Quick Five - Book Fun!

by Anna Sugden

G'day! Yes, as you read this, I'm Down Under! I'll have been having a faboo time with fellow Banditas, Anna and Christina, and a number of our favourite Lair authors and BB's. I promise to share all the details and pics when I return!

I'm writing this before I go, as I don't know what my internet access will be like where I am, plus I'll be travelling a lot.

So, knowing how much you enjoy Quick Five posts, I thought I'd do a Book Fun post today.

Share with us:

1. The last book you read that wasn't a romance and did you enjoy it?

2. The book you're currently reading.

3. What are the opening line and final line of the book you're reading?

4. Turn to page 51 and tell us what the sentence in the middle of the page is.

5. Turn to page 105 and tell us what the fifth sentence from the top is.

Here are my answers:

1. Thomas Perry's The Butcher Boy. I love Thomas Perry's books - especially his Jane Whitefield series - he writes great thrillers. This was his debut novel about a mafia hit man and the female agent from the Justice Department who is hunting him. It was really clever, especially the way he made the reader empathise with a cold-blooded killer. Can't wait to read the sequels Sleeping Dogs and Informant.

2. My dear friend and Lair Favourite, Julie Cohen's latest book, Getting Away With It.

Funny coincidence about this book - Julie did her ice cream research with a company in Dorset called Purbeck Ice Cream. My husband's nephew has a charcuterie business called The Dorset Charcuterie Company at the Purbeck Larder. What's even more fun is that in this photograph of the ice cream developed in honour of Julie's book, you'll see that the ice cream is wrapped in meat from ... you've guessed it, The Dorset Charcuterie Company at the Purbeck Larder! Check out Julie's blog for the background to horseradish and beetroot ice cream!

3. The opening line is ... I sat on the cliff edge with my legs dangling over the drop, in a gold lame dress barely long enough to cover my arse.

The final lines are ... okay, I cheated a little *g* ... And this kiss, definitely, was the best one of my life. Except for the next one. And the next.

4. "You'd have fun if you let yourself."

5. The carpet here was some sort of natural fibre, jute or whatever, woven into a tight herringbone.

Over to you. Share your Quick Five!Source URL: http://gbejadacosta.blogspot.com/search/label/Anna%20Sugden
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All's Fair with Beverley Kendall!

by Anna Sugden

I'm delighted to welcome back a Lair favourite and a great supporter of the Banditas, Beverley Kendall!

Beverley has joined us today to tell us all about her fab new novella All's Fair in Love and Seduction.

So, without further ado, let's get right to the important stuff.

Lovely to see you here again, Beverley.

Thanks Anna, and the rest of the Bandits, for hosting me on your lovely blog. It’s always great to be back in the Lair. :)

We're excited about your novella. Can you tell us about it?

I'd love to. Here is the blurb:

With her seduction she hopes to gain his affections

For Miss Elizabeth Smith, sharing her first kiss with the charming Lord Derek Creswell is nothing short of a dream come true...that is, until she is spotted by one of the most influential gossips of the ton. With scandal nipping at her heels, to avoid total social ruin, Elizabeth must present a fiancé by the end of the Season. But when the viscount proves reluctant, Elizabeth is forced to employ a seduction of a different sort...

With his seduction he is determined to ruin her

Viscount Derek Creswell believes Elizabeth set out to trap him into marriage. After all, her sister attempted the very same thing with his brother six years before. Now the delectable Miss Smith expects a betrothal and a ring, while Derek finds her ruination infinitely more appealing...

But as Derek sets out to seduce only her body, Elizabeth is intent on claiming his jaded heart.

Oooh! Sounds delicious. What inspired you to write this story?

I started writing this novella because there was going to be a year gap between my first book, Sinful Surrender and A Taste of Desire (the first and second book in The Elusive Lords series) and I wanted to put something out in between to keep readers interested in the series. Unfortunately, that didn’t occur so I decided to move the story so it occurred between A Taste of Desire and An Heir of Deception (the final book in the series).

