Friday Writer's Wrap

How was your week? I can say unequivocally mine has been eventful. I'm still not satisfied with the first chapter of my new story but it's getting better. I'm hoping to work on it more over the weekend.

To those celebrating mother's day this weekend, hope it's a lovely one for you.

My 'To Do' list is mostly done. Here's hoping I can get the rest of it behind me because I really need to dig into my story now and focus as much of my time on it as I can manage. Getting to know new characters is fun.

Jennie

The Templar's Seduction by Mary Reed McCall

A style of 'mistaken identity' book, and one for which I was more than willing to suspend disbelief and simply enjoy a great read. This hero saw his limitations of character, and then went on to be better as a result of knowing, and coming to love, the heroine -- and I couldn't help but admire him for that. A really satisfying read. If you like historicals, I'd recommend this.

Jennie

The Forbidden Brother by Barbara McMahon

This Harlequin Romance, 'The Forbidden Brother' by Barbara McMahon was released in Australia in August 2007. I'm embarrassed I've let some books languish for that length of time on my TBR pile!

The Forbidden Brother is the story of Laura Parkerson and Jed Brodie. Laura owns an art gallery and was engaged to Jed's twin brother, who died three months prior to the start of the story. I'm not often a fan of stories where the heroine ends up with the 'other' brother so rather than for entertainment value, I bought this book as a study in handling comparisons between two men from the perspective of the heroine having cared for one only to then fall hard for the other, and I particularly wanted to see how Barbara handled the issue of those brothers being identical twins. I'm going to review the book on that basis. Perhaps if you're an aspiring writer you might find it interesting from that perspective too.

The Harlequin Romance line is known for its depth of emotion in a tight word length. This book delivers on that promise on every page. The heroine works through the gamut of emotions. I won't give away too much of the plot. Suffice to say she is first shocked to see someone who looks exactly like her ex-fiance, then has to deal with every emotion that follows. Barbara deftly handled the differences between the men, I felt empathetic towards Laura as she came to terms with being attracted to a man who looked exactly like her ex-fiance but in reality was nothing like him at all, and the hero Jed's feelings about his brother were unique and interesting and to me as a reader, unexpected. I learned heaps from reading this skillful book by Barbara McMahon.

In the month of May, the challenge to those reading for the eHarlequin.com readathon is to try to join up one other reader. It's for a good cause so if you are reading and think you might like to join up, check out the details by clicking on the Book Challenge button on the eHarlequin site.

Jennie

Scandal In Spring by Lisa Kleypas

Yay. I'm finally reading again. Not that I entirely stopped but I did cut back over the past few weeks while I was busy with other things. So with no further ado here is my review of Lisa Kleypas's 'Scandal In Spring'.

I enjoy a quirky heroine and Daisy Bowman fulfilled this in all the nicest ways for me. There's a scene of lawn bowls in this book that had me grinning right through, especially when Daisy became so irate she started taking after Lilian and swearing. Hee. Matthew Swift was a lovely combination of vulnerability and austerity, smitten with Daisy from the first page and struggling so hard to do what was best for her - namely avoid her like the plague. The cast of characters in this mini-series have all been highly enjoyable, and their presence in Daisy's book was no exception. I take my hat off to Lisa Kleypas's skill as a storyteller, and look forward to being equally entertained by her next book.

Jennie

Enter Jennie Adams Contest

Have I mentioned I've been a little busy lately? So, apologies for running behind on a few things but I've given myself the next few days to play catch up and one of the things on the list is a new contest.

Details are also on the Breaking News page of my website.


CONTEST TO BE DRAWN END OF MAY END OF JUNE AND END OF JULY

To celebrate the upcoming release of 'The Boss's Unconventional Assistant, the third and final of the Gable sisters books, readers have a chance to enter the draw to win signed copies of the first two Gable Sisters books, 'Her Millionaire Boss' and 'The Italian Single Dad'. At the end of each month one winner will receive a signed copy of both these books.

