March Cover

So beautiful!  I love this one.















And the back cover copy reads:

You are cordially invited to

the…shotgun…wedding of

Elena Cabrera Bravo

and

Rogan Murdoch

Date: As soon as labor is over.

Time: Just enough for the bride to fit into something

other than a hospital gown.

Hosted by: The brothers of the bride. In fact,

they insisted on it!

Reason for Union: The bride and groom love each other…

even if they’re both too stubborn to admit it!

RSVP to the Bravo Family.

Gifts (wedding and baby) optional...

February release cover and blurb

I do like the pose.   Very tender. 

















And the back cover blurb reads:

BOTH TIMES, IT WAS A FALL

THAT NEARLY DID HIM IN

The first time, it was a tumble down a mountain that

threatened Donovan McRae’s very survival. And though he

had once been the Man Who Had Everything, at that point

he thought he had nothing left to lose.

Until Abilene Bravo walked into his life—and he realized he

was wrong. Because though he thought he’d lost his heart

years ago, he found himself losing it again as he fell fast…

for the feisty woman who wouldn’t take no for an answer.

General Updates.....

Getting lots of lovely feedback on EXPECTING THE BOSS'S BABY.  And it's #5 on the Borders Bestseller list.  Yippee!

As to the current work in progress, a Thunder Canyon Montana Mavericks story that will come out next July, I'm on the last 50 pages.  Big Yay on that--and only slightly procrastinating by dropping in here to babble a bit. 

Here in the heartland, it's a cool fall day and there are crunchy leaves on my front porch welcome mat.  I'm not going to sweep them up right away because they make me think that Autumn is here--and the holidays are coming.

Happy almost-November, everyone!

Experiments in Back Cover Copy

Soo....

Between the usual nervous breakdowns, I decided to try and write my own back cover copy to put up on my website for my December book, EXPECTING THE BOSS'S BABY.  No, I did not do this just for fun.  I did it because for various reasons, I did not have access to the back cover copy as of yet, though I had copied an image of the front from B&N.com that was usable for my website.  And I already had the first chapter up in the Excerpts area of my site.

I wanted to put up the cover and I didn't want to wait any longer and it just seemed wrong to put up a cover without some kind of book summary, which the back cover copy pretty much is--along with being a teaser designed to tempt readers to put down their hard-earned cash.

Solution: Write my own.  I did.  This is the result:

MARRIAGE AND A BABY?
NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.

Billionaire adventurer Dax Girard needs a capable assistant, not another girlfriend. So he’s made himself a promise to keep his relationship with Zoe Bravo strictly business.

Former free spirit Zoe Bravo loves her new job. And she plans to keep it. And that means there’ll be no office romance between her and her hunky boss.

Too bad she can’t stop thinking about him in a way that is so much more than only professional. And Dax is having the same problem. He can’t get his new assistant off his mind. Something’s gotta give. And when it does, Zoe and Dax will end up dealing with much more than they bargained for….

                                                         ***

Okay, not brilliant.  But workmanlike.  I put it up on the "read more" page for this book on my website.

Then I got a PDF back-and-front version of the cover from my publisher.  Here is the actual back cover copy:

“SEX IS ABSOLUTELY
OFF THE TABLE.”

So this was Dax Girard’s hiring policy. Well, it might not be conventional—but then again, all admin-assist-wannabe Zoe Bravo  wanted was a job. And her prospective boss, Dax Girard, was so gorgeous that he’d clearly had to beat them off with a stick before. So she calmly agreed to the mogul’s terms—even throwing in a fake fiancé for good measure! A strictly hands-off policy was fine with her.…

But was it fine with him? Because the more no-strings-attached Dax swore he was as immune to Zoe as he was to your average beautiful woman, the more he started envisioning a future that had her in it. And, in nine months, a little someone else, as well.
                                                                    ***

I totally love it.  And am completely humbled.  I think from now on, when possible, I'll stick to just writing the books.

Cover for My November Release...

Merry Christmas--very early!

Quite festive, no?

Forging on the the End...

