foods. (But don’t worry, if you don’t like hummus, he’ll have his usual array of other delicious delicacies!) And Bandita Donna brings Jules Bennett to the lair on the 16th for an inaugural visit! Woot! We love meeting new authors in the Lair!! Jules new book IN THE SPOTLIGHT will be out this month from Harlequin Desire.
And last but not least, join Bandita Nancy again on the 21st as she welcomes Jana Oliver to the Lair. Jana Oliver will return to the Lair with her demon-trapping heroine, 17-year-old Riley Blackthorne. Jana and Nancy will talk about Riley’s latest adventure, FORGIVEN.
In March and April, Bandita Anna Campbell is running a Catch Up on the Campbells Contest. Anna’s giving FIVE lucky people the chance to win a book of their choice from her backlist. That’s CLAIMING THE COURTESAN, UNTOUCHED, TEMPT THE DEVIL, CAPTIVE OF SIN, MY RECKLESS SURRENDER or the Australian Romance Readers Association’s favorite historical romance of 2011, MIDNIGHT’S WILD PASSION. Just email Anna on anna@annacampbell.info and tell her which book you’d like and you go into the draw. The contest closes 30th April, 2012, and entry is open internationally. For more information, please check out Anna’s contest page: http://annacampbell.info/contest.html Savakis Booty!Posted by Anna Campbell Nov 23 2011, 10:07 pm in Anna Campbell, Annie West, Bandita Booty, Girl in the Bedouin Tent, Harlequin Presents, The Savakis Merger
From Annie West: Yay! At last I’m back and with names of winners from the draw. Thank you everyone who took the time to stop and chat and even share their fantasies. Particularly those clever people who put their thoughts in verse. I’m so impressed. Drumroll please….. Okay, CONGRATULATIONS to LINDA and MARY PRESTON who has won GIRL IN THE BEDOUIN TENT Please email me on annie@annie-west.com with your postal addresses and I’ll get the books in the mail to you! Savakis is Sensational!Posted by Anna Campbell Nov 21 2011, 12:02 am in Anna Campbell, Annie West, Bandita Booty, The Savakis Merger
I’m delighted to welcome back lair favorite Annie West who has a wonderful new story to tell us about and some news of recent travels to share. I loved THE SAVAKIS MERGER and you will too. It’s got all Annie’s trademark passion and emotion and drama – and one VERRRRRRRY sexy scene in particular that readers are going to adore. I’m not alone in my enthusiasm for this book. The reviews have been great, including a rave from Romantic Times who called this book “a warm, passionate tale of revenge, betrayal and the healing power of love.” Here’s the blurb for THE SAVAKIS MERGER: From society queen… Only hours ago she was a tempting stranger. Now Damon Savakis knows who she really is – Callie Manolis, society ice-queen and duplicitous niece of his arch enemy… …to his unwilling mistress! Yet when Callie’s avaricious uncle loses the Manolis money, she is at Damon’s mercy and is forced to become the Savakis mistress. But Damon is unprepared for her bravery, poise and purity in a world full of greed. She’s paid her dues as his mistress… he’ll take her as his willing wife for free! You can read an excerpt and see pictures of some of the places that inspired this story here: http://www.annie-west.com/savakis.html And don’t forget you can find out more about Annie and her books on her website. Welcome back, Annie. I’m so excited to have you in the lair to talk about your wonderful THE SAVAKIS MERGER which is out this month from Harlequin. Can you tell us about this story? Well, you may have heard of it under the title ‘The Savakis Mistress’ (its UK and Australian title). It finaled in both the Australian Romance Readers Awards and in the Colorado Romance Writers’ Award of Excellence Contest and I’m so chuffed it’s finally on sale in North America. It’s intense and sexy and very emotional. Callie and Damon are two of the most vivid characters ever to inhabit my head and I sometimes felt I wasn’t creating their story as much as taking notes about one that I was privileged to eavesdrop on. After being railroaded while young into an arranged marriage and suffering nightmarish years tied to a controlling older man, Callie is free at last. Now she’s just had her first taste of passion – with a stranger. To her horror she finds the sexy guy who’s just swept her off her feet has arrived in her home not to claim her, but to take her shy, unwilling young cousin in a business deal marriage like the one Callie’s just escaped. She’d thought she’d learned all there was to know about manipulative, cold-hearted men, but now she revises her opinions. She’s determined to thwart his plans any way she can.