To enter the contest, email Jennie via the 'Contact Jennie' link of any of the website pages and put the words 'Gable Sisters contest' in the subject header.

It's that simple. And here is a little information about Sophia Gable's story, 'The Boss's Unconventional Assistant'.




Buttoned-up boss, rule breaking PA!

Sophia Gable is anything but conventional, and multimillionaire Grey Barlow knows this the second he meets her. With her bright clothes, and even brighter outlook on life, Sophia is no ordinary PA! She's the complete opposite to workaholic Grey -- and he's beginning to wonder why he's hired her. . .

Sophia is nervous about her first temporary assignment, and falling for her boss is the last thing she needs -- but how can she not want to get personal with broodingly handsome Grey? He may not be the commitment type, but she has a warm, generous heart that may be just what this grumbly workaholic needs!

This is the third and final Gable sister book.

Purchasing Details:
Jun 08 Hardback http://www.amazon.co.uk
Jul 08 eBook http://www.eBooks.eHarlequin.com
Jul 08 Paperback http://www.eharlequin.com and http://www.millsandboon.co.uk
August 08 Paperback in stores in the USA and UK
Aug 08 online at (this date to be confirmed) http://www.eharlequin.com.au
Sept 08 Paperback in stores in Australia (this date to be confirmed).

Memo:Marry Me? by Jennie Adams Japanese edition

Memo:Marry Me? is now available in Japanese. Purchasing information here.

This is about the most beautiful cover I've ever seen.

Jennie

The Inn At Oak Creek by Linda Barrett

I did say a very long time ago that I would read all the books that were included in the Australia 'Winter Warmer Collection' released May 2007.

Here's the first review:

'The Inn At Oak Creek' was released in Australia 2007 in a pack of books called the 'Winter Warmer Collection'.

The story puts together a heroine and hero who have both suffered losses. Molly has forever lost her chance at an Olympic career and is scarred and trying to pull her life back together and Sam has suffered financial losses with far reaching effects.

I wondered why Sam bounced back as easily as he did from what happened to him but I felt for both the characters. As a writer I found the way the issues were handled interesting - some of the choices surprised me. I guess that's why we can write the same themes and come out with different stories every time.

Jennie

If You Could Change One Thing

I'm thinking about a replacement plan. Change one thing for another, week by week, to gradually end up doing more things I want to do and less things I wish I didn't do. What do you think?

If you could change one thing per week about yourself, one thing you really would be prepared to change and keep changed and consider it a step for the better, what would you change this week, right now?

I've developed the habit of eating caramel slice, and far too much of it. The ingredient list reads like a who's who of sugars and fats and preservatives, it's expensive, has no nutritional value, and frankly there are a lot nicer things out there if I want to indulge.

This week, right now, as of today, I'm changing my caramel slice habit for carob chocolate. I'm not giving up ordinary chocolate. I'm not saying I'll never eat caramel slice again. I will eat it occasionally. I'm not suddenly turning into a total health nut (though I could use plenty of improvement in that direction, I know). I'm just changing my pointless, expensive, doesn't-taste-that-nice caramel slice HABIT for carob chocolate.

That's it for me. What about you?

Jennie

UN UOMO ROMANTICO BY JENNIE ADAMS

Out in February 2008 in Italy. Buy here.

Baby on the Billionaire's Doorstep by Emily McKay

Rae has also reviewed this book recently.

Hero Appeal:

The hero had me right at the start with this:

Everything in Derek's life was like that. Perfect. Controlled. Pretentious.

It set Dex's teeth on edge. Made him want to take his motorcycle out of storage and pop some wheelies on his brother's plush green lawn.

Not that he would. He was a respectable contributor to the family business these days. A damn pillar of society.

I guess I like a touch of bad-boy hero because his desire to pop wheelies on the lawn just made me grin.

