Dani Collins's Blog, page 18
September 15, 2020
Facebook Live – Join me today!
Join me as I chat live today on Harlequin Connection (September 15th) at 1 PM ET (10 – 11am PT).
I’ll be answering questions about my latest release, Confessions of an Italian Marriage, talking about my writing space and other fun stuff.
I’d love to see you there!
Can’t make it during the live session? No problem! Send me your question in advance.
September 2, 2020
Manga Baby Swap is Complete!
I’m thrilled to see the second half of my Wrong Heirs duet has arrived in Manga! The Consequence He Must Claim came out yesterday.
An unexpected night of passion with her boss shakes Sorcha’s world, but was it all just a fantasy?
“Please let me see him!”
When Cesar Montero is taken to the hospital after a car crash, Sorcha, his personal secretary, isn’t allowed to see him on the grounds that she is not a relative.
Sorcha has long had feelings for Cesar, but right after they spent the night together, they were met with misfortune. On top of that, Cesar’s fiancée shows up and tries to pay her off, an apology to his “one last fling.”
Sorcha despairs that their night of passion was just that, a fling that meant nothing to Cesar… She vows to never to see him again!
Now you can enjoy both The Marriage He Must Keep and The Consequence He Must Claim with the gorgeous illustrations by Kazuna Uchida and Eri Kawamura.
My baby swap duet has been one of my most popular miniseries ever.
Read how they came about
August 26, 2020
Check out this *gorgeous* cover for my next Greek
How sexy is this stunning cover for What the Greek’s Wife Needs?
I can’t wait for you to read this marriage reunion with a secret baby (with a small twist.)
I had the idea that Tanja would be caught in a fictional country taken over by extremists. She can’t leave without a male relative to escort her, forcing her estranged husband, Leon, to come get her. In the middle of a tense scene where he’s trying to extract her, she says, “Our baby is coming, too…”
If you’re a fan of my Canadian heroines, you’ll definitely want to check this out.
She wants to be his wife…
…but only on paper!
Tanja’s whirlwind marriage to Leon Patrakis is over. She hasn’t seen him since he returned to Greece five years ago. Yet, to keep the baby daughter she’s adopting, Tanja has a last request: she and Leon stay wed…in name only.
Leaving behind his exhilarating connection to Tanja wasn’t easy for Leon. Yet, to shield her from his family’s notorious reputation, he had no choice. He can’t reject Tanja’s request to make her dreams of a family come true. But ignoring their still-smoldering electricity? Impossible!
What the Greek’s Wife Needs comes out January 1st, but you can
read the first two chapters here
August 2, 2020
Alyssa’s House Party – Watch Now
Did you miss joining Alyssa J. Montgomery’s House Party live?
No problem! You can watch the replay here. The house party is one of many events so check the schedule below:
Browse the full schedule here
You’ll see me, Alyssa, Meg Tilly, and Sabrina Jeffries showing off our writing spaces and answering reader questions. As I go about my life, I often forget how invigorating it is to talk with other writers. I loved hearing how my fellow authors approach the different challenges we face in this kooky career we’ve chosen.
I want to send a huge thank you to Alyssa and the Australian Romance Readers Association for creating such a robust, well-planned, fun event. They recorded dozens of panels, interviews and sessions for your viewing pleasure.
And here are the links to the reference books I mentioned:
Techniques of the Selling Writer, by Dwight Swain
The Hero’s Journey – I don’t actually own the book by Joseph Campbell, but I’ve taken loads of workshops and like to keep the stages handy for panic plotting
Happy Viewing!
August 1, 2020
Can’t wait for Confessions of an Italian Marriage?
“Although this is a typical Harlequin Presents book, with rich hero, world traveling, and sexy scenes; the story is actually very different from other HP books…I will read it again and again.” ~5 stars, A Romo, Goodreads
I can’t wait for you to meet Giovanni and Freja! He’s one of my favorite heroes ever. He’s confident and sexy and dynamic and has that one Achilles heel–Freja!
Freja is furious with him on account of his faking his own death, but she has some things to work out as well. They’re both hurting and both love each other very much, they just don’t know how to say it.