What a fun idea! I know readers will be thrilled that they have something to tide them over until An Heir of Deception is out.

What did you particularly love about Derek and Elizabeth?

I really love that Derek is so torn when he discovers who Elizabeth is. His initial instinct is to seek revenge but that begins to war with his growing feelings for her. I love that even though he doesn’t intend to, he defends her, instinctively protecting from slander and gossip.

I love that Elizabeth is a woman who knows what she wants and she allows her heart to lead the way. And like Derek, she has a loyalty streak a mile wide. She’s vulnerable, which to me, is a good thing as that vulnerability makes her human and not wimpy or missish. Yet she has a steel spine and takes her knocks in stride.

Together, the two are combustible and that’s what made writing them so much fun.

What appeals to you about historical courtship?

I love the formality of a historical courtship. There is an interesting challenge not being able to just throw them into each other’s company at any given time or day. I love having to make my hero and heroines work to be alone together—which is no small feat.

Do you have to read your other books before reading this one?

No, readers don’t have to read the other books to follow this book. However, I will say, you will meet characters in All’s Fair in Love & Seduction who you will immediately sense had their own book. Hopefully, spending just a little time with these characters will have new readers eager to go back and read their love story. ;)

What’s next for you?

Right now I’m working on An Heir of Deception, the first three chapters of which are included at the end of All’s Fair in Love & Seduction). This is probably the most anticipated book of the series and it is definitely the darkest. This book will tell the tale of the tumultuous relationship between Alex and Charlotte. This story is my personal favourite.

After An Heir of Deception, I will start a new connecting series—The Temptresses. The first book in the series, Twice the Temptation, will feature Catherine (Charlotte’s identical twin sister) and Lucus Beaumont, the gorgeous American Charlotte befriended in New York.

Lots to look forward to! And, we're especially glad to know that you have a new series coming up soon.

All's Fair in Love & Seduction is an ebook and is available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Smash Words, All Romance eBooks and The Season.

Beverley has graciously offered one lucky commenter a $15 eGift Certificate and an entry for the Grand Prize Drawing (December 17, 2011) of an iPad 2. All you have to do is tell her how you like to read connected books or books in a series. Do you prefer to wait until they’re all out and read in one sitting or read them as they come out? Do you have to start with book one or are you happy to start anywhere in the series and catch up later?

Beverley Kendall has lived on two continents, in three countries, two provinces, and four states. She stopped her nomadic existence and settled in Georgia with her young son. All things artistic feed her creative passion, but none more than writing. Readers can visit her at: http://www.beverleykendall.com/, follow her on twitter: @beverleykendall, friend her on Facebook or on her review site and blog http://www.theseasonforromance.com/
Source URL: http://gbejadacosta.blogspot.com/search/label/Anna%20Sugden
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Quick Five - Top Travel/Packing Tips

by Anna Sugden

The summer holidays are upon us, or very nearly! For the romance writers among us, it's conference season. There's going to be a lot of travel happening over the next few months, starting for many RWA members this weekend as we descend on NY.

By the way, hope those of you in the NY area will pop along to the Literacy signing on Tuesday June 28th - it's open to the public and you'll get a chance to catch up with the Banditas and many of our guests, as well as over 500 favourite romance authors. It's all for a good cause too as the money raised from the sales of books will benefit literacy charities in the area.
Anyway, back to today's post ... I thought it would be a useful time to share hints and tips for packing and travelling. Even veteran travellers like myself are always keen to pick up useful ideas to make our trips easier!

So to start you all off, here are my 5 Top Tips:

1. Don't throw away those plastic dry cleaning covers - use them to cover dresses, skirts, shirts and/or trousers. This will keep them from getting too wrinkled and, if you pack them on the hanger, means you can go from case to wardrobe with ease.
2. Pad out your shoes with rolled up underwear, tights (pantyhose), swimsuits or socks. Keeps the shoes from crushing and it's a great way to save room in a tight suitcase.

