Review: SAFE HARBOR by Hope White

Nicole Harris cringed in fear hearing the violence on the other side of  the closet door but she might as well have been in her childhood home hiding from her abusive father as memories come flooding back blocking out the present day commotion.  Waverly Harbor Detective Alex Donovan discovered her whimpering in the closet when he was called to the scene of a murder.  Nicole is the primary witness and Alex is determined to keep her safe even if it means thwarting an FBI investigation.  As his own investigation progresses, Alex discovers he is attracted to Nicole despite her well warranted trust issues.

Nicole learned at an early age not to depend on others but to take care of herself even if it meant running away.  This self preservation trigger kicks in when she hears her employer being murdered.  At first she hides and then she tries to run away from the police whom she has never been able to count on before, that is until she meets Detective Alex Donovan.  Putting her safety in his hands is a big first step but can she trust her heart to this man as well?

Inspirational Suspense author Hope White cleverly crafts her opening pages of SAFE HARBOR, drawing in her readers then dramatically loosing a murderer amongst us leaving us cowering with her heroine, lost in memories of a cruel childhood. SAFE HARBOR is an absolutely absorbing read with great characters, although I wanted to shake some sense into the hero once or twice.  Add a gorgeous lakeside setting and a gripping plot and once again readers are treated to another thrilling treat from the creative pen of Hope White.

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Cataromance Interview with Charlotte Phillips

Cataromance is delighted to welcome brand new Mills and Boon Riva/Harlequin Kiss author Charlotte Phillips!

Thank you so much for joining us here at Cataromance, Charlotte! It’s wonderful to have you here. Your first novel for Mills and Boon Riva, Secrets of the Rich and Famous, was published in December. Could you please tell us what the book is about and what sparked off the original idea for the book?

I’m so happy to be here at Cataromance, thanks so much for inviting me!

Secrets of the Rich and Famous is about village journalist, Jen, who has big career ambitions and is pitching an article to a top womens’ magazine. Her article is a hands-on investigation into whether an ordinary girl with bills and a high street wardrobe can land a Chelsea millionaire. Since a man like that would immediately think gold-digger, she needs a budget makeover and a fictional new life. She’s housesitting in a luxury Chelsea apartment, passing it off as her own, when the real owner, film producer Alex, returns. He needs the property back to use as a bolthole from the media frenzy over a casting-couch scandal. Having flown halfway around the world to escape the press, he isn’t impressed to find one of them has moved in with him. Jen realises he is the perfect source of information for her article and when she ropes him into helping her, sparks begin to fly.

So far my stories have started with an idea for an interesting situation and the rest of the plot and character details have developed from there. With this book I saw a news item about executive housesitters – people who live in fabulous expensive houses for a fraction of the normal rent in return for keeping them occupied and secure. I wondered what would happen if you were using a posh place like that as a cover story and then the real owner reappeared, wanting it back. From there I began to think about what the cover story might be and the plot took shape from there.

What attracted you to writing category romance and to the Mills and Boon Riva line in particular?

I’ve been reading category romance since my teens – I’ve always just loved the escapism and happy-ever-afterness of them. I like the focus on hero and heroine, it’s quite a disciplined way of writing a story and that streamlining can be a real challenge.

The Riva line in particular was suggested to me by the editor I was working with because she thought it would be a good fit for me. I love the modern, flirty feel of the stories in the line and I like the range of heat levels on offer. I am thrilled to find myself among such a talented and experienced group of authors.

What are the challenges of writing fun, fast-paced and flirty contemporary romances?

I read lots of author interviews where people say the initial ideas are the easy bit and that they have a constant stream of them. I wish that were true for me! I find the ideas stage the hardest part – I have a tendency not to think globally enough and I’ve had quite a few knocked back by my editors. I am a plotter – I use endless lists and sticky notes and I have a plotboard, so once I have an idea approved the real fun starts for me.

I also have a tendency to identify more with my heroines. I find them easier to write and I feel like I’m living their journey and cheering them on. I have to work much harder to nail the hero and keep him strong. It’s a conscious effort for me to keep in mind that it’s a 50-50 story of two people that converges.

You took part in Mills and Boon’s New Voices competition. What was that like? And do you think that this experience helped to improve your writing and strengthen your authorial voice?

New Voices was a wonderful experience. I was completely immersed in it at the time – I listened to all the podcasts, read all the articles and read and commented on tons of entries. No one could have been more surprised than me when I ended up in the final four. I made some great friends and I got to work with Liz Fielding as my mentor, which really was a prize in itself.

There is no question that my writing improved enormously as a result of the experience. I learned more from Liz in a few days than I had in months of reading books and internet articles. She was terrific to work with – so knowledgeable and experienced but able to highlight my weaknesses without making me feel like a moron. Her advice on how to build characters was particularly invaluable and she also helped me with plotting and brainstorming.

I would say the experience emphasised how important authorial voice is. That uniqueness is what sets you apart from the many other authors out there and it is important to stay true to that and not lose sight of your voice by getting bogged down in craft advice and tips. Harlequin Mills & Boon are always on the lookout for a fresh new approach.

