Katheryn Lane's Blog, page 4
November 16, 2013
THE TEXAS COWBOY - Sneak peek!
Image courtesy of franky242/FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Apart from a sheikh, what could be sexier than a cowboy?
Inspired by several trips I've made to Texas, I'm currently working on a new romance called THE TEXAS COWBOY . Although I'm still editing it, I'm so excited about this book that I'm giving everyone a sneak peak of Chapter 1.
“You can’t take his picture, Victoria!” Laura whispered.
“Please, call me Vicky,” Laura’s cousin replied. She held up
her phone and clicked. There on the screen was a picture of the man opposite
them captured forever for Vicky to look at as much as she pleased whether Laura
liked it not.
“I don’t know how people behave where you come from in
England, Victoria, but here in Dallas, we don’t go round taking pictures of
strangers, especially cowboys.” Laura lifted up her iced tea with her perfectly
manicured fingers and took a small sip.
“But look at him. It’s such a great image.” Vicky pointed
directly at the man standing across the street from the cafe where they had
stopped for a drink. He was wearing faded jeans, boots and a large cowboy hat, which
was tilted slightly over his left eye. In his arm he was holding an orange
Hermes box tied up with brown ribbon. “It just seems to sum up Dallas, doesn’t
it? A tall, sexy cowboy, holding an expensive, designer box.”
“Victoria, I don’t
see what’s so interesting about him. He’s probably just some ranch-hand on an
errand. I would never have suggested sitting outside, if I thought you were
going to take photographs of strange men,” Laura signaled to one of the
waiters for the bill.
“I’m sorry, but my friends back home will just love this
picture. I had to take it.” Vicky looked up from the image on her phone to the
flesh and blood version that was waiting on the other side of the road. The
cowboy caught her eye and winked at her. Vicky looked at her cousin. She was
looking for change in her purse. Vicky looked across the road and winked back.
She could feel her cheeks turning scarlet. She wasn't sure if it was because
she was embarrassed about defying her cousin, or because she had just made a
pass at a complete stranger. She would never have done something like that back
home in England, so what made her do it here in Dallas?
“I don’t believe it,” Laura said. “It looks like he’s coming
over. Drink up. We’re leaving.” Laura stood up to go, but it was too late. The
cowboy had already crossed the road and was striding towards them.
I hope to publish THE TEXAS COWBOY soon.
Watch this space!
THE TEXAS COWBOY - Sneak peak!
Image courtesy of franky242/FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Apart from a sheikh, what could be sexier than a cowboy?
Inspired by several trips I've made to Texas, I'm currently working on a new romance called THE TEXAS COWBOY . Although I'm still editing it, I'm so excited about this book that I'm giving everyone a sneak peak of Chapter 1.
“You can’t take his picture, Victoria!” Laura whispered.
“Please, call me Vicky,” Laura’s cousin replied. She held up
her phone and clicked. There on the screen was a picture of the man opposite
them captured forever for Vicky to look at as much as she pleased whether Laura
liked it not.
“I don’t know how people behave where you come from in
England, Victoria, but here in Dallas, we don’t go round taking pictures of
strangers, especially cowboys.” Laura lifted up her iced tea with her perfectly
manicured fingers and took a small sip.
“But look at him. It’s such a great image.” Vicky pointed
directly at the man standing across the street from the cafe where they had
stopped for a drink. He was wearing faded jeans, boots and a large cowboy hat, which
was tilted slightly over his left eye. In his arm he was holding an orange
Hermes box tied up with brown ribbon. “It just seems to sum up Dallas, doesn’t
it? A tall, sexy cowboy, holding an expensive, designer box.”
“Victoria, I don’t
see what’s so interesting about him. He’s probably just some ranch-hand on an
errand. I would never have suggested sitting outside, if I thought you were
going to take photographs of strange men,” Laura signaled to one of the
waiters for the bill.
“I’m sorry, but my friends back home will just love this
picture. I had to take it.” Vicky looked up from the image on her phone to the
flesh and blood version that was waiting on the other side of the road. The
cowboy caught her eye and winked at her. Vicky looked at her cousin. She was
looking for change in her purse. Vicky looked across the road and winked back.