I kept hoping Dex hadn't been quite the playboy the heroine imagined and I admit I came away from the book still wishing that. But I really enjoyed the book. I liked the way the story explored maternal and paternal instincts in a new and fresh way. Lucy was prepared to lie for her niece and I think if you're a parent you may have had a moment at some point when you realised you would do things for your children you would never do otherwise. I know I have thought that.

The story flowed from one moment to the next, the baby's part in things was adorable. LOL @ the scene with the ring.

Definitely will be looking for the next Messini story.

Jennie

Writer's Wrap Up

What's doing in my neck of the woods?

I have an article out in this month's Hearts Talk magazine, titled 'Story Themes That Resonate'. Romance Writers of Australia is a great association run by hardworking volunteers who provide the membership with a great annual conference, monthly newsletter and so much more. If you're in Australia and writing and you haven't joined, think about joining. The conferences alone are such an encouraging time as writers come together and 'refill the creative well'.

I'm towards the end of the draft of my current story and pleased to say that cork boarding my visual images this time instead of collaging worked really well for me. Perversely, there's a part of me that wants to cut out the other images I found along the way and create a collage when it's all over. And I really want to keep the picture I ended up using as the core picture of the hero and heroine. I clipped it from a catalogue and the expressions on their faces have been speaking to me all the way through. Great stuff.

The clothes dryer had the audacity to blow up right after I posted somewhere saying how long it had lasted. Today I raced to the nearest electric goods store and bought a replacement. That should be delivered Monday morning. It's sprinkling outside this afternoon and I'm using that and the aforementioned as an excuse to avoid doing the washing. Maybe tomorrow. Did I mention I'd like to just be left alone with my characters for a while???

One of my SIL's phoned today and I started this bizarre (I'm sure she thought so anyway) conversation with her about something completely unrelated before I got my brain into the right gear. Sigh. Did I mention being close to the end of the draft of a book is distracting?

No more book reviews from me yet, but I did re-read Fiona Brand's first ever book, Cullen's Bride, and enjoyed it just as much. Again if you're a writer and you're targeting the category market, try to get hold of this book or Blade's Lady and look at the rich meaning Fiona manages to pour into her text in this short format. Wonderful stuff.

I'm still in the ribbing section of mitten #1. This is why I choose small projects. Hee. Maybe once I've got the last word of the draft written....

Jennie
Single-minded? Who? Me?

Predatory Game by Christine Feehan

Predatory Game by Christine Feehan

This is the latest book in the Ghostwalker series. It's a while since I read the last one and I'd forgotten how much I enjoy them. I loved this hero and heroine. Jesse was a strong hero who'd been terribly tortured, and Saber's feelings about his recuperation were particularly interesting. If you liked the other ghostwalker stories I think you'll enjoy this one as well.

I got my writing work done as planned today, and here is the knitting picture. I don't think it's a very good pic but maybe you'll be able to see that I'm at least managing the ribbing so far. No progress on it tonight. I'm too tired!

Jennie

To Love and To Cherish Receives An Award

I'm delighted to say 'To Love and To Cherish' has received a Romance Junkies Reviewer's Blue Ribbon Favorite award. Thank you, Romance Junkies and reviewer Cinnamon for recommending the book!

A number of eHarlequin's 2008 Reader Challenge readers have read and commented on Jack and Tiffany's story. I've really enjoyed the chance to hear reader's insights. I always welcome your emails about my books, too! The Book Challenge will be donating a LOT of books to a very good cause at the end of this year. Maybe if you haven't already, you might consider joining? Just visit eHarlequin.com and click on Book Challenge to find out how to join up. Or this link should take you there direct. Book challenge participants also receive special emails with savings offers on some of Harlequin's books.

I'll come back, hopefully tomorrow, to post my next book review and a pictorial report on the progress so far of the mitten project. After I've done my Wednesday pages of writing....

Jennie

20% off Jennie Adams eBook titles at Deisel Books

For the next 45 days, readers can receive a 20% discount off the cost of all Jennie Adams eBooks listed at Deisel books. There's a direct link in to the page in the blog sidebar. The coupon code you'll need to use for your purchase is:

ADAM0a201

Kind of nice to be able to get a discount on all three books at once and a bit of a savings compared to prices at some other book stores.