Do you have any writing tips for aspiring authors?

The tip I found most valuable was to write one thousand words a day. For a while I really struggled with my productivity. Balancing my writing with the demands of family life was difficult. I would have days where I could produce two or three thousand words and I would feel brilliant, then come crashing down when I couldn’t keep up that standard. I ended up feeling I wasn’t doing anything well. 1K a day enables me to lose the guilt. I am productive, but not at the expense of everything else, and I can keep it consistent.

I would also suggest reading as much of the line you are targeting as you can, especially the current output, and concentrate on building real, believable characters and making sure their behaviour is consistent throughout the story.

And keep tabs on the many opportunities Harlequin Mills & Boon offer to aspiring writers, such as SYTYCW, editor pitches and the fast-track submissions. Just because you don’t win, it doesn’t mean you won’t be noticed. It’s all about getting your work in front of an editor and these are all great chances to do that.

What’s a typical day for Charlotte Phillips like?

I write mainly during the week, although I might put in some extra time at the weekend, especially if I have revisions or a deadline looming. Mornings are crazy until my three children are at school, then I write until twelve or one. If I’m putting down a first draft I will keep at it until I have my thousand words as a minimum and if it’s flowing particularly well I will keep going. I fit blogging and any publicity stuff in where I can, and then the afternoons are for housework and family stuff.

Who are your favourite authors?

I enjoy a mix of authors and genres depending on my mood. I love Sue Townsend – I think the Adrian Mole diaries are so poignant and funny. I’m also a big fan of Stephen King, especially his early work. He is such a brilliant storyteller. In the romance genre I like fun, relatable stories. I adore pretty much everything by Jill Mansell. In category romance I would have to pick Ally Blake, Heidi Rice or Fiona Harper.

What’s your all time favourite romantic novel and romantic film?

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. I read this for my A-Level English, ready to be bored witless, and I was completely swept away by it. I have devoured it countless times since.

My favourite romantic film is When Harry Met Sally. I’ve seen it so many times but it never bores me.

If you weren’t a romance writer, what would you be?

I would probably still be inhabiting my former life as a Helpdesk Administrator for the National Health Service. Even then I was writing in whatever spare time I could grab. Whatever I end up doing I think I will always be writing – I enjoy it so much and if I have a break from it for a few days I can’t wait to get back to it.

What’s next for Charlotte Phillips?

My second book, The Proposal Plan, was a UK-only release published in April 2013 which I am so excited about because it’s the first book I ever finished, a story I picked up and put down over many years and which was revised and then rejected by Mills & Boon just before I entered New Voices. Since offering me a contract, they have had a second look at that story and finally accepted it for publication. I’ve also just handed in the final revisions for my third book.

Thanks again for chatting to us, Charlotte! If you want to find out more about Charlotte and her books, visit her website at www.charlottephillipsbooks.com/

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Review: Secrets of the Rich and Famous – Charlotte Phillips

Fun, feel-good and simply irresistible, readers will adore Charlotte Phillips’ debut novel for Mills and Boon Riva, Secrets of the Rich and Famous!

Ambitious journalist Jen Brown has got great plans for her future – plans which do not involve spending the rest of her life working for the local rag writing articles about lost pets or village fetes. Jen dreams of breaking into the cutthroat world of women’s magazines and becoming one of the UK’s leading feature writers, so she decides to pack her bags, leave her mum and her friends behind and head off to the bright lights of London where she lands an internship on one of the country’s most popular glossies. Jen is determined to ensure that her internship turns into a full-time position and comes up with an idea for an article that has her editor chomping at the bit: an expose of how to bag a Chelsea millionaire. With her entire career depending on this article, Jen is not about to let anything or anybody stand in her way. But there’s just one tiny problem: how is a small town girl like Jen going to write her article when she doesn’t know the first thing about the glamorous world which she has found herself in?

Jen is absolutely elated when she manages to land a part-time house-sitting job. Her first assignment takes her right into the heart of Chelsea where she finds herself taking up temporary residence in a luxurious apartment. Jen is able to get first-hand experience about what life is like for the posh residents of Chelsea, however, her plan to get up close and personal with the jet-set looks set to come to a sudden end when the owner of the apartment unexpectedly returns and makes it perfectly clear that he wants Jen out of his flat and out of his life! However, Jen is not about to get thrown out onto the streets – especially as the owner of the apartment is none other than drop dead gorgeous film director, Alex Hammond whose love life is regularly splashed all over the gossip pages!

Having found himself embroiled in a shocking scandal that could jeopardise the career which he’s worked so hard to build up, Alex is under strict instructions from his management team to lie low and give members of the press as wide a berth as possible. Finding a determined journalist sleeping in his bed was certainly not what his PR team envisaged, but Alex’s initial fury at discovering Jen in his apartment quickly gives way to a sizzling attraction which simply cannot be denied…

Distraction might be the last thing Jen needs, but keeping Alex Hammond at arm’s length proves easier said than done. The more time Jen spends with Alex, the more she finds herself falling madly in love with him. But is Alex willing to let down the barriers which he has built around his heart? Or will his misgivings about journalists cost him the only woman he will ever love?