She could feel her cheeks turning scarlet. She wasn't sure if it was because
she was embarrassed about defying her cousin, or because she had just made a
pass at a complete stranger. She would never have done something like that back
home in England, so what made her do it here in Dallas?
“I don’t believe it,” Laura said. “It looks like he’s coming
over. Drink up. We’re leaving.” Laura stood up to go, but it was too late. The
cowboy had already crossed the road and was striding towards them.
I hope to publish THE TEXAS COWBOY soon.
Watch this space!
November 12, 2013
Meet Romance Author JJ Ellis
I always love to talk to other romance authors and today it's great to welcome JJ Ellis, bestselling author of Virgin Voyage. First, could you tell us what your books are about? My books are about true love, family, passion and the funny parts of life. I love adding a dash of comedy to my work! My current series of romantic comedies have all of the above, plus a beautiful setting (Alaska) and a matchmaking matriarch!
What are you working on at the moment?
Right now I am writing book five of my cruiseship series. It is the final book and I'm doing it as a part of NaNoWriMo! I am very excited about this book because it is my most anticipated, but I am also very sad because it is the final one of the group.
What inspires your books?
Wow, that is a hard one. I think a lot of my books are inspired by the good things in life, the things everyone wants. Having someone to like and love, laughing at yourself and with others and being a family. I have a large family (5 kids) and I adore every moment of it and try to include that feeling in all of my stories.
What are you currently reading?
Right now I am reading some serious romance! I have a rock star romance (Weathering Jack Storm by Lisa Gillis) and a contemporary romance (Moment by Moment by Laura Taylor) up front on my kindle at the moment with many others to follow.
When you're not reading or writing, what do you like to do in your free time?
Well, when I am not working on 'book stuff' or 'blog stuff' I guess you could say I don't have free time. I am the mom of five kids ranging in age from 18-2 so I am kept plenty busy with them!
Where can readers find out more about you?
My author blog/website http://www.writerjjellis.com
My mommy blog http://www.brokenwifeandmom.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/writerjjellis
Twitter: https://twitter.com/mommyof5crazies
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/JJ-Ellis/e/B00BOSKZ5C/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1384061645&sr=8-1
Thank you so much for taking the time to tell us about your wonderful books!
November 9, 2013
Romance of the Month: Whispers from Heaven by D.G. Torrens
I've just finished reading a great romance novel, which I loved so much that I had to share it with everyone! It's called Whispers From Heaven and it's by one of my favourite authors, D.G. Torrens. It's part 2 in a series, so I'll start by telling you about the first book which I also loved.
Book 1 Tears of Endurance
A secret can tear you apart ... or bind you forever.
For Arianna Ferria, a satisfying and challenging life as an art gallery owner takes an unexpected turn into burning romance when she falls for the handsome and successful Ben Fielding. Soon, their relationship blossoms into more than she could ever imagine, but when a black secret comes crashing down around them, their love faces the ultimate test as they come to grips with a tragic fate that will bring you to tears ... Tears of Endurance
Book 2 Whispers from Heaven
Can love find a way?
Arianna and Tristan are both struggling to come to terms with a great loss; one that is having a detrimental effect on their future. With all the emotions that come with being a new mother followed by feelings of immense grief and mourning the death of her partner, Arianna is struggling each and every day. Lost in her world of grieving, she is struggling with moving forward. Tristan, her baby's uncle, is by her side, giving her his unwavering support, as promised to his brother before he passed away. His only brother, his only family; now gone forever. Tristan has fallen irrevocably and undeniably in love with Arianna, unbeknown to her. Through loyalty to his dead brother, he struggles daily to suppress his feelings, not wanting to scare Arianna away. Baby Ben is all the family he has left now and if being friends with Arianna is all there ever will be then he will suffer in silence.
I won't spoil it by telling you the ending, but I will say that if you'll looking for a great romance, grab these books.