Random things I've discovered/liked/disliked since I bought my PDA and started reading eBooks:

• Instant gratification. I see the book, I want the book, I buy the book and a minute later I can start reading the book.
• Privacy. If I don't want other people to know what I'm reading, then they don't know. Simple as that.
  
• It's actually currently cheaper for me to buy Harlequin/Silhouette romances and some other romances as eBooks direct from the USA than it is to buy them as print books in Australia. In the case of Harl/Sil romances, cheaper even than buying from Big W, which is the cheapest place I've found for the print version of the books. This is something that will be impacted by the rise and fall of the Australian dollar against the greenback, but for now, it's working in my favour.
  
• I can get the books up to two months earlier than I would if I waited to buy them in print.
  
• I can choose from more titles because not all the books hit the shelves in Australia.
• My eBook TBR pile doesn't get in the way of dusting the entire top of the sewing machine cabinet :-)

I don't see me ever stopping print book reading altogether, but I am enjoying my PDA reading experience so far.

Other random bits of news:

• I'm back on the treadmill for the 111th take at establishing an exercise routine and sticking with it.
  
• The dh bought me an iPod Shuffle. I've very hastily loaded a heap of songs onto it and can see myself getting addicted to this little device - also good for not having to share your listening choices if you don't feel like it. (Or maybe if no one else feels like it - ha!).
• After three tries at casting on, I got the knitting to go around in a circle like it was supposed to. I'll let you know what happens when I get past the relatively easy stage of ribbing and into the pattern. It could get messy.
  

And I'm writing, of course, and currently trying to force myself to print out what I have so far and read it through. I just want to keep going - maybe I will!

Upcoming:

• There WILL be a new website contest. The idea for it came to me the other morning while I was on the treadmill (see, it is worth getting on there). I plan to start running the next contest at the start of May and carry it through to the end of June with a prize run every two weeks if there's enough interest in the contest. In July we'll give away a hardback or two of my August release, 'The Boss's Unconventional Assistant' if the hardbacks have arrived and there are enough to do that after sending out review copies. I'll be back with more info about the contest - if not sooner, then May 1st!

Happy weekend,

Jennie

Return to Baragula by Mary Hawkins

Return to Baragula is a Christian single title romance that confronts big issues. Sin, condemnation, judgment, forgiveness, faith and hope, what sacrifices and choices the Christian believer in today’s world might make in his or her pursuit of godliness, and how the actions of the one can impact on the many. The progression of the love story encompasses these issues and more.

The story of Emily and Matthew is uncompromisingly Australian with an in-depth depiction of small-town church community life in Australia today. Multi-published and award winning author Mary Hawkins draws on her many years as a minister’s wife, nurse, and member of a Christian community to build the world of the Baragula church community. Matthew is a doctor. Emily is a nurse. They have a past that has hurt them both, and impacted on a lot of people around them. The issues raised in the book are deep ones, the portrayal of feelings and attitudes and relationships so closely intertwined you see wheels, within wheels, within wheels as the story progresses and you begin to realise how each person faces their own personal challenges to develop and grow and how a single catalyst can impact on so many people.

There were times I thought some of the characters were unfair to others, and I think that was the whole point, that in the reality of human relationships love can be messy, difficult, hurtful, and the way we deal with the blows life gives us is what shapes us and makes us strong. The character growth was substantial, and where I started out wanting to bang heads at times, I ended up with a sense of empathy and understanding as the age old 'struggle for perfection versus the reality of imperfection' played out in each of the characters.

Whether Return to Baragula is your kind of story or not, whether it polarises you, challenges you, or affirms your core beliefs, the actions of the characters, their ups and downs, flaws, behaviours, struggles and growth will make you think, look at yourself, your life, your belief system and the way you want to examine, interact with and dwell in this world.

