Epic Fun Release Time *Kermit Flail*

^ That about sums it up!

I have two books officially out in the UK at midnight tonight: A Royal World Apart and Princess From the Shadows (Book 6 in the Santina Crown Collection). I really get a kick out of the fact that these books are out at the same time. Because, as I’ve mentioned, A Royal World Apart is the home of Untouched Hero, while Princess From the Shadows features the biggest, most shameless playboy I’ve ever written. (Hot Rod! It’s Hot Rod!!!)

They’ll also be releasing really close together in the US, with Hot Rod on shelves in October and Untouched Her coming to you in December.

I got it in my head last Summer that I really wanted to write a virgin hero for Presents. And once the idea was there, I couldn’t get rid of it. It was just a matter of finding out who this man with amazing restraint was, and what his reasons were. All it took was a little twitter conversation with Caitlin Crews and Paula Graves to find out. (Which is why the book is dedicated to both of them, as well as to my editor, for following along with my crazy ideas and never flinching.)

Interestingly, in a lot of ways, I found it easier to write Mak, who had never had sex, than I did writing Rodriguez, who had a lot of it. Often and for recreation, and then walked away still friends with his lovers. Once I got into Rodriguez’s head though, I found that writing a playboy can be a lot of fun. He’s charming, he says what he wants, he does what he wants, and that gave me a lot of freedom where he was concerned. I also loved the idea that he’d created this world around him, filled with the most superficial sorts of fun, and that Carlotta got to come in and tear it down brick by brick and force him to be the one thing he really feared having to be: real.

When Rodriguez comes to the palace in Santina to claim his bride, he finds out she’s run off with another man. And the disgraced Princess Carlotta is brought in as a suitable replacement! But Carlotta comes with a son, and that’s something Rodriguez never counted on. And he really didn’t count on the feelings that both Carlotta and Luca force him to face.

As for Mak? He was bound up so tight in honor that it took a princess looking for a little rebellion to get him to loosen up. And she does.

Princess Evangelina Drakos is trying to put off the suitors that are vying for her hand. And if that means creating some scandal, she’s all for it. But her brand new body guard Makhail Nabatov isn’t having any of that. Unfortunately for Mak, as disgusted as he is by the princess’s behavior, he finds he’s drawn to her in a way that he can’t deny. But he has to, because Eva is promised to another man, and Mak is sworn to protect her. Even if that means protecting her from himself.

So, if you’re in the UK, look for A Royal World Apart and Princess From the Shadows in stores. Or stay in your PJs and get it for your Kindle or other reading device!

As for you people in North America…my August release Hajar’s Hidden Legacy (BEAST SHEIKH!!!) will be available from Harlequin.com at midnight tonight in both print and ebook. And it will be available in wide release August first, on shelves and on your readers. 😉

This is my Beauty and the Beast story. Although, he doesn’t take Princess Katharine captive so much as she moves into his palace, and he can’t make her leave for fear of creating an international incident. She’s determined to make him honor a marriage bargain struck years ago, and he’s determined to be left alone to lick his wounds and hide his scars in peace.

But Katharine’s not having any of that. 😉 If you like a wounded, scarred hero and a strong heroine, you might like this one.

So that’s part of my epic release run I have happening in the next few months!

We’re also knee deep in the process of buying a house (they put a pending sign up over the old for sale sign the other day, that was pretty exciting!) and we have a close date set for just three days before I leave for the RWA conference! Then after that we’re attempting our first BIG GRAND FAMILY VACATION. The whole family is meeting me in Anaheim midway through the week, and we’re going to spend the week following RWA getting our Mickey Mouse on.

So, it’s a crazy summer ahead to be sure!

Good thing I have all these heroes to keep me company, right? (Well, and Haven, the real life hero. Always him! But Beast Sheikh, Hot Rod and Untouched Hero do NOT hurt my feelings!)