Fans of sassy contemporary romantic fiction are going to love Charlotte Phillips! Hilarious, heart-warming and absolutely impossible to put down, Secrets of the Rich and Famous is a zesty-paced romp sparkling with rib-tickling humour, witty repartee, sizzling sensuality and red-hot romance. Jen is a terrifically nuanced heroine readers will cheer for and I defy anyone not to fall in love with gorgeous Alex!

Wonderfully written, deliciously readable and fabulously romantic, Secrets of the Rich and Famous is an exceptional debut from a fantastic new voice in romance: Charlotte Phillips!

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Review: Phantom Wolf (Phoenix Force) by Bonnie Vanak

The Phoenix Force miniseries continues with another original story about a very special team of navy SEALs who possess paranormal abilities. In the second book, numerous Mages have opposing views on what action needs to be taken against threats to their kind. Now two individuals must risk their futures and possibility their lives in order to keep the situation from claiming innocents. The gifted Bonnie Vanak has constructed an intriguingly believable world for her supernatural beings, and PHANTOM WOLF is packed with hidden dangers throughout.

When Sam Shaymore and Kelly Denning were much younger, they thought their feelings were more important than what society dictated for their Mage classes. His Elemental Mage status meant he was seen as powerful while those who had Arcane standing like her had very few rights, but they were not going to let their hearts be ruled by these guidelines. Sadly, an unthinkable event was too much for their relationship to withstand and they parted ways.

Both have put their whole lives into their careers and not let anyone get close again. Sam is a navy SEAL on the Phoenix Force team, where his shape-shifting capability plus other talents often comes in handy. Kelly continuously tries to help Mage children, and hearing about the kidnapping of several has her going to rescue them. When her plan does not going according to her wishes, she comes to realize Sam is the only one who can help her. However, he and his teammates have been sent to Honduras to bring her back for not doing as commanded. Kelly tries to make Sam understand the allegations she has made are true, yet much in his life could be lost if he decides to assist her.

Stories where lovers are reunited are some of my favorites, and the emotional ties between Sam and Kelly are some of the strongest I have read. The incident that destroyed their relationship would be difficult for anyone to overcome, and so many of their conversations in the present have a connection to their past. The many disagreements they have over the differences in their classes are often conveyed with extremely earnest feelings, and I certainly felt the serious intensity of each word. The author makes it very clear as to how the perception of someone can cloud the judgment of another person, even when no personal knowledge is actually known. Bonnie Vanak has a knack for creating likable characters, and this couple touched me on so many levels at different times during the story. They made me feel the sadness over what happened in their lives, and some of these moments are especially poignant. When they shed a tear, I wanted to right along with them. There are also several light-hearted scenes, and the one where there is a reversing of roles really had me chuckling because of what they experienced. Both of them are very determined and stubborn, and I liked how Kelly never gave in regardless of the circumstances she had to face. She is a gutsy woman with commendable values, and her responses to each new incident had me enjoying her character even more. When she and Sam interact, I came to know him much better, too, and discovered just how much he keeps hidden from others. While they try to make themselves believe the emotional ties between them were severed while apart, it along with their sexual desire is just as strong as in the past. The eagerness they express when sexually intimate is off the scale, and just proves how much they still care. Some twists in the story are unanticipated and took me completely by surprise, proving Bonnie Vanak is skillfully clever. PHANTOM WOLF is constantly entertaining and remarkably fascinating. With so many hunky Phoenix Force team members, there will hopefully be quite a few more books in this enthralling series.

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Review: TALK OF THE TOWN by Beth Andrews

Neil Pettit feels out of place in his own hometown of Shady Grove, Pennsylvania where everyone knows everything about everyone else and the past can never be lived down. Neil may  be a big time hockey player for the NHL now but when he returns home to Shady Grove all his insecurities rise up to haunt him, especially his feelings for Maddie Montesano and their eleven year old daughter.

Maddie is not about to let Neil forget what he did eleven years ago nor will she never forgive him for leaving her alone and pregnant.  She is raising their daughter Bree by herself and trying to protect them both from Neil as he makes one of his infrequent trips to Shady Grove, expecting to connect with Bree before blowing town again.  But this time is different, Neil is truly trying to be a good father and his efforts touch Maddie’s heart.

Award winning author Beth Andrews begins a new heartwarming series, In Shady Grove, set in a small Pennsylvania town.   This passionately charged second chance romance, TALK OF THE TOWN, has realistic characters with an age old problem.  Neil and Maddie fell in love when they were teenagers and their love resulted in a pregnancy.  Maddie thought she wanted a baby and a home in Shady Grove while Neil didn’t know what he wanted other than to get away from Shady Grove.  TALK OF THE TOWN is their story and how their child helps to give them both a second chance.  Talented Beth Andrews motivates her readers to emotionally invest in the characters through her distinct dialog and poignant plot.   TALK OF THE TOWN is a gratifying read that must not be missed.

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