Mollie Mathews's Blog, page 14
December 23, 2019
The best gift ever is…you!
What a beautiful card to receive – my first from a reader. Sometimes it’s so easy to be so immersed in the world of your characters you can (almost) forget the joy a love story brings to others.
Thank you, Margaret – you made my year!
And to everyone who purchases and reads (and reviews) my books—thank you! You are the best gift a writer could have – EVER!
And here’s another joy: my daughter’s first Christmas—28 years ago!
Best wishes to you my friends. Wherever you are on the globe I hope the holiday season is a peaceful and joyful one.
P.S. It’s summer here in New Zealand- and I’m so happy one of my cast of characters from Claimed by The Sheikh, has decided to visit us in the Bay of Islands for Christmas. She even came carrying gifts!
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P.S.S. For perfect holiday reading all my love stories are in Kindle Unlimited – free if you subscribe. Plus, you can get my books for free at your local library—simply request them to grab a copy.
Ohhh…and as a special treat, here’s a sneak peek at the draft cover for a brand new love story I’m writing – inspired by the tragic volcanic explosion on White Island, New Zealand on 9 December 2019. I wondered, “What if you lost your whole family just before Christmas? What if, as a result, you hated Christmas because it made you feel so sad? What sort of man could bring the gift of Christmas to your life again? And yes, there will be a happy ending!
December 14, 2019
New Release: Finding a Husband
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Sometimes love finds you…
Amateur matchmaker Cassie Roberts has only one wish—to help her best friend find a husband.
What she doesn’t realize is that sometimes love doesn’t come easily and destiny is impossible to predict.
When her efforts don’t bear fruit she considers abandoning her fledgling career.
Until she makes one last attempt.
Finding a Husband is a short story full of quirky humor and the promise of a happily ever after.
Set in Blenheim, in New Zealand’s sublime South Island—gateway to the award-winning wineries of the Wairau Valley.
Finding a Husband, book 6 in the Passion Downunder Sassy Short Stories series. Out Now!
ONLY $0.99 today! FREE in KU.
Navigate to>>mybook.to/FindingAHusband
If you enjoyed Twist of Fate, you’ll love this fresh and frisky short read!
BONUS excerpts from Love Me Forever, Book Two in the Passion Down Under Sassy Short Stories, and other full-length books by me.
December 10, 2019
What does family mean to you?
As we head into Christmas I’ve been thinking a lot about family. Discover more and listen to me sharing a wee excerpt and insights behind Flight of Passion on my NEW YouTube channel. Check it out! >>https://youtu.be/uELs8JIyW5c
I hope you love listening and seeing me read a few pages from Flight of Passion.
What I’m working on now…
I’m heading into my recording studio to narrate the audio version of Flight of Passion.
I’m excited to let you know that I’ve finished narrating several of my books now—many are available in libraries too.
Here’s a little more about Flight of Passion—my hero is originally from my home, New Zealand but now lives in New York (which I love too!)
FLIGHT OF PASSION
Billionaire property investor Oliver Hart is used to getting what he wants. Single, thirty-five and a committed bachelor, he plays by his own rules. On a personal quest to discover a rare, elusive and very valuable butterfly, he’s unwittingly distracted by a former flame, Ruby Diaz—a woman who callously abandoned him eight years earlier. Deciding he wants to reclaim the beauty as his own, in his mind, it’s as good as done. But Ruby is not his for the taking. Due to marry the son of a wealthy landowner, she refuses to succumb to his charms. On a quest to save her family’s land, Ruby knows she must put duty first, and silence the passionate stirrings of her heart. But Oliver’s not taking no for an answer.
Risking everything to help the woman he loves to gain her freedom, Oliver entangles himself in an emotional net that alters his life forever. Sacrificing his own selfish pursuit to help Ruby, he realizes that you may be able to own something, but you can never own someone—especially the women you love.
Flight of Passion is a rapturous tale of beauty, obsession and the transformational power of unconditional love.
Reader reviews: “This is a well-written book that tantalizes your senses. Will Oliver be able to convince Ruby that she loves him enough to disobey her family? Can they find each other when all seems lost? An excellent book that I highly recommend. It will have you laughing with joy and crying with sadness.” ~ Marie Fraser
“Mollie Mathews has written a beautifully scripted story of two people wildly attracted to each other, but too constrained by family expectations to allow themselves to commit. When they meet again after eight years can they move beyond old patterns of behavior or are they doomed to always want, but never have?”~ Jane Whitmeyer
Book One in the True Love series AVAILABLE NOW: Ebook and Print available from Amazon: getBook.at/FlightofPassion
Paperback from all good book stores
Audio coming soon!