Book 1 Tears of Endurance
A secret can tear you apart ... or bind you forever.For Arianna Ferria, a satisfying and challenging life as an art gallery owner takes an unexpected turn into burning romance when she falls for the handsome and successful Ben Fielding. Soon, their relationship blossoms into more than she could ever imagine, but when a black secret comes crashing down around them, their love faces the ultimate test as they come to grips with a tragic fate that will bring you to tears ... Tears of Endurance
Book 2 Whispers from Heaven
Can love find a way?
Arianna and Tristan are both struggling to come to terms with a great loss; one that is having a detrimental effect on their future. With all the emotions that come with being a new mother followed by feelings of immense grief and mourning the death of her partner, Arianna is struggling each and every day. Lost in her world of grieving, she is struggling with moving forward. Tristan, her baby's uncle, is by her side, giving her his unwavering support, as promised to his brother before he passed away. His only brother, his only family; now gone forever. Tristan has fallen irrevocably and undeniably in love with Arianna, unbeknown to her. Through loyalty to his dead brother, he struggles daily to suppress his feelings, not wanting to scare Arianna away. Baby Ben is all the family he has left now and if being friends with Arianna is all there ever will be then he will suffer in silence.
I won't spoil it by telling you the ending, but I will say that if you'll looking for a great romance, grab these books.
November 8, 2013
Meet author Liam Taylor
I haven't had the chance (or the time!) to do an author interview for a while now, but today it's great to welcome Liam Taylor, author of The Shard Chronicles. First, can I ask what your book is about?
It’sabout the life of Austin Cooper, a boy growing up in present-day Colorado.
Loved and respected by his family and friends, he’s keeping a terrible,
disheartening secret from them all. He’s not like everyone else. He has a
unique ability that ensures his role as future protector of a powerful object, an
object in the ownership of a man, the only other human like him. An object
with a true origin lost over the span of time. An object that wants him dead.
After a
troubling incident involving Austin, the man departs, searching for answers,
and leaving the boy to deal with a new set of problems. He’s
displaying more abilities... impossible without possession of the object... and
the worst one yet, the school bully, intent on destroying the one person
capable of stopping his vicious deeds.
It is listed as
being Book 1, so can we expect more books in the series?
Oh,
yes! It’s a big story, so I envision there to be at least five, possibly six.
In fact, right now, amid the remarkable, fascinating, and often time-consuming experience
that is marketing, I am currently finishing Book Two and prepping for the
polish. So for the readers who are enjoying the series thus far, stay tuned,
because things are about to get very intense in Crescent Lake!
Where does the inspiration for
your stories and characters come from?
Good
question! It’s one I’ve asked myself on many an occasion, and I’ll attempt an
explanation in the following way. Personally, stories just seem to pop into my
head from nowhere (mostly when I’m in a situation where I can’t immediately
write them down. I’ll refer to that as Sod’s Law!) Of course, the inspiration
must come from somewhere, whether it be something read, seen, or heard, et
cetera, and I put it down to the subconscious mind dredging that thought seed
from its depths and implanting it within the conscious. The idea can appear at
any time, possibly launched by the very thing that started it in the first
place. An observation, an article, a feeling, smell, sensation, anything that
eventually triggers it. However, in the case of The Shard Chronicles,
inspiration most definitely came from my personal point of view that we are not
alone in the universe. It’s indisputable, I think. And for those who consider
our species the only intelligent life on a planet, well, that’s pretty absurd,
even arrogant. As for the characters who make the story, that’s an easy one. I
mentioned observation before, and that’s how I source my characters, creating
them from all the quirks and personalities that are the wonderful people I’ve
met and/or observed.
Why did you choose the genre you
did to write in?
Since a
very early age, I have had a deep fascination with space. In fact, when I got
the inevitable question, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” my answer
was always “An astronaut.” I’m sure that must have brought on fits of merriment
when I wasn’t around. New Zealand’s space program in the early to mid-1970s
wasn’t quite what it is today! From there, the cosmological attraction expanded
to include everything... the certainty of alien life, planets, stars, galaxies,
asteroids, interstellar travel, and so on.
What are you
reading at the moment?
Actually,
at the moment, I’m not. Although, after the publication of Book One, I did
manage to get through Richard Matheson’s, ‘7 Steps to Midnight’. Right now,
I’ve got my hands full with Book Two, but once I have the time, I think I’ll be
perusing ‘Servant of the Bones’, by Anne Rice, a book I’ve been meaning to read
for quite a while now.