I'm on the final pages of Elena's story.  This book flew by--well, there were a few bumps in the road writing-wise, but overall, it was a great writing experience.  Some books are like that.  Some...not so much.

We're in triple digits weather-wise around here.  But mostly, I'm here, in my office, writing away.  So it's all good.

Wrapping Up the San Antonio Bravos

There are nine SA Bravo stories in all.  Six are out on bookstands.  Three more are yet to be released.

And in terms of the writing...I'm on the second-to-last book.  It seems like only yesterday I sat down to write the story outline for The Stranger and Tessa Jones.  And now I'm almost finished telling all those stories.

Yesterday, I hit the midpoint in the writing of Marriage Bravo Style, which is Elena Cabrera's story.  Elena, BTW, is the illegitimate daughter of Davis Bravo, hardheaded patriarch of this branch of the family.  Elena first appeared in A Bravo's Honor, back in July of last year, when a big family secret blew wide open, with Elena's paternity in the center of the storm.

In the books that have followed, I've charted the arc of the Bravo/Cabrera connection.  It's been quite an arc and I have loved writing it.

So strange that half the books are still to come out, and I'm already thinking ahead to the next branch of the family. 

Starting Over. Again.

Yep. That time again. Starting a new book. This is Elena's story. Elena Cabrera, who is the illegitimate daughter of my current Bravo patriarch, Davis Bravo. Elena's story is second-to-last in this ten-book cycle about the San Antonio branch of the family.

After Elena, I'll write Travis's story--he's seventh-born of the seven sons in this group. And then I'm going back to give a past Bravo--Bowie--his Happily Ever After, at last.

And then I'll start exploring a whole new branch of the family.

But more on that later. Now, it's Elena's turn. Elena's and Rogan Murdoch's. Elena just happens to look like a really good actress named Sarah Shahi and Rogan strongly resembles an actor named Channing Tatum.

Whew! That one's almost done....

Yep. That would be me. Seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.

Wait. Scratch that. I mean, IN the light at the end of the tunnel.

This one was a tough one. But I think it will be finished tomorrow. I'm brimming with glee at the prospect of zipping it off to New York.

A very tough one. The hero uses a wheelchair and it was so challenging for me--to try to get it right and still tell a good story. I hope I did okay.

In any case, I've done the best I can and now I will send it in. And move on to the next one.

I do love the writing process. No matter how challenging and tough a book might be, there's always that moment when I know it's as finished as it's gonna get right now. And it's time to send that baby on its way.

Blogalicious...

Today, the amazing RaeAnne Thayne , a fellow Special Edition author, interviews me about A BRIDE FOR JERICHO BRAVO at our Special Edition Author Blog on eHarlequn. Drop by if you get the chance, to say hi and/or get more information on this book.

Tomorrow, I'm blogging about Bad Boys and Big Bikes at the Pink Heart Society blog. Hope you'll drop in there if you have a moment.

Happy Friday to all!

Harlequin Expands into Turkey...

A friend sent me this link to the Harlequin Blog

Istanbul. Exotic and romantic. How cool is that?

And THE STRANGER AND TESSA JONES is there, too!

Back Cover Copy...

Here's the back cover copy for Jericho's book:

“I’M NOT THE MARRYING KIND.”

After being jilted by her longtime boyfriend, Marnie Jones was on the move. But from the moment she rolled into Texas and clashed with sexy rebel Jericho Bravo, she was finding all sorts of reasons to stay put. Too bad the rugged loner couldn’t say the same....

Or could he? Because Jericho was making Marnie believe in second chances—that he
was the man she wanted to settle down with…forever. Was the proud, wary loner
willing to risk his heart? Because he already owned hers....

...And yes, I put the cover up again. Click on it to see a nice, big image that I got from the wonderful Maureen Stead who handles cover art for authors at Harlequin.

I really love this cover. So romantic. And he's a really big guy and she's--well, not petite. Petite makes her sound delicate. Marnie Jones is so not delicate. But she's a small woman, small and strong. And I think you get the sense of that in this cover. She looks like she's on tiptoe for the kiss.