December 7, 2019
Claimed by The Sheikh, The Writer’s Life and Dealing With Interruptions
Dear friends,
Surviving the writer’s life requires resilience, a millionaire mindset and the ability to deal with obstacles. I’d planned, scheduled, project managed to the nth degree to finish the audio version of Claimed By The Sheikh – and then along came a water blaster!
Thankfully it’s all done now – the roof is shiny and clean and the audiobook, eBook and print copy of Claimed By The Sheikh is available from all good bookstores and libraries. I always love it when readers review my books (favorably!).
I also love how BookBub enables readers to say what they most enjoyed. I was thrilled that ‘unpredictably’ and being ‘informative’ were some of the reasons – along, of course with love.
As I shared in the Author’s Note: This book was inspired by the sassy brilliance of Dame Zaha Hadid. (DBE RA) She was an Iraqi-British architect and the first woman to receive the Pritzker Architecture Prize, in 2004. Tragically her life, her love, and her brilliance was cut short when she was in the prime of her career, aged 65. Her beautiful, innovative, pioneering architecture always inspired me, as it has countless other people. Hers was not an easy journey.
She once said, “If architecture doesn’t kill you you’re no good.”
She was beyond good—and architecture did kill her. She never married and she never had children. And she was always battling the architectural paternity for validation and acceptance. Despite her career success, her life struck me as very lonely and sad. Claimed by the Sheikh was also inspired by the tragedy in 2015 that took the lives of former New Zealand All Black legend Jerry Collins and his Canadian partner Alana Madill in France.
The crash happened at 3:10am along the highway near Béziers on the way to the city of Montpellier. They died instantly, and their baby daughter was taken to Montpellier hospital in a critical condition. I cried such tears thinking of that baby being left an orphan. It really worried me that she would be left in the world with no parents to love and care for her.
So I wondered—what if her parents weren’t really dead? What if the two people that died were the baby’s adoptive parents? What if her biological parents were very much alive? And then, as writers are want to do, I thought, what if the biological father was an extraordinarily wealthy sheikh who was unaware that he had fathered a child? Why a Sheikh? In a previous incarnation as a transformational leadership coach I was on assignment in one the most dangerous prisons in New Zealand.
I very much admired the men and women who worked in these very oppressive environments to keep our world safe. I especially admired those that were committed to helping prisoners change their lives.
One of the female prison officers at Rimutaka Prison knew that I was a romance novelist and asked me if I would write a book with a sheikh as the hero. So here he is, Cheryl. I dedicate Melanie and Tariq’s love story for you. And I also dedicate this book to the survivors of the 2019 Christchurch mosque shootings in New Zealand—and to those around the world who know that only love can bring peace.
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To grab your copy of Claimed by The Sheikh from Amazon, click here>>getbook.at/ClaimedByTheSheikh
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“Claimed by the Sheikh was a fast-paced read that held my interest from the first page to the last. The story had a depth to the characters and strong imagery due to the author’s attention to detail. Watching two worlds collide, as well as two strong characters fight for what they each believe is right, just added another layer to the story.”
“There was very strong imagery due to the vivid descriptions of the scenery, the palace and Melanie’s drawings, which made me feel that I was there. Tariq’s rescue of endangered animals and his philanthropy was a nice addition to the story. I liked how the child, Salim, was brought into the story as well as his importance to the storyline. Ms. Mathews is fast becoming a favorite author.”
DID YOU ENJOY THIS POST?
You may also like:
How Trauma Can Fuel Your Life Purpose
How extraordinary love can change our lives
To enjoy more posts and books like this please follow this blog and BookBub
December 3, 2019
Get Mollie’s brand new release before the prices increase…
SAVE 60% TODAY ONLY!
The secret they keep…
Passionate love in exotic locations – grab these sophisticated & sensual escapist reads today. Lose yourself in these beautiful stories of mystery, broken hearts and second chances.
The Sexy Billionaires Boxed Set contains four of the most popular books from AMAZON BEST-SELLING author Mollie Mathew’s romantic series set in the captivatingly beautiful and exotic landscapes of New Zealand, Fiji, Mexico, and the desert kingdom of Avana.