Who is your all-time, favourite
author?
Now that
is an extremely hard question to answer! There are many, many authors I admire,
through a number of genres. I’ve enjoyed horror by the King himself, Stephen, Dean
Koontz, Lovecraft; fantasy by the master, JRR Tolkien, David Eddings, Tracy
Hickman, Margaret Weis, and Raymond E. Feist; humor by Doug Naylor and Rob
Grant, Terry Pratchett, Douglas Adams; and the literary lords of science
fiction, Jules Verne, Herbert George ‘H.G.’ Wells, Asimov and Arthur C. Clarke
to name but a few. Even though I’m writing science fiction, I have never
limited my reading to one particular genre. However, a reply I must give! So,
my all-time, favorite author would have to be Jim Grant, known worldwide by his
pen name, Lee Child. I absolutely adore his style and structure. He takes
everything I’ve ever learnt about writing, throws it straight out the window (the
sort of thing his protagonist, Jack Reacher, would do to the bad guy) and yet
carves out a brilliantly entertaining read with a simplistic, stunning, and stimulating
elegance. Fantastic!
What do you like
to do in your free time when you’re not reading and writing?
Any
large amounts of free time I can acquire are typically spent trying to keep an
acre of land under control. Summertime in Australia has the grass and weeds
growing at an unbelievable rate. I’ll finish the lawn, put the mower away, turn
around and the whole lot has already grown by at least a foot! If I’m not doing
that, then I’m spending time with my children, or catching up on a few, select
TV programs, usually documentaries on anything to do with the cosmos. And TheWalking Dead. Of course. That show has it all. Love it!
Where can
readers buy your book?
Smashwords:
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/337993
Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00EC9ALEK
iTunes:
https://itunes.apple.com/au/book/shard-chronicles-book-one/id678885536?mt=11
Where can
readers find out more about you?
There’s
a concise author biography on The Shard Chronicles website:
www.theshard-chronicles.com
I can also be contacted
directly through my email address:
liamtaylor@theshard-chronicles.com
And
if the readers don’t mind being sent bat-crap crazy by my ludicrous prattle, then I can sometimes be found loitering on Facebook, Twitter, and more
recently, Google+
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/liam.taylor.3367
Twitter: https://twitter.com/LMTaylorAuthor
Google+:
https://plus.google.com/u/0/101222818627291144113/posts
Coming soon to an
electronic device near you - The Blog. Kind of like The Blob, but not as
terrifying. It’s a place where I will compose riveting articles on everything
from every to thing. Hope to see you there.
Katheryn, thank you so
much for giving me the opportunity to address the followers of your marvelous blog.
I have thoroughly enjoyed my very first interview. Happy readings, happy
readers!
Thank you Liam! And thank you for taking the time to be here and tell us about your wonderful books.
October 24, 2013
#1 Hot New Release - A BRIDE FOR THE SHEIKH
What an exciting week! My latest sheikh romance, A Bride For The Sheikh , has just been published and Amazon has listed it as a #1 Hot New Release! It's also doing well in the Amazon bestseller charts and currently stands #7 in its category, with two of my other sheikh romances at #8 and #9.
It looks like readers are escaping the colder weather with some hot desert romance!
October 21, 2013
Cover reveal for A BRIDE FOR THE SHEIKH
After a lot of difficult decisions and some very hard choices, I now have an amazing cover for my next romance novel, A Bride For The Sheikh, thanks to the extremely talented designer at J. D. Smith Designs. Here it is:
I hope everyone loves it as much as I do. I can't wait to publish the book - it should be out soon on Amazon.
Watch this space!
I hope everyone loves it as much as I do. I can't wait to publish the book - it should be out soon on Amazon.
Watch this space!
September 28, 2013
A BRIDE FOR THE SHEIKH - Sneak peek
Although I'm still busy editing my new sheikh romance, A BRIDE FOR THE SHEIKH, I'm giving everyone a sneak peak of the first chapter.