Here’s a little taste from the opening pages:
Freja moved without second-guessing her instinct. She scooped up her miles of skirt and ran silently on the toes of her five-inch heels past the door into the changeroom where she’d left her clothes and purse, past the powder room, into the administration office where she’d first met with Teresina and seen the—
Porta di emergenza – allarmata
That’s what this was. An emergency. She was alarmed.
She shoved against the lever and burst into the narrow, cobblestone alley. A loud bell began to ring within the shop. The door clattered closed behind her, muffling the sound. It grew fainter as she raced toward the street where traffic honked in its usual chaotic madness.
She was only thinking she needed witnesses. Getting arrested for stealing a dress she’d only half-paid for was better than facing whatever that man had in store for her. She could call Nels from the police sta—
Behind her, she heard the door slam open again. Shouts sounded.
In front of her, a black SUV swerved into the break in the sidewalk, forcing her to pull up short at the mouth of the alley. She started to pivot in hopes of squeezing past it and down the street, but the back door flung open.
“Get in,” Giovanni said.
The sight of him struck like a gong, leaving her quivering. He had a shaggy black beard, dark glasses, and his black hoodie was pulled up to hide all but his familiar cheekbones, but his legs stopped above the knees and she recognized the tense line of his mouth.
Alive. Her heart soared so high, it should have shattered the sky.
At the same time, a thousand furies invaded her like a swarm of killer bees. There was no triumph in learning she was right. There was only a crippling heartbreak that he had abandoned her. If he’d been truly dead, she would have been angry, but she wouldn’t have blamed him.
This, though? He had put her through horrifying hours of actually believing he was gone. She had endured his gut-wrenching funeral, convinced it was a sham. Then, two short weeks later, she’d suffered another unbearable loss that would never heal.
He’d forced her to go through all of that alone.
For every minute that had passed since that awful day, she had longed for him to reveal himself, but now her feet only carried her forward so she could bitterly hiss, “Go to hell.”
“Where do you think I’ve been?” he growled.
Confessions of an Italian Marriage officially launches September first, but if you’re anxious to read their journey to reconciliation, you can download today on Harlequin or Mills and Boon UK.
More Links
July 18, 2020
Another sexy cover for the Innocent in the Sheikh’s Palace
How adorable is this cover?
The thing I love most about the UK covers are the moods they evoke and this one *nails* it. Hannah is shy and feels like an odd duck, but she has a quiet inner confidence. (My favorite kind of heroine.) Akin is falling under her spell, doesn’t want to be, doesn’t understand how it’s happening, but can’t help himself. (My favorite kind of hero.)
Here’s a little snippet from the opening that sets the tone for how Hannah completely undermines Akin and still cracks me up. Hannah arrives at the fertility clinic (where she will soon learn she is carrying Akin’s brother’s baby.) She realizes her door has frozen shut and calls out to the men who are walking by:
“Help! Excuse me! Can you help, please?”
She heard one ask a question in a language that might have been Arabic. They wore woolen overcoats and their heads weren’t covered, but they both had dark-skin, black hair and closely trimmed beards.
“I need help!” she shouted louder as they stood there. “My door is frozen.” And I’m going to need a powder room ten minutes ago. Panic stations, gents.
The one with the umbrella grumbled something, but the other impatiently took it. It was useless anyway. A gust of wind drove the sleet sideways, turning the umbrella inside out. He shoved it back at the other man and came to glower at her through the little circle she’d made in the fogged glass.
Her heart leapt in surprise, alarm, fear. Maybe a hint of lust?
He was a blurred impression of height and intimidation, thirtyish and good looking despite his frown. His overcoat gaped and showed a dark blue suit that looked tailored and probably was. The clinic catered to the supremely wealthy. She was very much a charity case who’d got in on a who-you-know after doing a huge favor for the head administrator’s wife.
“What are you shouting about?” he demanded.
“My doors are frozen. I’m stuck!” She demonstrated by trying the latch and giving the door a shove with her shoulder.
He frowned and tried it himself. Then he circled her car, trying all the doors with enough force to make the car rock. None opened.