If you adore beautifully written stories and true heartwarming sensual romances that sparkle with humor you’ll love traveling along the road to love with these changing and evolving men and women as they open their heart’s again and find true love.
The four Sexy Billionaires books (over 950 pages) included in this bundle are:
The Italian Billionaire’s Christmas Bride
What if the person who is so, so, so wrong for you is really so, so, so right, but you’re too afraid to give love a chance?
Last Christmas, art therapist Issy Riley was jilted by her fiancé. This Christmas she’s running away. A week with a client on his private Fijian island promises to save her from cheating men and the London festive season. But when the client turns out to be a gorgeous and magnetic Italian billionaire, he threatens her resolve to never again trust her heart to the wrong man.
As the tropical heat soars, they discover that in this battle between work and play, resistance only fuels attraction—and sometimes two wrongs make a very passionate right.
The Italian Billionaire’s Scandalous Marriage
Three women. Three lives. And the lies that bind them. Why is everyone afraid of the truth?
When a lonely young American woman inherits a painting she discovers her whole life was a lie. Desperate for the truth, she goes in search of her true identity.
The painting is her only clue. But everyone is determined to keep its secret past repressed, including Vitaliano Rossi, the Italian gold tycoon, unnaturally suspicious of her motives, who wants the painting vanquished. How can she discover who she really is and convince him that his love means more to her than gold?
Flight of Passion
Past love and passionate obsessions. What will you do when love flies back into your life?
Billionaire investor Oliver Hart is used to getting what he wants. Single, thirty-five and a committed bachelor, he plays by his own rules. On a personal quest to discover a rare, elusive and very valuable butterfly, he’s unwittingly distracted by a former flame, Ruby Diaz—a woman who callously abandoned him eight years earlier. Deciding he wants to reclaim the beauty as his own, in his mind, it’s as good as done.
But Ruby is not his for the taking. Risking everything to help the woman he loves to gain her freedom, Oliver entangles himself in an emotional net that alters his life forever.
Claimed by The Sheikh
A grief-stricken Sheikh Tariq na Hassir, the formidable ruler of the Kingdom of Avana, arrives in Paris to claim his brother’s child after a car crash killed his parents–unaware that the child isn’t their biological son. Salim is Tariq’s son, with his former lover, a renowned architect.
Tariq will do whatever it takes to protect his legacy, including claiming Melanie as his bride and his son as heir. But Melanie has other plans for her future—a westernized life where she’s free to operate her own business, control her own life and meet a man who loves her for who she is.
These standalone sensual & sophisticated romance novels guarantee a HEA, and tales of romance that will capture your heart.
“Fast-paced, heart-wrenching, completely unexpected twists, excellent storylines, and a hell of a good read.”
~ Rae Waterhouse
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The Sexy Billionaires Boxed Set: Four Sexy Romances: The Italian Billionaires Scandalous Marriage, The Italian Billionaire’s Christmas Bride, Flight of Passion, and Claimed by The Sheikh
SAVE 60% TODAY ONLY! FREE ON KINDLE UNLIMTED or only $3.99
To grab your copy from Amazon, click here>>getbook.at/SexyBillionaires
To enjoy more posts and books like this please follow this blog and BookBub. Subscribe to my newsletter and enjoy a free copy of Twist of Fate
November 27, 2019
Happy Thanks Giving Day…
Happy Thanks Giving to my US friends! Sometimes it seems the world has gone mad. During dark and dull days, it’s great to have a reminder to be thankful for what we do have in our lives.
Perhaps you feel like many people and have forgotten what sparks joy. Looking back can be a great way to move forward. For example, in my FB feed, a random ‘memory’ showed up. A memory from six years ago. A moment of tremendous joy.
To complete a photography assignment, I had photographed a coaching client’s firstborn child. It truly was the golden hour! And such a special memory to capture. A once in a lifetime moment for Angela and I to treasure.
If you are lost in the toxic business of this world, if you resonate with a client who told me recently, “My demon is a busy brain,” mindful hobbies like photography, drawing, crochet, or mindful movement like yoga and chi gong can help you access that state of joy inherent in calm.
Photography is my go-to hobby. For my daughter it’s crochet. What’s yours?
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Gratitude and appreciation is another fabulous and simple way to spark joy.