“Rashid, you have no choice,” declared His Royal Highness,
the Sultan of Bezira.
Sheikh Rashid, the Sultan’s youngest son, bowed his head. “I
will agree to marry a foreigner, as you wish.”
Bezira, the small Arab country that his father ruled over,
was far too small for Sheikh Rashid to marry a local woman. It would only
encourage factions and rivalries, and even worse, it would mean marrying
someone who was probably related to him, even if it was only distantly. Bezira
might have a fortune in oil, but it seriously lacked a large local population.
The barren desert country was so inhospitable that it was traditionally home to
only a few hardy Bedouin tribes who tended to intermarry. However, the local
custom of marrying second or third cousins resulted in a series of medical
issues. Therefore, the Sultan was adamant to break this local custom, starting
with his own children.
“Good. I’m glad you agree. I knew you’d see sense.” The
Sultan stepped forward and placed his hand on his son’s shoulder. “You’ll be
please to know that I’ve already found you a bride.”
Sheikh Rashid looked up. His father might be breaking with some
of the local traditions, but an arranged marriage obviously wasn’t one of them.
“Who is she?” he asked.
“Chrystal Longhorn, the daughter of my dear friend, Jack
Longhorn.” The Sultan beamed at his son.
“Chrystal?” Sheikh Rashid couldn’t believe that his father
was proposing that he marry her.
“She might be a little spirited, but she’s a beauty and her
father’s a fine man.”
Chrystal was certainly beautiful, if you liked women that
looked like Barbie dolls. She had long blonde hair, large blue eyes and a
figure that most people knew had been cosmetically enhanced in various
different ways. Also, to say that Chrystal was ‘a little spirited’ was a huge
understatement. She was the meanest, nastiest, most unpleasant woman Rashid had
ever met. Her father, Jack, might be a fine man, and his intellect and honesty
made him the Sultan’s most trusted financial advisor, but these qualities had
not been passed down to his daughter.
“Father, thank you for your concern,” Rashid began. He knew
he would have to be careful with how he treated the issue; his father had a
legendary temper. “But may I ask if Miss Longhorn has been consulted about
this? I wouldn’t want her to marry someone against her will.”
“You’ve always been the kindest of all my sons,” the Sultan
replied. “I’ve talked to Jack and he says his daughter would be delighted, so
you needn’t worry about that.”
Rashid knew that Chrystal disliked him almost as must as he
disliked her, but he could just imagine her agreeing to such a match just to
spite him if nothing else. Also, a woman like her would love the royal status
it would confer on her as well as the access that she would have to the royal
family’s legendary oil wealth.
“Father, there is something I must tell you,” Rashid tried
again. “I don’t feel that Chrystal and I are compatible.”
“Compatible?” The Sultan laughed. “Of course you aren’t! Men
and woman never are. That’s what makes marriage such a challenge.”
Rashid’s parents had a very stormy relationship. When they
were together, their arguments could be heard resonating across the palace,
though most of the year they lived in separate palaces, or even in separate
countries. Rashid’s mother, the Sultana, was currently in California living in
a sprawling mansion in Beverley Hills.
“I would hope that maybe one day I could have a wife that
would be a companion to me. Maybe someone I could love,” Rashid continued.
“Love?” the Sultan looked incredulous. “Do you think that
life is like some kind of romance novel? Marriage is a contract between two
people and like any business contract there are several things that need to be
considered, such as the bride’s age, family and general background. As far as I
can see, Chrystal meets all the necessary requirements. To say that love should
be a consideration, would be like saying I should buy a business just because I
like its logo, or a car because it’s a nice colour. If I did everything on the
basis of love, Bezira wouldn’t be the country it is today.”
“Maybe marriage is more than just a business contract?”
Rashid suggested.
“My son, I don’t regret sending you to college in England,”
the Sultan replied, referring to the three years that his son had spent doing
Media Studies at Oxford Brookes University. “However, sometimes I wonder if you
picked up a few rather silly notions while you were there.”
“If marriage is a business contract, then perhaps it’s open
to negotiation?” Rashid said, trying a different approach. He knew that if he
argued with his father and opposed him too strongly, the Sultan would have him
married off to the dreadful Crystal the very next morning.