This story plumbs Callie and Damon’s deepest held emotions and their weak points. But they also get an unparalleled opportunity to discover what makes the other tick. And they’re surprised to discover there’s a lot to like. What inspired you to write this story? I’d once written a story about an extravagantly wealthy and in control Greek businessman who is busy celebrating his engagement to a gorgeous woman when a stranger gatecrashes the exclusive party. The stranger turned out to be the wife he’d thought dead for several years. You can imagine what fun I had with that little scenario…Anyway, as I was writing it I discovered I was fascinated by the fiancée who got jilted when he wife appeared. Not that the fiancée was in love with the hero, but I began to question why she’d agreed to a loveless marriage in the first place. I wondered about her past and more, her future and wanted to write her story. However, the story didn’t come together until I realised that Callie (the woman I’d been imagining) had a different backstory completely. Instead of being jilted out of a loveless marriage, she’d been forced into one and now bears the scars. I pictured her as stronger for it, but damaged too. She’s learned to hide her feelings and project an image of elegant disdain that’s far from the truth. Seeing history about to repeat itself with her docile young cousin, she’s determined to step in and save her. The other inspiration for the story came from Greece. You know those gorgeous photos of emerald green water and white secluded beaches rimmed by pine forests? I saw Callie and Damon there in my first scene and from there the story just ran away with me.
As you know, I adored GIRL IN THE BEDOUIN TENT, your next U.S. release (currently available in the U.K. and Australia). Can you tell the Bandita buddies about this story? I let myself go with this book. You know when you have those flights of fancy and then crash back to reality and realise you can’t write that? Well I decided to write it anyway. It was such fun. Cassie is travelling through Tarakhar when the bus she’s on is surrounded by bandits from across the border. Twenty four hours later she finds herself in a desert encampment, being given to a visiting sheikh. Bad gets worse when her captors chain her to his bed. Amir is visiting the renegade encampment on serious business – to put an end to the dangerous incursions into his territory. The last thing he needs while trying to negotiate a settlement is to be distracted by a sexy love slave in a skimpy dancing girl outfit. Nor does he expect her to attack him the moment they’re alone. For various reasons they’re stuck with each other for a week, till they can return to Tarakhar. Cassie finds a week sharing a bed with a strong, sexy hero difficult. As for Amir – well, I admired his fortitude. Both are slow to trust, especially Cassie who’s seen what being a kept woman did to her mother. Being cast as a sex toy, even for show, forces her to face her darkest past. Meanwhile Amir has his own reasons for not wanting love or anything approximating it. But, since neither can get away they have to face both their fears and the storm of desire that batters them. It’s a story about passion, trust, betrayal and love. It’s out in North America in March.