What are you thankful for. Today? This week? This month? This year?
I’m so thankful that I write both romance (Mollie Mathews ) and self-empowerment books (as Cassandra Gaisford) and that my daughter and I got to write a book together―How to Find Your Joy and Purpose: Four Easy Steps to Discover A Job You Want And Live the Life You Love. And more importantly, that I could help her recover from a mental health crisis by tapping into the transcendental power of joy.
I’m thankful I’ve raised a resilient, kind and compassionate daughter. A spiritual daughter who seeks to add more love and light and joy to a world in crisis. It took her own crisis to spotlight the things we felt called to change.
Oh, and I’m super thankful to the Mayor of the Far North here in The Bay of Islands and his councilors who are supporting my billboard campaign to help reduce alcohol harm over Christmas (and beyond.)
Like novelist Danielle Steel, I’m passionate about campaigning for great mental health and I know that the demon of drink is the cause of demise for so many. I’m grateful that my sobriety books, like Mind Your Drink: The Surprising Joy of Sobriety (Control Alcohol, Discover Freedom, Find Happiness and Change Your Life have resonated with and helped so many.
“This is a refreshing “come from”, as the author is very mindful of the human challenge. Society is full of followers who allow the “status quo” to keep them non-present. This book (so far) is clear to not condemn the drinker, but rather to point out the reality of what alcohol is and how it truly effects/affects us! I love wine and beer and consider myself a moderate drinker. However, my LOVE for euphoria often takes me past the benefits of taking the edge off, enjoying the nuance spectrum of wine & beer characteristics and I end up disappointed with my choice of that second or third glass. I USED TO quote Lonnie the Cat; “I read about the evils of drinking so I quit reading”. I will be sixty soon and have lived a long life of great wine, beer, and company, but it is time for full consciousness and full control of what I consume, both in drink and food. This book is beyond refreshing in how she EDUCATES US in a way THAT WE DESIRE SOBRIETY! I am going to send several people this book because I love them and want them to love themselves more
I’m thankful for my loving partner who is such an important cheerleader and supporter in my life. I’m thankful for his willingness to face his demons and seek help too.
I’m thankful for my family who supported us through some extremely challenging times.
I’m so thankful for all my clients and people who read my books for the sensational feedback they share on Amazon or with me personally. Like Tina who recently emailed me as she read How to Find Your Joy and Purpose:
“Oh my, oh my, I am so LOVING reading this latest from you and Hannah Joy. There is such wisdom in these pages. I adore the bite-size morsels of advice and especially love the self-reflection questions at the end of each section. I’m sitting here stopped in my tracks going, yes yes yes as my mind ponders the questions deeply. I read your words about finding your skillset and realise that I have spent half a lifetime looking for my sweet spot, finally finding it, but it would have been so much easier with some guidelines!
Who inspires me? YOU do. I see your evolution, and it so aligns with my own inner passions. I admire your grunt, tenacity, focus, authenticity, willingness to dive into new creative pursuits and what you even make a living from it!”
I’m so thankful I get to write beautiful love stories that remind us all of the power of love to heal the most traumatic wounds. I’m so thankful that I write about beautiful love – not bondage and brutality.
I can’t help but wonder how books and movies like Fifty Shades of Grey contribute to domestic violence and deaths such as the young British woman Grace Millane.
“The defence used expert evidence and those who knew Millane to argue it was an accidental death during consensual erotic asphyxiation.
Have young men and women lost the beauty and joy of healthy intimacy? Has strangulation, chaining, whipping and beating become normal. Gosh, I sincerely hope not. But these are what some authors write about.
I’m so grateful to write books that change peoples’ lives.
I’m so thankful for those of you who write to me and post reviews about my books.
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
I’m so grateful that our replacement Nikau arrived today! How perfect, on Thanks Giving Day.
Plus, my newest book, The Little Princess Can Fly is OUT TODAY! In this book, I share the things that helped me overcome self-doubt, self-limiting beliefs, and self-sabotaging behavior (mine and others)
I’m so thrilled with the reviews for my latest full-length romance, Claimed by The Sheikh
“Wow, just wow, I can’t articulate enough how compellingly page-turning this remarkable story was. If I could give it more than 5 stars this would be it! This author has the gift & the power to make you experience her remarkable craft on a whole other level. I was drawn into the story when she shared a few chapters with me quite a while ago now & I’m beyond thrilled that she managed to finish it. I’m not one to tell the story, the blurb & other reviewers will cover that but I will concede that this magical, mystical, hauntingly beautiful story will stay with me for the longest time. Highly recommended.”