A challenging novel by Mary Hawkins.

Jennie

Of dust and things

It's been a great month. 'To Love and To Cherish' has received some lovely reviews and it's wonderful to know it's on the shelves in the USA and available online as an eBook and at online bookstores as a print book for my UK readers. The next book will be on shelves in the UK as well as the USA in August. For anyone wondering, there are four book slots for retail release in the Harlequin Romance line in the UK per month, but six titles released so it's not possible for them all to hit the shelves in the UK each time. (Though I believe some stores have been trialling selling all six titles per month - it would be great if that continued).

Buying all the titles through the Mills and Boon direct marketing service is one way to ensure you get your printed copy of all the books. Buying as eBooks or online at Amazon.co.uk or other online stores are some further alternatives.

I've also seen 'To Love and To Cherish' in stores locally here in Australia in the past few days, where it's being marked with a bonus novella by Carla Cassidy - so Australia readers can watch out for that.

I have books waiting to be read in both eBook and print format. But this evening my 'spare' (ha, ha) hour is going to starting that knitting project I mentioned.

In the meantime I managed to ignore the horrid weather here today and attend to accumulating my pages for the day on the work in progress. I'd like to add a bit more to it tonight buy my eyes are too tired for any more computer work.

I'll leave you with a picture of the dust bowl. Looks a bit like rain coming in, doesn't it? I wish!

Jennie

Book Review and catch up

She Did a Bad, Bad Thing by Stephanie Bond

I like a good Plain Jane story. I love it in historical novels when the rake falls hard for a home and hearth style of heroine. This story was kind of a mixture of that, and a transformation story, but not really, because deep down though she changed her outward appearance, Jane remained the same. As the author put it, Jane got in touch with her inner wild woman (who had always been there).

At first I wondered if the hero would be able to redeem himself. He was a bit of a toad to Jane in the beginning, but he fell for her in all the right ways and I forgave him because she came to mean everything to him.

Jennie

That's my final book review for the weekend. I treated myself with a fair amount of reading this weekend, mostly because I had an exploding head episode Thursday that just wouldn't quit. I feel it's finally starting to ease tonight -- I hope I'm not imagining that. I hope to get back into a better routine this coming week but I am on target (just) with my writing goal for the week just gone.

I also reacted very predictably to the sudden cooler weather by a) wishing I had time to go shopping for clothes (something I never think in hot weather because at heart I am a 'winter' girl) and b) printing out a knitting pattern a friend posted to a forum earlier this week and buying the wool for it. It may well prove too hard for this modest knitter. I can follow patterns if I try hard, but I haven't knitted anything with four needles in a 'round' pattern before. Still, I'm going to give it a go - once I've bought the needles. That will require a trip to Spotlight. Maybe Wednesday?

Jennie

The Husband Trap by Tracy Anne Warren

This is the third book I read in my recent small read-a-thon. It's a twins/switched identity story. Violet replaces her twin Jeanette at the alter and marries the duke in her sister's stead.

Coming back to the topic of suspending disbelief, which is something I've been thinking about a lot with my recent reading, I was quite happy to do so with this story even though in reality it seems unlikely that a woman's parents and best friend wouldn't realise she'd swapped places with her identical twin. I'm still at a bit of a loss as to why I'm more willing to buy into this sort of thing for some stories than others.

But whatever the reason, I thoroughly enjoyed this. It was wonderful to watch the hero fall in love with his wife when he simply hadn't expected that to happen. And I loved the opening line of the back cover blurb...

Here comes the substitute bride....

The Dangers of Deceiving a Viscount by Julia London

I enjoy a rolicking good historical novel. Phoebe and Will and their
cast of supporting characters provided a great story. The hero's
sisters were just the right edge of awful to be truly entertaining and
it was fun watching Lady Phoebe act out her alter ego of Madam Dupree.