Well, I’ve just finished my first ever Beauty and the Beast story (you know all about those, Anna) and I’m in the very, very early stages of a story about a couple who have the odds stacked against them. She’s promised to another man and the hero is (you guessed it) that man’s best friend. They’re driven together by circumstance and kept apart by duty. I’m guessing it will be a story packed with tension, anticipation and strong emotions. And that’s just for the author! If I can manage to get all that onto the page I’ll be very happy. I’ve been lucky enough to read this. An amazing story. You’ve recently been on a fantastic European trip. Please tell us about that and perhaps share some highlights. Anna, it was truly terrific. I’d love to go travelling every year. Wouldn’t that be glorious? I was away through September and part of October, first in England, where I met my lovely editor over lunch, and then some wonderful British and Irish Mills and Boon authors over lunch, bubbly, dinner, bubbly and breakfast. Though it was a quick trip we also got to see other friends which was brilliant. In addition we visited Hadrian’s Wall, the remains of a Mithraeum (I’m an ancient history geek and this was right up my alley), ruined castles, Buckingham Palace, the marvellous Claridges Hotel for high tea, and various other sights. We stayed in an oast house and went to dinner at a pub called The Rat. Where but in England? France was fabulous too. We stayed in Paris’s smallest apartment just a hop, skip and a jump away from Notre Dame. We walked till our feet were ready to drop off and then we hired a car to investigate places like the Loire and the Perigord. We ate too much wonderful food, spent sunny days visiting quaint villages, elegant chateaux and farms where walnuts where being harvested. We (temporarily) lost our luggage to the bowels of Air France and spent a lovely end-of-trip week in Berlin with family and enjoying pure luxury of the sort to which I’d love to become accustomed. Did I mention I was introduced to the best chocolate croissants ever (in Berlin not France)? Adjusting to life at home has been challenging. The good news is it was all marvellous inspiration. Annie, do you have anything to ask the Bandits and Bandit Buddies? Since my heroine in ‘Savakis’ finds herself with an invitation to share a stranger’s bed (or else) and my heroine in ‘Bedouin Tent’ is actually chained to a man’s bed – how about sharing with us your thoughts on whose bed you’d like to find yourself attached to and why? Real or fictional is fine by me. I’ll give away signed copies of THE SAVAKIS MERGER to two people drawn at random from those who comment. If anyone stuns me with their ingenuity (like a rhymed or haiku or otherwise brilliant answer) I’ll offer one of my Aus copies of GIRL IN THE BEDOUIN TENT.
Annie’s Winners!Posted by Anna Campbell Jul 23 2011, 3:00 am in Anna Campbell, Annie West, Bandita Booty, Prince of Scandal, Rafe's Redemption
Annie very generously offered commenters two prizes and without more ado, the winners are: ANTONIA (PRINCE OF SCANDAL) GANNON (RAFE’S REDEMPTION) Congratulations, girls! Please email Annie on annie @ annie-west.com (no spaces) with your snail mail details and she’ll get your books off to you. Happy reading! The Best of the WestPosted by Anna Campbell Jul 21 2011, 4:02 am in Anna Campbell, Annie West, Bandita Booty, great guests, Harlequin Presents, Marriage of Convenience, Prince of Scandal, Rafe's Redemption
Annie West is one of our lair favorites and I’m delighted to have her back again to talk about not just one, but TWO new releases. Oh, lucky Romancelandia! PRINCE OF SCANDAL is a luscious royal romance with touches of Pygmalion – you’ll love these two characters right from their first meeting which is an absolute doozy. RAFE’S REDEMPTION was originally published in the U.K. as THE BILLIONAIRE’S BOUGHT MISTRESS. It’s one of Annie’s sexiest and most compelling love stories, full of drama and emotion. You can find out more about Annie and her wonderful books on her website: www.annie-west.com And don’t forget if you click on the covers, it takes you right to Amazon. We make it so easy for our Bandita Buddies! Annie has very generously offered two prizes today so two lucky commenters will win either RAFE’S REDEMPTION or PRINCE OF SCANDAL. Good luck! So without more ado, here’s ANNIE!!!! You’ve been really busy lately with not one, but TWO U.S. releases in the last few weeks. Let’s start with your wonderful PRINCE OF SCANDAL featuring the gorgeous and very tortured Prince Raul (that’s RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRROWL to any red-blooded woman). Can you tell us about this story? Hi Anna, it’s fantastic to be here with the Banditas again. Thanks for slipping me into the packed schedule! Waving here to all the Banditas and guests. I feel I’ve been missing in action for a while due to a recent tough schedule and severely limited time online (advice to all other computer users – NEVER neglect a back problem – it won’t magically fix itself, as I’m learning to my cost). Ooh Anna, I’m so pleased you like Raul (I can hear that RRRRROWL from here!). But of course, as he’s tortured he’s right up your alley. I know you have a fondness for wounded heroes. I suspected you’d like him even while he gave me a difficult time as I wrote. What is it with princes wanting things to go their own way?