“Claimed by the Sheikh was a fast-paced read that held my interest from the first page to the last. The story had a depth to the characters and strong imagery due to the author’s attention to detail. Watching two worlds collide, as well as two strong characters fight for what they each believe is right, just added another layer to the story.”
“There was very strong imagery due to the vivid descriptions of the scenery, the palace and Melanie’s drawings, which made me feel that I was there. Tariq’s rescue of endangered animals and his philanthropy was a nice addition to the story. I liked how the child, Salim, was brought into the story as well as his importance to the storyline. Ms. Mathews is fast becoming a favorite author.”
I’m especially grateful that I am healthy and happy. I hope wherever you are in the world, that you’re happy too.
November 13, 2019
How I handle criticism
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“Firstly, you need to believe in your remarkable gift as a beyond compelling storyteller, you are undermining your talent & some folk will have their opinion which may not sit well but that doesn’t mean you change the story in any way unless they’re in the majority. I accept that I try not to hurt (although I can be stubborn as a mule at times) but I want you to know & understand that you have an incredible gift that you share with people from all over the world. Why would you bow to the opinions of people you do not know, much less respect.
You know this resonated with me from the get-go & I can’t tell you how much I healed from sobbing out loud about their traumatic but eventually healing story.”
Terry
Dear readers
Golly gosh. What a ride. If there’s one thing publishing a book has taught me it’s the need to develop a tough hide.
“A fantasy. Not worth reading, total rubbish,” wrote a person on my ARC team when she reviewed Claimed by The Sheikh. Harsh. But is it true?
Total rubbish? I’m not sure how I learn from this feedback. It didn’t seem constructive at all.
So, I’m going to take Terry’s advice (also on my beta/arc team) and not take on board negative comments—unless they are constructive. And even then, I have to remind myself that I am expressing the things most important to me. I’m not a perfect writer. There is still a lot to learn. But I think it’s cruel of this reviewer to say it is a childish story.
Religious intolerance, bullying, family abuse, shame, guilt—all these are important topics I cover in my book. That and love—and its ability to heal the deepest wounds.
So how do I bounce back from criticism?
1.) I look for truths that I may learn from
“Thoughts and memories explicitly written,” my non-fan wrote.
Perhaps there is too much introspection and telling not showing.
Maybe.
But then Danielle Steel and other popular authors do this too.
2.) I look deeper into the criticism given
“I don’t like billionaire romances and I don’t read Sheikh books.”
Okay. But why did you download and then review my book – and scathingly too?
3.) Celebrate and treasure the good reviews
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4.) Keep writing
I know some authors don’t read reviews. I respect their choices. But I like to know how people have enjoyed (or not) my stories. The lesson will be to realize that not everyone who reviews my books in an authentic reader of the stories I love to write. People review for many, and sometimes complex and unfathomable reasons.
I’d like to ask for more kindness, more constructiveness in any criticism, but I know I’m whispering in the wind.
So, instead, I practice detachment and continue on. Writing the stories I have inside, one loving word at a time.
I always love it when readers review my books (favorably!). I also love how BookBub enables readers to say what they most enjoyed. I was thrilled that ‘unpredictably’ and being ‘informative’ were some of the reasons – along, of course with love.
As I shared in the Author’s Note:
My latest book, Claimed by The Sheikh, was inspired by the sassy brilliance of Dame Zaha Hadid. (DBE RA) She was an Iraqi-British architect and the first woman to receive the Pritzker Architecture Prize, in 2004.
Tragically her life, her love, and her brilliance was cut short when she was in the prime of her career, aged 65.
Her beautiful, innovative, pioneering architecture always inspired me, as it has countless other people. Hers was not an easy journey. She once said, “If architecture doesn’t kill you you’re no good.”
She was beyond good—and architecture did kill her.
She never married and she never had children. And she was always battling the architectural paternity for validation and acceptance. Despite her career success, her life struck me as very lonely and sad.
Claimed by the Sheikh was also inspired by the tragedy in 2015 that took the lives of former New Zealand All Black legend Jerry Collins and his Canadian partner Alana Madill in France.