3. Mix and Match - so many of us over-pack (holds up hand!). We take so many things that we never end up wearing. It's all very well saying to lay out what you're going to take and halve it, but we all know how well that works if you're an over-packer! To get round this, I try to take clothes that I can mix and match. That way you can take fewer of the bulky items like skirts and trousers and you know that you can wear any of your tops with those you do take.

4. Pack an extra flat kit/duffle/sports bag. It's often cheaper to pay for an extra bag than it is to pay overweight charges! Also, get flat rate boxes from the post office, which you can pack flat in your case. These can be much cheaper, especially for shipping books home, than paying the extra luggage charges.


5. Write down the emergency numbers for your credit cards on a slip of paper and store somewhere safe, but separate from your purse or wallet. If the worse come to the worst, and your purse or wallet is stolen, you'll have the emergency numbers to hand.

While we're on the subject - empty your purse or wallet of all the usual junk/cards etc and limit yourself to one or two general cards that you can use anywhere. Credit cards are better than cash/debit cards as they don't access your bank account. If you don't like credit cards, take travellers cheques - they're not just for travelling abroad!

And make sure you don't have your PIN numbers written down anywhere or stored in your cell phone, or that you're not carrying identifying info like your social security card. You'd be amazed how many people do!

For an extra tip - pack any essential medication in your hand luggage. If you need a prescription for your medication, it's worth taking an extra prescription from your doctor in case of emergencies. That way you can get to a pharmacy and get it filled, even if you're miles away from home. That's a good idea too if you need glasses - carry your prescription info around with you - you never know when you'll lose/break your glasses!

What are your Quick Five Travel and Packing tips?Source URL: http://gbejadacosta.blogspot.com/search/label/Anna%20Sugden
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Having a Devil of a Time with Terri Garey!

by Anna Sugden

I'm thrilled to welcome back my very dear friend and Lair favourite, the RITA award-winning author, Terri Garey.

It's especially exciting because she's here to talk about the launch of her new Devil's Bargain series, which I know you're going to love as much as I do.

Without further ado, here's Terri!

Hello, all you bodacious Banditas and BB's! How lovely to be back in the Lair!

I’ve brought a special guest with me today, by the name of Sammy Divine… yes, I know those abs are delightfully lickable, but you simply MUST wait until you’ve been properly introduced… you, Anna Campbell, no pushing! :)

Where was I? Oh, yes, about to introduce the smokin’ hot, devilishly delicious Samuel B. Divine, otherwise known as Samael the Fallen, High Prince of Darkness, Ruler of the Abyss. Don’t let those good looks fool you, ladies – he’s not your average fallen angel, he’s the world’s original and most misunderstood bad boy.

[Note from Anna: you can look and drool, especially over those abs, but you can't touch. Sammy is MINE!]

Everyone’s heard the tale of how the Devil tempted Eve to sin by taking a bite of forbidden fruit, but in DEVIL WITHOUT A CAUSE, the first book in my new DEVIL’S BARGAIN series, I get to tell Sammy’s side of the story. Poor Sammy feels that he was the one tempted, and then forever punished for it. How was an angel, innocent and unknowing, supposed to resist the charms of a mortal woman on fire with lust? (You, Tawny Weber, you know what I’m talkin’ about, dontcha, Blaze Babe? *g*

Sammy first showed up on the scene to wreak havoc during my Nicki Styx series (DEAD GIRLS ARE EASY, A MATCH MADE IN HELL, YOU’RE THE ONE THAT I HAUNT, and SILENT NIGHT, HAUNTED NIGHT). In each subsequent book, his character grew and developed, becoming more human and less diabolical as his feelings for Nicki Styx grew ever stronger. Nicki, though tempted through and through, loved someone else, and forced to make a choice, chose the mortal man who held—and ultimately kept—his place in her heart. Sammy found himself in the unexpected position of loving a woman enough to let her go, and went one step further by saving her from the evil forces that surrounded him in his Kingdom of Darkness.