There’s a touch of Cinderella to the story but Luisa isn’t a woman to be ‘made over’ and quietly defer to other people’s expectations of how she should look and behave. That was part of the fun of this story – watching Luisa do things her way, not taking the tried and true route expected of her. She takes the wind out of Raul’s sails more than once, which is fair since he plays havoc with her expectations of a buttoned up royal. She’s never sure what to expect next. There’s a fair bit of sizzle in this story and reader feedback so far has been very nice indeed.
Oh, I’m so very pleased Rafe and Antonia are finally crossing the Atlantic to visit North America. This book was written in response to a request from my editor for a three story anthology to showcase new authors. It was one of my favorites to write – it kept me on the edge of me seat all the way through – I think that’s a good thing. Speaking of sizzle, this one has it in spades. It’s available now from the eHarlequin site but don’t look for it in other bookstores as it’s a limited release. Rafe Benton is planning revenge against the man he’s grown up hating – his estranged father. He will do whatever it takes to succeed, including using a stranger as a pawn in his plans. He sees Antonia as his father’s latest favorite and decides to steal her from under his nose, flaunting her as his mistress while he brings down his father’s business empire. Antonia is between a rock and a hard place, not because of what she’s done, but because of her beloved, recently dead father. Why else would she even consider accepting a position as a rich man’s mistress? It’s a story about redemption and the power of love.
Congratulations on the wonderful reviews. It has to be asked – what is it with you and heroes whose names start with ‘R’? Was your first boyfriend a Rasputin or a Rattlepate? If only my first boyfriend had been anything like so interesting! No, I wasn’t going through an R phase. The books were written a couple of years apart so it’s coincidence. But I do like R, I have to say. Just think about Rupert Carsington or RRRRichard Armitage.
I’m putting the finishing touches (fingers crossed) to what I hope will be my first Beauty and the Beast story. In the meantime, my next release is for those who enjoy a sultry hot sheikh romance. GIRL IN THE BEDOUIN TENT begins with my heroine being given as an unwilling sex slave to a visiting prince. Again, Anna will confirm I couldn’t wait to get started on that one – it was a treat to write. GIRL IN THE BEDOUIN TENT is up for pre-order at the Book Depository at a bargain price – check out this link: http://www.bookdepository.com/Girl-Bedouin-Tent-Annie-West/9780263886900 I don’t know when the North American release will be but I’ve seen the UK edition (it’s out in September) and the cover is my fave so far. Here’s a link if you want to check it out. My next American release is THE SAVAKIS MERGER in November – about a clash between two very passionate Greek lovers. The opening scene from this story is one my writing group will never let me forget (in a good way!). Ooh, I remember that steamy opening scene! A little bird (well, you, actually!) tells me you’re about to embark on another wonderful European trip. Given the last one inspired your beautiful fairytale romances PROTECTED BY THE PRINCE and PRINCE OF SCANDAL, we avidly await the fruits of the inspiration you’ll find from your journeyings. Can you tell us about your travel plans?