The crash happened at 3:10am along the highway near Béziers on the way to the city of Montpellier. They died instantly, and their baby daughter was taken to Montpellier hospital in a critical condition.
I cried such tears thinking of that baby being left an orphan. It really worried me that she would be left in the world with no parents to love and care for her.
So I wondered—what if her parents weren’t really dead? What if the two people that died were the baby’s adoptive parents? What if her biological parents were very much alive?
And then, as writers are want to do, I thought, what if the biological father was an extraordinarily wealthy sheikh who was unaware that he had fathered a child?
Why a Sheikh? In a previous incarnation as a transformational leadership coach I was on assignment in one the most dangerous prisons in New Zealand.
I very much admired the men and women who worked in these very oppressive environments to keep our world safe. I especially admired those that were committed to helping prisoners change their lives. One of the female prison officers at Rimutaka Prison knew that I was a romance novelist and asked me if I would write a book with a sheikh as the hero.
So here he is, Cheryl. I dedicate Melanie and Tariq’s love story for you.
And I also dedicate this book to the survivors of the 2019 Christchurch mosque shootings in New Zealand—and to those around the world who know that only love can bring peace.
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Sometimes, the most effective way I handle criticism is to open a pack of chocolate biscuits and plough in!
If you have enjoyed my stories, could I ask you to leave an honest and constructive review?
xxx
To grab your copy from Amazon, click here>>getbook.at/ClaimedByTheSheikh
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November 11, 2019
New release: Claimed by The Sheikh
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I’m skipping over the moon because the first book in Sheikhs Untamed Brides, Claimed by The Sheikh is FINISHED!
And I decided to bring the release date forward. Why? Because it’s a full moon, and full moons are always about celebrating the end of a cycle.
I hope you love this story as much as I adored writing it and learning more about the fascinating Arabic culture.
To grab your copy from Amazon, click here>>getbook.at/ClaimedByTheSheikh
The secret she kept from the Sheikh…..
A grief-stricken Sheikh Tariq na Hassir, the formidable ruler of the kingdom of Avana, arrives in Paris to claim his brother’s child after a car crash killed his parents–unaware that the child isn’t their biological son. Salim is Tariq’s son, with his former lover, a renowned architect.
Three years ago, after being banished by Tariq from his desert kingdom, Melanie Jones secretly gave her baby to Tariq’s childless brother and his wife, in a swap the world was never supposed to discover.
The tragedy pulls her back to the world that rejected her and the man who abandoned her―the only man capable of turning her carefully controlled world upside down.
Tariq will do whatever it takes to protect his legacy, including claiming Melanie as his bride and his son as heir.
But Melanie has other plans for her future―a westernized life where she’s free to operate her own business, control her own life and meet a man who loves her for who she is.
“A magical, mystical, hauntingly beautiful story which will stay with you forever.”
If you love sensuous romance and true love stories, set against a sensuous backdrop of the desert, art, and innovative architecture you’ll love Claimed by The Sheikh.
What I’m working on now….
I’m recording the audiobook version of Claimed by The Sheikh. I’m thrilled to say it’s nearly done. And Claimed by The Sheikh will be in paperback, hardcover, and large print soon. The cover is so beautiful it will look so lovely on your bookshelf – or under the tree for Christmas.
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If you’d love to hear audiobooks written and narrated by me, my newest releases are available for free at your local library, and several can be found wherever you purchase audiobooks.
Featured reader of the month
Terry!
“You know this resonated with me from the get-go & I can’t tell you how much I healed from sobbing out loud about their traumatic but eventually healing story.”
Thank you for your kind words throughout the writing and editing process. Your feedback continues to sustain me. Everything you said helped me, but most importantly knowing that my story offered and brought healing. I can’t tell you how important that is to me. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
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To grab your copy from Amazon, click here>>getbook.at/ClaimedByTheSheikh
November 5, 2019
New Audiobooks from Mollie Mathews
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I loved, loved, loved narrating this story—it’s so close to my heart as it’s based on a nearly true story (!) and set in my home town Wellington
I’m slowly, but surely, making my way through my backlist. You check out the catalog here>> https://www.audible.com/author/Mollie-Mathews/B01LRZVI66
Importantly, I want to narrate my own stories, not pass it on to a professional narrator. Why? I feel by not narrating your own stories it’s not dissimilar to hiring a ghost reader—it’s not your own work. I know everyone won’t agree, but personally, I love hearing the author’s voice. I don’t want to listen to anyone else’s voice. I want to feel up close and personal with the author. Is it just me? Let me know what you think.