While Nicki Styx eventually got her happily-ever-after, Sammy’s story was just beginning. Forever changed by his love for the dark-eyed girl who dwelt in the Light, he was no longer completely content with his life as the reigning Prince of Darkness.

In DEVIL WITHOUT A CAUSE, he finds himself restless and alone, questioning the anger and blame that he’s spent eons nurturing. He’s so restless in fact, that when offered a possible chance at redemption by taking on the role for which he was originally created—that of a guardian angel—he takes it, albeit on his own capricious, devilish terms. Hell-bent on doing things his way, he uses the tricks of his own trade (temptation and seduction) to both bring together and tear apart two very different people who’ve made their own deals with the Devil. Faith McFarland is in need of a miracle, and Finn Payne just wants to stay alive. A cursed ring is all that stands between Finn and Hell, and all Faith needs to save her terminally ill child. Falling in love was never part of the bargain, but once they taste Heaven in each other’s arms, they must work together to convince the Devil to give up his due.

DEVIL WITHOUT A CAUSE (Avon Books) hit the bookstore shelves this past Tuesday, and poor Sammy has been very busy as he steps from the shadows to show the world how smoldering he is (see all that smoke swirling around his legs?), but he never turns down a good party, which is why he came with me today. So let’s get this party started by giving away two free copies of his book, shall we?

Tell me if you believe in guardian angels, and why, and you’ll be eligible to win. And, if you feel like it, pop over and read an EXCERPT from DEVIL WITHOUT A CAUSE!






Don't forget you can order any of Terri's books from Amazon by clicking on the cover, here in the blog post.




You can find out more about Terri and her books by visiting her website. She's also a regular contributor at Books That go Bump in the Night and you can follow her on Facebook or Twitter.
Source URL: http://gbejadacosta.blogspot.com/search/label/Anna%20Sugden
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Quick 5 - You know it's a bad day when ...

by Anna Sugden

Hopefully, you're all having a great weekend; the weather is glorious, the flowers are blooming, the kids/furry babies are in good spirits and your sports teams are winning.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it isn't one of THOSE days. You know the ones I mean ... where nothing seems to go right.

There is always a little harbinger of doom to tell you that this is one of THOSE days. As I said to my lovely hubby, the other day, you know it's going to be a bad day when the only yoghurt flavour left is apricot *blech*.

Which got me to thinking ... what clues do I have that it's not going to be a great day? And wouldn't that be a cool topic for a Quick 5?

Since it's a weekend and we're all having great days *g*, I thought I'd ask you to give me five signs that it isn't a good day and one sign that it's going to be a great day.

Here are mine.

You know it's a bad day when ...

1. The only yoghurt flavour left is apricot

2. The little internet icon on your computer says no connection

3. You're woken by a loud thud or crash.

4. You get one of those brown envelopes with a window in the post

5. Your two little feline hunters are camped out by the wine rack, ready to pounce, and growl when you come near.

You know it's a great day when your hubby brings home a bouquet of your favourite flowers for no reason! (check these out!!)

Over to you! What's your Quick 5 for sign it's a bad day? What's your one sign that it's going to be a great day?Source URL: http://gbejadacosta.blogspot.com/search/label/Anna%20Sugden
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A Tale of Two (or More) Covers

by Anna Sugden

I'm delighted to welcome back a Lair favourite and a dear friend, the fabulous Kate Walker. Kate is not only here to share details of her latest wonderful book - The Proud Wife - but also to tell us some exciting news .... and give away an extra-special prize to celebrate! So, without further ado, I'll have you over to Kate.

Happy April Banditas – I really do think that Spring has started to arrive here in the UK. The crocuses (crocii?) are flowering, the daffodils are starting to open out in glowing yellow, and my new (well six month old) ginger and white kitten is out chasing flies and bumble bees in the sunshine.