One thing I wasn't really able to buy into was the hero's utter
abhoration for deceit of any kind. Maybe I missed something vital in
the early part of the story, but I wondered just what movitated him to
feel so strongly in that respect, even in the face of behaviour that
had honorable if misguided reasions.

Even so, I really enjoyed this story and will continue to look for more by Julia London.

Jennie

Desire Never Dies by Jenna Petersen - book review

This is the second of three books I read over the past few days while getting over a nasty head. There's nothing like a book to make you feel better!

I liked the idea of a group of lady spies. Imagine how well that would have gone down with the male spies of the time in 1808! The romance was lovely and I enjoyed the developing relationship between Ana and Lucas as it unfolded. It always feels a bit funny to me to read an English set historical where words like realise are spelled with the American 'z'. I wondered why Avon chose to do this.

There was a little incident near the end of the book where the heroine did something rather daring and when the hero tried to follow, he didn't quite manage with the same degree of success. I won't say because it would spoil it for readers, but it was a good revelation of his feelings for her and of how her character had grown and matured as the book progressed.

Jennie

Tuesday Writer's Wrap

I was going to start the post with the header 'Monday Writer's Wrap' which probably gives a clue of where my head is, given it's already Tuesday here. Buried deep in my writing with very few spare coherent thoughts for anything else!

For those who celebrated Easter I hope it was a meaningful and wonderful time for you. I spent time with my family and when not with them, at my desk writing. Somehow I managed to be very restrained about chocolate purchases. A small Lindt bunny for the dh and me. No one else wanted chocolate at all - so they got cash to spend on something they would enjoy. I caved in on the Thursday and made one impulse buy. A small packet of plain chocolate eggs. Those are stashed away in a drawer but overall I think I did well. I love the annual chocolate Easter bunny joke that does the rounds. You can see it on my friend Bronwyn Jameson's blog.

I mentioned on here earlier that I had started a story, and then I mentioned I was working on a trilogy project with Fiona Harper and Melissa McClone. So the story I had started has been shelved for now and I will go back to it once this one is done and dusted. I've gone ahead with my cork board plans. I have the story plan printed out and on the board. It's a loose idea. Already I've added bits and shuffled bits and come up with new/better/different bits, but it gives me an overall view of generally where I want to go and so far with this story it seems to be working well for me.

I haven't collaged, per se. I've pinned some meaningful pictures onto one end of the second cork board and i'm feeling really good with those images. Much better than when I collaged 'properly' last time and then didn't like it when not all the images ended up finding a meaning in the story. I'm about 80 pages into the story and trying to keep my pace up.

The thing I haven't done is print out each day's work and read it over, make pencil changes, and type those back in before starting again the next day. I don't feel there's time to do this really, though it's a good, good idea. Maybe I could print out a bunch of pages each weekend and work on them then?

Jennie

Book Review: Chosen by Amelia Elias

Amelia Elias creates a strong, entertaining take on the vampire world. Gareth showed the kind of strength that will appeal to readers who enjoy an alpha hero with an edge.

I struggled to suspend disbelief in some places but I think that's a very individual thing. If you decide to check out this story you'll have to decide about that aspect for yourselves! The sensual scenes were seamlessly in keeping with the characters and in truth some of the most well-crafted I've read. I would have finished the book for those alone.

Amelia writes romance and erotica and I will certainly keep an eye out for some of Amelia's other romance titles.

Jennie

Contest!

Congrats to Marcy who is the winner of the joint contest Donna Alward and I ran on our blogs. Marcy, I'll be mailing my package tomorrow for you.

For everyone else, there is still an opportunity to sign up to the contest to win a free signed copy of 'To Love and To Cherish' over at the Harlequin Romance Author's blog. Just look for the Spotlight In Six post with my name on it and follow the instructions to email your contest entry. I've been thinking what little addition I might like to add with the prize. Marcy will be receiving something of a chocolate persuasion, but for this contest I think I'll include one of these coasters. The colour has come up a little on the greeny/blue side here, but you get the general idea.