October 30, 2019
Upcoming New Release: Claimed by the Sheikh
Dear readers, I’m so excited to let you know that Claimed By The Sheikh, Book One in THE SHEIKHS UNTAMED BRIDES available for pre-order now!
If you’ve been following me for a while, you’ll know this book has been a long-time finishing. So many things needed my attention first.
As Nora Roberts said, “We are always juggling balls. Some of them are rubber and some are glass.”
Some things won’t matter if you drop things, but other things, like family, health, relationships, may never be able to be put together again.
I’m relieved to say that I keep my glass balls from smashing!
Are you ready to be claimed by the sheikh?
Enjoy the first 6 chapters for free, simply click here>>https://dl.bookfunnel.com/tg56qgo2hl
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If you love clean romance and sweet love stories, set against a sensuous backdrop of the desert, art, and architecture you’ll love Claimed by The Sheikh.
As I count down to the release of Claimed by The Sheikh. I’m so happy with the early reviews!
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“Wow, just wow, I can’t articulate enough how compellingly page-turning this remarkable story was. If I could give it more than 5 stars this would be it! This author has the gift & the power to make you experience her remarkable craft on a whole other level. I was drawn into the story when she shared a few chapters with me quite a while ago now & I’m beyond thrilled that she managed to finish it. I’m not one to tell the story, the blurb & other reviewers will cover that but I will concede that this magical, mystical, hauntingly beautiful story will stay with me for the longest time. Highly recommended.”
“Claimed by the Sheikh was a fast-paced read that held my interest from the first page to the last. The story had a depth to the characters and strong imagery due to the author’s attention to detail. Watching two worlds collide, as well as two strong characters fight for what they each believe is right, just added another layer to the story.”
“There was very strong imagery due to the vivid descriptions of the scenery, the palace and Melanie’s drawings, which made me feel that I was there. Tariq’s rescue of endangered animals and his philanthropy was a nice addition to the story. I liked how the child, Salim, was brought into the story as well as his importance to the storyline. Ms. Mathews is fast becoming a favorite author.”
What Inspired This Story?
Claimed by the Sheikh was inspired by the sassy brilliance of Dame Zaha Hadid. (DBE RA) She was an Iraqi-British architect and the first woman to receive the Pritzker Architecture Prize, in 2004.
Tragically her life, her love, and her brilliance was cut short when she was in the prime of career, aged 65.
Her beautiful, innovative, pioneering architecture always inspired me, as it has countless other people. Hers was not an easy journey. She once said, “If architecture doesn’t kill you you’re no good.”
She was beyond good—and architecture did kill her. She never married and she never had children. And she was always battling the architectural paternity for validation and acceptance. Despite her career success, her life struck me as very lonely and sad.
Claimed by the Sheikh was also inspired by the tragedy that took the lives of former New Zealand All Black Legend Jerry Collins and his Canadian partner Alana Madill in France. The crash happened at 3:10am along the highway near Béziers on the way to the city of Montpellier. They died instantly, and their baby daughter was taken to Montpellier hospital in a critical condition.
I cried such tears thinking of that baby being left an orphan. It really worried me that she would be left in the world with no parents to love and care for her. So I wondered—what if her parents weren’t really dead. What if the two people that died were the baby’s adoptive parents, and what if her biological parents were very much alive.
And then, as writers are want to do, I thought what if the biological father was an extraordinarily wealthy Sheikh who was unaware that he had fathered a child.
Why a Sheikh? In a previous incarnation as a transformational leadership coach, I was on assignment in one the most dangerous prisons in New Zealand.
I very much admired the men and women who worked in these very oppressive environments to keep our world safe. I especially admired those that were committed to helping prisoners change their lives. One of the female prison officers at Rimutaka Prison, in New Zealand, knew that I was a romance novelist and asked me if I would write a book with a sheikh as the hero.
So here he is, Cheryl. I dedicate Melanie and Tariq’s love story for you.
And I also dedicate this book to the survivors of the 2019 Christchurch mosque shootings in New Zealand—and to those around the world who know that only love can bring peace.
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To grab your copy from Amazon, click here>>getbook.at/ClaimedByTheSheikh
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