I'm really happy to be able to be back with you to say Hi again and to share my good news about my newest title – and one of my older ones. Every new book that I have published is a real thrill. It’s a delight and an excitement that never goes away – no matter how many titles I have in my backlist. This latest, brand-new, beautiful ‘baby’ is one I’ve never seen in the shops before. It’s a ‘first’ for this title and seeing it in all its untouched beauty in a new cover, new title is a very special thrill.

It’s one of the best things about being an author. That feeling of seeing your work in print is something that never fades – or it hasn’t for me.

But with my latest book, The Proud Wife, a March release in UK, there was an extra edge to the excitement this time around. Because this was my very first paperback edition with the new style UK covers.

I’m assuming that you’ve spotted the new covers on the UK editions of the Mills & Boon books – but just in case you haven’t, here’s an example of how they've changed.

My last UK release, The Good Greek Wife, was out in paperback in this style cover

My current title The Proud Wife is in a UK cover like this.

I’ve had a lot of emails and messages from readers telling me just how much they love this cover – and I have to agree that it is beautiful. Stylish, elegant – and quite a long way from the clichéd clinch covers there used to be. I also love the fact that we now have great new titles – well, some are great and they’re all new titles and a long way away from the Ruthless Greek/Italian/Spaniard/Sheikh’s Blackmail and Revenge on the Innocent Virgin Amnesiac Housekeeper Heroine titles that were used for too long. The Proud Wife is a much better title.

But I have to admit that when I first looked at the cover of The Proud Wife, what I really thought was – huh? This may be a lovely cover - but it isn’t the cover to my book. The heroine on the cover my by lovely – but she’s not my heroine – not the Marina I’ve written about. My heroine is a feisty, voluptuous redhead, a woman of spirit, full of defiance. This woman looks cool, calm and collected - a bit icy perhaps. Can you imagine her throwing the papers containing her divorce settlement in the face of the man she once loved to the point of madness?

No, me neither! So I have to admit that, clichéd as it might be – maybe even a little old-fashioned - but as an author I like the cover of my Presents Extra edition that bit better. At least here my heroine looks as if she has a bit of a spark about her. She also had the red hair that so attracted her hero Pietro when he first met her.

But as a reader, and a buyer, I do like the new covers that Mills & Boon have brought out. I like the way that they have a freshness, a less stylised design. I like the way that the picture of the heroine/heroine/any combination of the two is above the title and underneath the title and the author’s name is another photograph that gives a clue to where the book is set or what happens in it. I love the way that every line – from Modern Romance Medicals, Historicals or the brand new RIVA – all have their own individual looks, designs that tell the reader only too clearly that these books all have their own flavour, they’re own style, they are not just more of the same, ‘cookie-cutter’ stories – which of course they are not.

Thinking about the new covers started me thinking about the way the covers of my books have changed since I started out over 25 years ago. (I was a child author, honest.) My very first cover looked like this (The Chalk Line) and they couldn’t even get the hero’s hair colour right. Then we had the ‘half a heart’ design (Flirting with Danger) The first set of photographic covers , the blue ‘swoosh’ (Good Greek Wife) and now we’re back to photographs again.

Of course, as an author, I have to say I love the emphasis given to the name of the person who wrote the book in the new style covers. And the change in the design of the covers shows how romance writing is a living, growing developing thing. Not just something set in stone and never altering. The new look M&B covers seem fresh and interesting on the bookshop shelves. But then again that Presents cover with it s white cover, the red banner at the top and the image in the circle has become a real icon over time – I know lots of people would hate to have it changed.

What do you think? Do you like the new-style covers? Would you like to see the Presents design given a make-over? Or would you prefer things to stay the same? And what are your favourite covers? Cover designs you really love – or the opposite? What about the ones you hate? Are you one of the readers that journalists claim are part of the boom in ebook buying because you’re embarrassed by the covers on the books? I’d love to know.