Cover for A BRIDE FOR JERICHO BRAVO

Yes, the covers seem to be coming fast and furious lately.

Found this on Amazon this morning. I love it! This book is my March 2010 release. It's a Hill Country wedding scene. Jericho designs and builds custom choppers. And the heroine is Marnie Jones, who first appeared as a child in the third Jones Gang book, SWEETBRIAR SUMMIT.

What do you think?

First Chapters and a Back Cover Blurb...

Here's that back cover copy I promised for VALENTINE BRIDE:

FROM HOUSEKEEPER TO BLUSHING BRIDE?

Regal, reserved Irina Lukovic was the perfect live-in housekeeper. Until she found out she was being sent back to her war-torn homeland. So Caleb Bravo came up with the ideal solution…one where they’d still be living together on a more permanent basis.…The handsome bachelor proposed!

Irina couldn’t believe that the footloose mogul was giving up his freedom for her. But now that they were officially husband and wife, she suddenly yearned to belong to Caleb in more than name only. To be his wife...in every sense of the word...

And the first chapter is up on my website. Go here to have a look.

I also put up the first chapter for my March 2010 release, A BRIDE FOR JERICHO BRAVO. You can read that here.

My plan is to get up first chapters way ahead, so check my excerpt page now and then to see what's new!

And Happy Holidays!

Cover for My December Book!

I like it. I've never like kids on covers or smiley people, but this has both. And still...I like it. I think it's that the kid really has something going on in her expression. That slightly smug, this-is-working-out-just fine look is perfect.

And the way the hero looks at the heroine? Priceless. Plus there's the pose, which is, as my dear friend Susan Crosby describes it, "a circle of touching," with each character touching the next.

Anyway, it's a good one, I think.

Back cover copy reads...


OOPS, SHE DID IT AGAIN!

Well, if lightning didn’t strike twice, then
how could a night of passion with her former
lover, Matt Bravo, leave Connie Lonnigan
pregnant with his child…for the second time?
They already had a beautiful little girl, and
they’d finally come to terms with their
can’t-live-with-can’t-live-without-each-other
relationship. And now this!

Texas tycoon Matt Bravo had let Connie slip
through his fingers five years ago, and he was
not about to make the same mistake again.
He had to convince her that he was the man
for her, now and forever. To make this a
Christmas to remember—for all four
of them…

Sadly, there is an error in this great copy. Heroine's name is Corrie, not Connie. It was too late to fix it when I caught it. And they have a new program they're working with on cover image and copy at Harlequin. Apparently, there are still issues with it.

But other than that...

Time Flies When You're...

...on a deadline. Finishing a book. Thinking about washing the windows.

Notice I said thinking. Hah.

Worried about the healthcare debate. Wishing you were in Vegas at plot group with your friends. Wishing the weather would change. Strange how when it's hot, I wish it were cooler--and when it's cooler...well, you get the picture.

News at Chez Christine is that I finished the Jericho Bravo book mentioned in my last post back in June. And it has a new title: A BRIDE FOR JERICHO BRAVO. Yeah, I loved the original THE REBEL AND MARNIE JONES. But the word Bride and the name Bravo both sell books. And well, you know, I like to eat.

Now I'm on to a new Montana Mavericks story with a sexy single dad hero--and a schoolteacher heroine. I'm thinking it will be fun. And so far, so good on the fun thing.

Also, recently signed a contract for six more Special Editions. Lots more Bravos coming your way. And somehow, 2010 is stacking up to be the Year of the Bride--title-wise, I mean. Four books coming out and three have "bride" in the title. Don't know how that happened, but it did!

Hoping to get a cover image for the upcoming December release soon. That one's called CHRISTMAS AT BRAVO RIDGE.

And that's my news for the third week of August. Keep cool, everyone!

Oh, and and here's a little hotness in a very good way....

Tom Jane. I really love Tom Jane.

Bad Boys and Big Bikes....

Motorcycles, I mean. Harleys. Choppers, particularly.