Thanks so much, Anna. I’m looking forward to chatting with everyone. I’m giving away two books so maybe I should combine two questions to give people a chance to win. Since I’ve been spending so much time lately thinking about fantastic heroes, and just a little time looking forward to my next vacation, how about telling me your perfect match – who you’d feature as the hero of your perfect romance and where they’d be. Since the letter R was mentioned I’ll venture an example – Anna’s personal fave, RRRichard Armitage in a castle in Romania, surrounded of course by dark woods that harbour wolves and at least one daredevil heroine. Of course it would have to be a gothic romance. How about you? What combination of hero and location match. Of course you can throw in the heroine too if you like. Getting to the Bottom of Things!Posted by Anna Campbell May 10 2010, 4:01 am in Anna Campbell, Annie West, ARCs, Bandita Booty, Christine Wells, historicals, My Reckless Surrender
I went looking for a line of nice male rear ends to illustrate this post – and do you know what? I couldn’t find one! Plenty of girls but no guys! Clearly we need to man (or woman!) the barricades of sexual equality, girls! Anyway, I thought the elephants illustrated my point well enough although nowhere near as prettily! Actually this isn’t anything about nicely shaped rear ends! It’s about taking your story to its most basic elements so when people ask you about it, you can answer them without stuttering or spending an hour recounting the whole plot. I’ve tried that – the glazed eyes have to be seen to be believed! By the way, stop press, thanks to Avon, I’ve got another ARC to give away today! Yes, comment on this post and you can win an advance reader copy of MY RECKLESS SURRENDER! Get commenting, people! Just recently a friend of mine emailed me in a panic because she needed an article for a newsletter and for various reasons that were nobody’s fault, the person she’d lined up couldn’t do it. Could I help? I was having the day from the proverbial but because she’s a friend, I put something quick together about MY RECKLESS SURRENDER. And I realized that sometimes it helps not to over-think stuff! One of the wonderful things about promoting CAPTIVE OF SIN, my last book, was that just before it came out, I worked out that it was a classic marriage of convenience story in Regency noir guise. Nice little soundbite to deliver when people asked – and intriguing enough to get readers interested in the story which is just what you want.
Anyway, writing this piece for my friend while juggling various tradesmen (none of whom looked like the guy in the photo, sadly!), I sat down to do a quick description of MY RECKLESS SURRENDER and I automatically described it as a ‘ticking bomb romance’. Diana Carrick makes a deal with the devil which will give her everything she’s ever wanted. To make her dreams come true, she agrees to commit what she believes is a victimless crime and seduce the notorious rake Tarquin Vale, the Earl of Ashcroft. But of course, there’s no such thing as a victimless crime… Tarquin and Diana find themselves caught in a liaison that is nothing like either expected and which plumbs dangerously profound emotional depths. With every moment, Diana is trapped more inescapably between her deception and her growing love for this man who is nothing like the careless, heartless rake she expected. Her secrets threaten to destroy both of them, but she’s gone too far now to retreat.
I’ve seen my first review for MY RECKLESS SURRENDER and it’s a beauty. Romantic Times Book Reviews chose the book as a June Top Pick and called the story ‘enthralling’, ‘complex’ and ‘passionate’ and finished the review by saying “Quite a book!” Clearly they like ticking bomb romance plots too! So thinking back over one of the books you’ve read recently, how would you describe the story at its most basic level? For example, Annie West‘s wonderful FORGOTTEN MISTRESS, SECRET LOVE-CHILD (which recently hit the USA Today list – huzzah!) is an amnesia/secret baby story with a dash of Cinderella thrown in. CLAIMING THE COURTESAN is Beauty and the Beast. Christine‘s debut SCANDAL’S DAUGHTER is friends into lovers. So how would you describe your recent reading?
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It’s always a treat to welcome my fabulously talented critique partner 
American readers who pick up CAPTIVE IN THE SPOTLIGHT will get a great bonus with the volume including your marvelous 
What’s coming up next for you?
Thanks for a wonderful day of blogging when 
by Anna Campbell
I’ve had a sneak peek at this book and it’s a classic Annie West. Romantic, dramatic, emotional, a real page turner. Readers will love it! Can you give us a sneak peek at what you’re currently working on?
Thank you to everyone for a splendiferous day of blogging yesterday when Annie West visited. And thank you to Annie for being such a great guest. And North American readers, don’t forget to check out Annie’s latest GIRL IN THE BEDOUIN TENT. You won’t be sorry!
Contest, contest, contest! Check it out!
By Anna Campbell
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