Which sort of brings me to my great news and my cause for celebration. Because one of my books with a cover I don’t like very much at all is The Konstantos Marriage Demand. It’s a cover that just doesn’t appeal to me. But I’m very very fond of that book because, as I’m now finally able to announce, The Konstantos Marriage Demand, has just been awarded Best Presents Extra 2010 in the Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Awards. I just wish I could be at the RT convention next week to pick up the award – but I’ll raise a toast to the book – and to everyone who’s going to be there anyway!

And as anyone who knows me knows that when I celebrate I love to share my joy – so to celebrate this award, I’m adding in a copy of The Konstantos Marriage Demand to my giveaway this time. I have two pairs of books – The brand new The Proud Wife and the Award winning Konstantos Marriage Demand - to give away to someone who posts a comment about the covers you like – or not.

You can find out all about Kate's books, and all the latest news by checking out her web site at: http://www.kate-walker.com or her blog at http://kate-walker.blogspot.com/Source URL: http://gbejadacosta.blogspot.com/search/label/Anna%20Sugden
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Wine, a Sexy FBI Hunk and Fun with Julie James

by Anna Sugden

... Who could ask for anything more?!

I’m delighted to welcome one of my favourite contemporary romance writers to the Lair, Julie James. If you haven’t come across Julie’s books, where have you been and what are you waiting for?!

Julie pens best-selling contemporary romances that are smart, sexy and laugh-out-loud funny. Featuring delicious heroes and feisty heroines, you won’t be able to put her award-winning books down until you’ve read them from cover to cover.

Her latest release, A Lot Like Love is no exception - I devoured it in one sitting! (But I’ll let Julie tell you all about it *g*)

So, without further ado, let’s give Julie a rousing Lair welcome. Make yourself at home, Julie. Feel free to grab a drink and a cabana boy, gladiator or hockey hunk for your pleasure.

Julie: Thanks for having me here at the Lair! And thank you as well for the nice words about my books! Okay, so let’s see… given the wine backdrop to A Lot Like Love, I’ll grab a glass of Zinfandel and settle in. Feel free to send one of those cabana boys by at any time to take my order. : )

Can you tell us a little about yourself?

Julie: Sure! I’m a lawyer; I practiced law for six years at a large firm before leaving to write full-time. I started my writing career with screenplays, and when the option on my first script expired without the film being made, my film agent suggested that I turn the script into a book. That script then became my first novel, Just the Sexiest Man Alive.

On the personal side, I live in Chicago with my husband and two children—in fact, I just had a daughter four months ago. I took a few months off from writing to spend time with her, but now I’m back up and running and have started writing my next book, which will be about the brother of the heroine in A Lot Like Love.

[Anna: Ooooh - can't wait to see who you're going to pair Kyle with!]

We love call stories in the Lair - can you share yours with us?

Julie: “The Call” came right after my first child, my son, was born. My agent was super-excited (as was I) and said that Berkley wanted to buy my book as part of a two-book deal. She said they wanted to know if I could put together a synopsis for my second book as soon as possible. My first response was, “Um, okay, but can you tell them that I have a ten-day old baby? I can barely find time to shower right now.”

Can you tell us about A Lot Like Love?

Julie: A Lot Like Love is about a wealthy wine store owner who agrees to pose as the girlfriend of an undercover FBI agent (as part of a sting operation) in exchange for her twin brother’s release from prison.

Readers can expect lots of back-and-forth banter, verbal sparring, and an opposites attract dynamic between a sophisticated businesswoman (and billionaire heiress) and a rough-around-the-edges FBI agent from Brooklyn. It’s a fun contemporary romance with a suspense subplot.

Here is an excerpt:

Jordan took a seat at the conference table. She watched the blizzard that raged outside the floor-to-ceiling windows, dreading the snow she’d have to shovel when she got home. Perhaps she should look into getting one of those power snowblowers, she mused. Or a man. Either could be quite handy in inclement weather. Then again, snowblowers took up a lot of garage space, and she generally liked to keep at least a three-foot buffer around the Maserati. Not to mention, most of the men she met presumably had even less interest than she did in shoveling snow—they likely would hire someone else to do that kind of thing. The downside to dating Italian-loafer types, she supposed.