Jennie - having an insomniac night (at least you get lots done I guess)

Today brought good news in the Inbox with book #8 being accepted for publication for January 2009. Really excited about that!

This tickled my funny bone today:




Jennie

The Italian Single Dad - Anne Bonney finalist, To Love and To Cherish For Sale Australia

'The Italian Single Dad' is an Anne Bonney Readers Choice Award finalist in the Most Emotional category.

Here are the three finalist entries in the category:




Thank you so much to the contest readers. I'm trilled to have a finalist book.

Full details of all the category finalists are here.

An excerpt of the story and purchasing details are available via the Booklist Page of my website.

And for Australian and New Zealand readers, I'm happy to say 'To Love and To Cherish' is available for purchase at www.eharlequin.com.au now and will also be in down under stores in the month of April. The book includes a free bonus novella written by Carla Cassidy.



And finally, if you've been watching my blog entries and noticed the books reviews have dried up over the past few weeks - I confess I've been very, very busy working on my writing and as a result, I've turned to comfort behaviour when I've had a little reading time and picked up some favourites to re-read. This has allowed me to 'just read' bits and pieces of the story while knowing what else happened. Do any of you do this when you can't quite pit your brain toward brand new reading?

I've also been very good about not buying any more books. No more books until I have time and am in the frame of mind to enjoy reading some of the ones I have! I wonder how long I'll last with this decision. Every time a new catalogue hits my Inbox or mailbox I waver...

Jennie

Please welcome Donna Alward!

Sometimes writers have the fun of being shelf buddies as well as online buddies. Donna Alward and I have had books out at the same time on more than one occasion and the month of March is one such occasion with Donna's 'The Soldier's Homecoming' and my 'To Love and To Cherish' out simultaneously. To celebrate this bit of fun, Donna and I are taking over each other's blogs for the day - and running a joint contest to give away a prize of a hardback from each of us with some little goodies added in. Please email either Donna via her website or me via the 'Contact Jennie' button on any of the pages of my website, to enter the contest.

Meanwhile, please welcome Donna Alward!

Donna, please tell us a little about 'The Soldier's Homecoming'. What made you decide to write a story about a member of the armed services? Was it difficult to write Jonas's story - a man struggling to come to terms with both internal and external wounds only to come home to try to heal, and walk right into another part of his life that's been held back from him?

Also, please tell us about Canada! You're the only Canadian author writing for the Harlequin Romance line. Will we be seeing lots of Canadian settings from you in the future? And is it true that Canada, like Australia, uses British spelling? Something else we have in common!

Jennie

Donna writes:

I admit it, I love stories and movies with military or law enforcement themes. My two favourite tv shows are Battlestar Galactica (is Australia getting season 3 now?) and The Unit. So it’s no surprise that the casting for THE SOLDIER’S HOMECOMING is Scott Foley of The Unit. When I envisioned Jonas, my hero, it was really Scott’s face I initially saw.

But I think what draws me to these sorts of heroes is their code of honour. They are certainly still flawed people, but they are also strong, dedicated, and want to do the right thing. They never shirk responsibility. On the flip side of that is perhaps Jonas’s tendency to see things in black and white, and we all know the world doesn’t quite work that way. When he finds out he has a five year-old daughter, he’s very sure Shannyn is in the wrong for keeping Emma’s existence from him. At the same time he’s dealing with an injury, some significant survivor’s guilt and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

But this book is really about love and hope and healing. And it was incredibly difficult to write, because Jonas is such a strong character he threatened to take over! But most of all, the story is about his ability to trust Shannyn again, not only about their daughter, but with his past, so he can move on and they can find their life together. And Emma is just sweet, if I do say so myself. She was the easiest person to write. I have to admit that at times it was nearly channeling the precociousness of my youngest.