“What type of negotiation?” the Sultan asked, looking more
amused than angry.
“What if I agree to marry a foreign woman, but I get to choose
who it is?”
“You want to choose?”
“I would only choose someone who would be a suitable bride
for a member of the royal family.”
“Naturally,” the Sultan replied.
Rashid waited while his father thought about the idea. When his
father began to smile at him, he knew he was in with a chance.
“If you can find a foreign woman, from a decent family, a
woman who would be an asset to our own, then I agree,” his father said at last.
“Thank you!” Rashid was thrilled that he no longer had to
marry the vile Chrystal. He bowed low to his father in gratitude.
“However, you must find her and present her to me within two
weeks. If you don’t, I’ll start the arrangements for your wedding to Jack’s
daughter.”
“Two weeks? How can I find someone in just two weeks?”
“Those are my conditions. You either agree to them or I
announce your engagement to Miss Longhorn today.”
“I agree,” Rashid replied, bowing again, but this time it
was as if a weight was on his shoulders forcing him down. How could he find
someone in just two weeks? How could he find a suitable foreign bride in so
short a time?
“You can go.” The Sultan waved his hand to dismiss his son.
“But father...”
“Go now, before I change my mind and make it just a week,”
the Sultan commanded.
A BRIDE FOR THE SHEIKH - Sneak peak
Although I'm still busy editing my new sheikh romance, A BRIDE FOR THE SHEIKH, I'm giving everyone a sneak peak of the first chapter.
“Rashid, you have no choice,” declared His Royal Highness,
the Sultan of Bezira.
Sheikh Rashid, the Sultan’s youngest son, bowed his head. “I
will agree to marry a foreigner, as you wish.”
Bezira, the small Arab country that his father ruled over,
was far too small for Sheikh Rashid to marry a local woman. It would only
encourage factions and rivalries, and even worse, it would mean marrying
someone who was probably related to him, even if it was only distantly. Bezira
might have a fortune in oil, but it seriously lacked a large local population.
The barren desert country was so inhospitable that it was traditionally home to
only a few hardy Bedouin tribes who tended to intermarry. However, the local
custom of marrying second or third cousins resulted in a series of medical
issues. Therefore, the Sultan was adamant to break this local custom, starting
with his own children.
“Good. I’m glad you agree. I knew you’d see sense.” The
Sultan stepped forward and placed his hand on his son’s shoulder. “You’ll be
please to know that I’ve already found you a bride.”
Sheikh Rashid looked up. His father might be breaking with some
of the local traditions, but an arranged marriage obviously wasn’t one of them.
“Who is she?” he asked.
“Chrystal Longhorn, the daughter of my dear friend, Jack
Longhorn.” The Sultan beamed at his son.
“Chrystal?” Sheikh Rashid couldn’t believe that his father
was proposing that he marry her.
“She might be a little spirited, but she’s a beauty and her
father’s a fine man.”
Chrystal was certainly beautiful, if you liked women that
looked like Barbie dolls. She had long blonde hair, large blue eyes and a
figure that most people knew had been cosmetically enhanced in various
different ways. Also, to say that Chrystal was ‘a little spirited’ was a huge
understatement. She was the meanest, nastiest, most unpleasant woman Rashid had
ever met. Her father, Jack, might be a fine man, and his intellect and honesty
made him the Sultan’s most trusted financial advisor, but these qualities had
not been passed down to his daughter.
“Father, thank you for your concern,” Rashid began. He knew
he would have to be careful with how he treated the issue; his father had a
legendary temper. “But may I ask if Miss Longhorn has been consulted about
this? I wouldn’t want her to marry someone against her will.”
“You’ve always been the kindest of all my sons,” the Sultan
replied. “I’ve talked to Jack and he says his daughter would be delighted, so
you needn’t worry about that.”
Rashid knew that Chrystal disliked him almost as must as he
disliked her, but he could just imagine her agreeing to such a match just to
spite him if nothing else. Also, a woman like her would love the royal status
it would confer on her as well as the access that she would have to the royal
family’s legendary oil wealth.