Maybe she needed to find more of a guy’s guy. One of those men who could start a fire with two sticks, change a flat tire with one hand tied behind his back, and wasn’t afraid that a snow shovel would scuff his cashmere-lined leather Burberry gloves.

The door flew open and in walked Nick McCall.

Someone, however, who at least knew what a razor was.

“Sorry to keep you waiting, Ms. Rhodes,” he said.

As Huxley followed Nick into the conference room, Jordan noticed that both men had shed their coats. She also saw that they were armed, catching glimpses of the shoulder harnesses and guns they wore underneath their suit jackets.

“What happened to your file?” she asked.

“Would you believe it? We couldn’t find the darn thing,” Nick said. “Guess we’ll just have to march on without it.” He gave Huxley a nod.

“Everything we’re about to tell you is extremely confidential, Ms. Rhodes,” Huxley began. “You can tell no one about the purpose of this meeting.”

Easy enough for her to do, since she didn’t understand the purpose of the meeting. “All right.”

“You already know that this pertains to Xander Eckhart. For some time now, we’ve had him under investigation. We believe he’s running drug money through his nightclubs and restaurants for an organized crime syndicate led by Roberto Martino. You may have heard about the recent indictments of Martino and the others in his organization.” Huxley gave Jordan a moment to process all this.

“You seemed surprised,” Nick said.

She shot him a look. “Of course I’m surprised. I had no idea Xander was messed up in anything like this. You’re sure of this?”

Huxley nodded. “Yes. We’ve been watching Eckhart. We’ve seen him on several occasions with a man we know to be one of Martino’s associates. They meet in Eckhart’s office, which is located underneath the main level of his restaurant, Bordeaux.”

“The one down the hall from his wine cellar, you mean,” Jordan said.

Nick sat forward in his chair, interested in this. “You’ve been inside Eckhart’s office?”

"Yes. Last year at his Valentine’s Day party, he gave me a tour of the entire space at Bordeaux.”

“How well do you remember the interior of the office?” Huxley asked. “Would you be able to describe it, tell us the placement of the furniture, that kind of thing?”

“I can certainly try,” Jordan said. “Is that what this is about? You want me to describe Xander’s office to you?” It seemed too insignificant for all the secret-agent rigmarole.

Nick shook his head. “Unfortunately, it’s not that simple. What we want is for you to help us get inside Eckhart’s office. This Saturday night.”

It took her a moment. “You mean during the party?”

Nick folded his arms on the table. “How would you feel about bringing along an undercover agent as your date, Ms. Rhodes?”

Jordan leaned in to meet him halfway. “I think that depends on who the date is, Agent McCall.”

You’ve mentioned that you love the old black and white romantic comedy movies. Which ones are your favourites and have inspired you?

Julie: Oh, pretty much anything with Cary Grant. : ) I particularly like His Girl Friday and The Philadelphia Story. I love the back-and-forth verbal sparring between the heroine and hero in those movies.

And since you brought up the subject of older movies… I’d love to hear from everyone else! What’s your favorite black and white romantic comedy, and why?

One lucky commenter will win a copy of the fabulous A Lot Like Love.

After graduating from the University of Illinois College of Law, Julie James clerked for the United States Court of Appeals in Jacksonville, Florida. She then practiced law with one of the nation’s largest law firms for several years until she began writing screenplays. After Hollywood producers optioned two of her scripts, she decided to leave the practice of law to write full-time. Her books have been translated into six languages and Julie’s most recent novel, A Lot Like Love, hit bookstores on March 1st.

To find out more about Julie and her books, or to read an excerpt of A Lot Like Love, visit her at www.juliejames.com . Julie is also featured in the March issue of RT Book Reviews.Source URL: http://gbejadacosta.blogspot.com/search/label/Anna%20Sugden
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