A really cool thing about this book is that I set it in the Fredericton, New Brunswick area of Canada, where I’m from. It’s on the East Coast and it was so much fun to visit “home” again. Out of my first five Romances, it’s the only one NOT set in western Canada, where I live now. And I anticipate lots of Canadian settings in my future – both west and east. Our family is actually about to uproot and head back to the east coast, which is fabulous! If you look at the picture from the back of THE SOLDIER’S HOMECOMING, this is the kind of area we’ll be close to. We will be much closer to family, and close to the ocean, and orchards, and…well, we’re very excited. Writing books set in places where I’ve lived is a great way to feel connected to them even when I’m not there. There is one other Canadian author within the Romance line, Cara Colter, who lives in British Columbia. I’m actually writing a book right now set not that far from where she calls home. It’s gorgeous country.


And yes, Jennie, we use British Spelling. Or as my friend Steve says, “The Queen’s English”. Or at least we’re supposed to. I think Canada is becoming a bit “Americanized” in many ways, and we do pick things up from our neighbors/neighbours!

Thanks for having me over to visit! And please, e-mail Jennie or me (donna@donnaalward.com) to enter our contest.

Donna

Footnote from Jennie: I don't watch a lot of TV. Maybe another Aussie will have the answer to Donna's question about Battlestar Galactica?

Chance to Win a Book

There's a chance to win a signed copy of 'To Love and To Cherish' over at www.harlequinromanceauthors.blogspot.com .

Drop over and enter the contest.

Tomorrow's post here will be Donna Alward's guest appearance. Looking forward to that, too!

Jennie

TO LOVE AND TO CHERISH IS OUT NOW!

'To Love and To Cherish' is in stores in the USA this week. Check out the Breaking News page of my website for other buyer information, including how to buy as an eBook.

Revisions and done and sent and I'm itching to get my teeth into the next project, which will be writing a book in a trilogy with fellow authors Fiona Harper and Melissa McClone.

Donna Alward will be a guest blogger here March 12th. Donna and I have been shelf buddies a number of times now, and we decided it was time to celebrate this with a joint contest. I'm looking forward to Donna's post about 'The Soldier's Homecoming', her writing, and Canada as a setting!

I'll leave you with some further reviews of 'To Love and To Cherish'.

Jennie

This category-length novel was absolutely packed with emotion and made me love both the characters. Usually I connect more with the female lead, but this book was an exception. Jack’s trials make him so human and vulnerable without taking a thing away from his heroic stature. His struggles to rise above his trials captured my heart, and I was sorry to see the book end. Satisfying and deep, this short novel gives the same satisfaction as a longer read. Well done once again, Ms. Adams!

Cinnamon - Romance Junkies - 5 Ribbons

This was a very heartwarming story and it could happen in the world today.

Debby - Writers Unlimited

Blog Bash and Revisions

I'm working on revisions. Did I already say that? <------- Revision brain has already set in. So, that's going to keep me busy this weekend.

Meanwhile, I have a guest post up at the eHarlequin.com month-long author blog bash on the topic, 'Why I Believe in Love'. I'd love you to drop by and say hello.

This is the direct link.

If it doesn't work, go to www.eharlequin.com, click 'talk' and select 'blogs' from the menu at the top. You'll see the entry listings there.

Happy weekend!

Jennie

Claires Dilemma and Pomon Jarkiavioliitto

I have pink books. Two very pink, foreign edition books that arrived one by delivery to my door (I don't know why that one got special treatment) and one by post to the mail box. Both are editions I haven't had before. The book above is 'Claires Dilemma'. This title in English was 'The Boss's Convenient Bride'. Check it out at www.harlequin.dk .

And also 'The Boss's Convenient Bride' but in a duo book with Melissa James's 'Outback Baby Miracle' is 'Pomon Jarkiavioliitto'. When I first saw Melissa's cover for 'Outback Baby Miracle' I thought it was stunning. Just beautiful. I haven't changed my mind - so how luck am I to get to have it on the cover of this duo book with Melissa's lovely, emotive story!

Here 'tis. You can see why I'm delighted, yes? Check this one out at www.harlequin.se/fi .

Jennie