The book I'm writing now is about the bad boy of the San Antonio Bravos, sixth-born Jericho. Jericho has had a rocky past. He is also a genius. He designs and builds custom choppers of great coolness and beauty. Like the one at left, built by Thunderstruck Custom Bikes and named Paranoid. Totally fitting name, IMO. And what, specifically, is a chopper? Well, according to the Motorcyle Biker's Dictionary, it's "A style of motorcycle that appears deceptively light, has a greater angle on the front end than usually seen, and radical styling." The term is derived from former GI's back right after WWII "chopping" factory bikes to make them faster, removing all "superfluous" parts.

I'm using Gerard Butler as my hero image. Kind of handsome and thuggish at once. But I also kind of imagine Jesse James of West Coast Chopper fame in the mix, also.

Heroine is Marnie Jones. If you've been reading my books for a while, you first met Marnie when she was a tough, angry nine-year-old who swore like a sailor in SweetBriar Summit. Since then, Marnie has been tamed. She needs to rediscover her wild side.

I think Jericho is the one to help her with that...

I haven't done a biker guy (literarilly speaking, of course!) since The Midnight Rider Takes a Bride. That came out back in 1997. So I'm thinking it's about time...

Great Review and Today Show Does Romance

Well, this is my Newsblog, so here's a little news!



Jane at Dear Author really liked The Bravo Bachelor. You can read her lovely review here. Jane doesn't fool around--or pull her punches--so I'm really pleased that she enjoyed this book.









Also, the Today Show did a nice little piece about how Romance is booming during the current recession. For those of us who have been around since the dawn of time, this is no surprise. Romance sales went through the roof back in the '80s, too, when times were rough. Because, after all, Romance is a great escape. For under ten dollars, you, too can be swept away! Coolest thing to me about the Today piece was that they interviewed the wonderful Margaret Marbury,Executive Editor of Mira, Red Dress Ink and Spice, three of Harlequin's mainstream imprints. Margaret stood in front of an amazing cover image as she spoke. Yes, that would be the cover of The Stranger and Tessa Jones. You can check that out here.

Hope you all had a lovely Easter. Ours was rainy, but cozy. We cooked and read and watched the Masters golf tournament.

And Yet Another New Cover...

Got this off Amazon. No back cover blurb available yet. This one comes out in June.



No, it's not terribly...imaginative. But the truth is, it's a scene I proposed for the art work, so the lack of imagination is totally my fault. Good news is they both look almost exactly as I picture them. And it's beautiful, I think. And, well, I really like it.

Can't wait to see this book in print. It's a sort of modern-day Romeo and Juliet story. The Bravos (him) and the Cabreras (her) have been feuding since the 1950's, when James Bravo won the family ranch from the Cabrera patriarch. So, of course, a Bravo and a Cabrera must fall in love!

What do you think?

New Cover!

The lovely Maureen Stead at Harlequin just sent me this--and my request. it's for my April release. I swear he looks just like Jake Gyllenhaal. It's not the way I described him in the art information I sent them.

But hey. Worse mistakes have been made. And she looks just right.

Overall, I'd call this a good one. The setting is lovely and reasonably close to what I asked for. And the whole effect is very romantic.

Back cover copy reads...

ONE VISIT TO HER RANCH HAD LANDED HIM IN THE DELIVERY ROOM!

All Gabe Bravo wanted was to convince Mary Hofstetter to sell him her land. But the young widow had barely told him to hightail it off her property before going into labor. Being an honorable Bravo bachelor, he stayed by her side, even after her little bundle of joy appeared.

There was no denying Gabe had declared himself permanently single—and proud of
it. But with his feelings for Mary growing deeper, he was suddenly torn: walk away
from mother and child, or do what he’d sworn he’d never do—get hitched!

This is a little too much information, actually. It totally gives away the first few chapters. Not that readers wouldn't figure out what was going on--but still, some things you want to discover for yourself as you read, right?

Then again, marketing has this wild need to actually sell books, so I totally forgive them.