“Father, there is something I must tell you,” Rashid tried
again. “I don’t feel that Chrystal and I are compatible.”
“Compatible?” The Sultan laughed. “Of course you aren’t! Men
and woman never are. That’s what makes marriage such a challenge.”
Rashid’s parents had a very stormy relationship. When they
were together, their arguments could be heard resonating across the palace,
though most of the year they lived in separate palaces, or even in separate
countries. Rashid’s mother, the Sultana, was currently in California living in
a sprawling mansion in Beverley Hills.
“I would hope that maybe one day I could have a wife that
would be a companion to me. Maybe someone I could love,” Rashid continued.
“Love?” the Sultan looked incredulous. “Do you think that
life is like some kind of romance novel? Marriage is a contract between two
people and like any business contract there are several things that need to be
considered, such as the bride’s age, family and general background. As far as I
can see, Chrystal meets all the necessary requirements. To say that love should
be a consideration, would be like saying I should buy a business just because I
like its logo, or a car because it’s a nice colour. If I did everything on the
basis of love, Bezira wouldn’t be the country it is today.”
“Maybe marriage is more than just a business contract?”
Rashid suggested.
“My son, I don’t regret sending you to college in England,”
the Sultan replied, referring to the three years that his son had spent doing
Media Studies at Oxford Brookes University. “However, sometimes I wonder if you
picked up a few rather silly notions while you were there.”
“If marriage is a business contract, then perhaps it’s open
to negotiation?” Rashid said, trying a different approach. He knew that if he
argued with his father and opposed him too strongly, the Sultan would have him
married off to the dreadful Crystal the very next morning.
“What type of negotiation?” the Sultan asked, looking more
amused than angry.
“What if I agree to marry a foreign woman, but I get to choose
who it is?”
“You want to choose?”
“I would only choose someone who would be a suitable bride
for a member of the royal family.”
“Naturally,” the Sultan replied.
Rashid waited while his father thought about the idea. When his
father began to smile at him, he knew he was in with a chance.
“If you can find a foreign woman, from a decent family, a
woman who would be an asset to our own, then I agree,” his father said at last.
“Thank you!” Rashid was thrilled that he no longer had to
marry the vile Chrystal. He bowed low to his father in gratitude.
“However, you must find her and present her to me within two
weeks. If you don’t, I’ll start the arrangements for your wedding to Jack’s
daughter.”
“Two weeks? How can I find someone in just two weeks?”
“Those are my conditions. You either agree to them or I
announce your engagement to Miss Longhorn today.”
“I agree,” Rashid replied, bowing again, but this time it
was as if a weight was on his shoulders forcing him down. How could he find
someone in just two weeks? How could he find a suitable foreign bride in so
short a time?
“You can go.” The Sultan waved his hand to dismiss his son.
“But father...”
“Go now, before I change my mind and make it just a week,”
the Sultan commanded.
September 20, 2013
New Sheikh Romance On It's Way!
I've been away for a while on my summer holidays (which is why it's been quiet on this blog recently) and I while I was gone, I took advantage of the free time to write my next sheikh romance. It has a provisional title of A BRIDE FOR THE SHEIKH and although it's still at draft stage, I can give away a little bit about it.
Sheikh Rashid is told by his father, the Sultan, that he must marry Chrystal Longhorn, the daughter of his American adviser. When the sheikh refuses, the Sultan agrees to let him choose his own bride. However, in order to prevent intermarriage with a local family, she must be a foreigner and the sheikh must present her to the Sultan within two weeks.
That very evening Sheikh Rashid meets Angelina Smith, a beautiful young woman from England. The sheikh is immediately besotted with her and the attraction appears to be mutual. However, Angelina has just accepted a place at an exclusive law school. Will she throw away her hard-earned career dreams to become a Middle Eastern wife?
Being the wife of a wealthy sheikh is exactly what Chrystal Longhorn wants. What lengths will she go to in order to keep Sheikh Rashid and make sure he marries her and not Angelina?
Sheikh Rashid has only two weeks to deal with Chrystal and persuade Angelina to marry him.
The clock is ticking . . .
The book still needs to be edited, but I hope to release it soon. Watch this space!