He said something to the man trying to fix the umbrella. A third man emerged from the SUV while the first came back to her window and asked, “You’re sure it’s unlocked?”
Oh, dear God. She wanted to die then. She pressed the button and heard it release.
Read More Here
July 4, 2020
A Sexy Cover for an Innocent in the Sheikh’s Palace
If you’re one of my American friends, Happy Independence Day!
I woke up to this lovely cover for my November book, Innocent in the Sheikh’s Palace.
If you follow my newsletter, this is the ugly duckling inspired story I was working on last year. The story opens with Akin confronting Hannah at the fertility clinic where she went to start the family she desperately wants. A mixup has given her Akin’s brother’s sperm. And his brother was the future king of Baaqi. Now her baby is!
I adore Hannah and Akin. She’s got a real spark of wit and he doesn’t have any time for it, but very soon can’t live without her. Here’s the official blurb:
His desert vow…
To crown the virgin’s baby!
Having failed to find Mr. Right, plain librarian Hannah Meeks decided to start the family she’s desperately wanted on her own. Only to discover that her miracle baby is actually the heir to the throne of Baaqi…
Sheikh Akin Sarraf was the unwanted spare. Now, finding out his late brother had unknowingly fathered a child, Akin’s duty is to bring Hannah to his palace and make her his wife! Marrying for love was always out of the question. But Hannah’s independent spirit is exasperating…until it’s intoxicating…
Learn more
July 1, 2020
Happy Canada Day!
I’m tremendously grateful to be Canadian, especially these days. Through good luck and good leadership (shout out to our Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry among others) I’ve been able to get a haircut and return to the gym. Things aren’t back to normal, but the new normal is okay.
So I will take today to be thankful I was born in Canada while acknowledging I currently live and write and thrive on the unceded territory of the Sinixt Nation. Canada isn’t perfect. We have a lot of work to do with racial justice particularly with our indigenous community. At the same time, there is no place in the world I would rather be right now.
Do you need a little Canada in your life? I’ve published five Canadian heroines (soon to be six! See What the Greek’s Wife Needs). I have yet to write a Canadian hero, but I have plans to remedy that.
Meanwhile, if you’re looking for for a heroine who is polite, nice, says ‘sorry’ a little too often, but will drop the gloves and fight like a hockey goon if she has to, meet: Lauren, Natalie, Cami, Poppy, and Sopi.
For more info, click
HERE
and scroll down to Canadian Characters
June 25, 2020
Join me at Alyssa’s House Party!
I’ve been invited to Alyssa J. Montgomery’s House Party session at the A Romantic Rendezvous – LOCKED DOWN online event hosted by the Australian Romance Readers Association!
In this behind-the-scenes look at author spaces, I’ll join Alyssa, Meg Tilly, and Sabrina Jeffries in revealing where each of us makes the magic happen. We’ll also answer your most burning questions, but you have to submit your question in advance.
The event is free, but you must register. Follow the Facebook Page to get all the details.
Match your timezone to join live:
Friday 17 July at 5pm (Vancouver time)
Friday 17 July at 8pm (North Caroline time)
Saturday 18 July at 10am (Sydney time)
I can’t wait to “see” you there.
June 23, 2020
Fancy a Cinderella Story on Sale?
Harlequin is running a killer promotion on 250 (not a typo!) titles across their North American digital retailers from now until the end of June. They’re all priced at 1.99!
Cinderella’s Royal Seduction, my take on this classic fairy tale, is one of them!
His until midnight
Will she wear his crown?
Sopi is exhausted! With Prince Rhys Charlemaine staying nearby, the luxury spa she calls home is overflowing with aspiring princesses! It’s frantic…until working all hours leads to a late-night encounter with charismatic Rhys himself…
Untouched Sopi gives herself one chance to feel like a princess in Rhys’s arms. She knows it cannot go further, until Rhys stuns her with his convenient proposal! He promises exquisite pleasure, but Sopi has seen the man behind his royal mask—dare she believe he wants her for more than desire?
Start shopping here:
Amazon | Nook | Apple | Kobo | Google
