...with a special eBook, 'A Valentine for Harlequin's Anniversary', that not only includes a story from RITA Award winning author Catherine Mann, An Evening to Remember, but bonus content from blog bash entries in the eHarlequin.com Community. This special collection is available for free through the eHarlequin store. As an extra bonus there's a 14% discount on all Harlequin eBooks, but only for Valentine's Day.
Happy Valentine's Day!Labels: Catherine Mann, eBooks, Free book, Harlequin, Valentine's Day
In the past I was never a great fan of Valentine's Day. I believed it to be over-commercialised (still do), with emphasis on the wrong message. Buying roses/chocolates/jewellery/insert gift-seen-in-last-advertisement due to commercial pressure? Not my idea of romance.
My idea of romance: it's not about one day out of 365 but should be an integral part of our lives. The most romantic gestures to me aren't gifts delivered on specific allocated days, but the ones that come out of the blue and show he understands what I need at that particular moment. Time alone to write or to think, coffee on tap, a suggestion that I go back to bed for a nap because he knows I've been awake most of the night, finding some annoying problem around the house fixed without any nagging. Or it may be an unexpected gift or date...not because it's February 14 but just because.
While still not a fan (despite it being our wedding anniversary, which is a different cause for celebration), I now recognise and embrace the positives of celebrating this day. While I believe that the spirit of romance should be celebrated more regularly, I do appreciate that Valentine's puts romance and relationships in the spotlight when too often the happy positive news is shoved out of the way by the negative aspects of human nature.
So, viva romance. I hope you spend time this week or weekend with your sweetheart, your family, your friends. I hope you remember what brings you joy in your relationships. And I hope you read a little romance as well.
Over at
Diamonds Down Under we've blogged about the perfect Valentine's date. Come and say hello and tell us about your favourite date for a chance to win a signed book by
Maxine Sullivan.
Labels: Valentine's Day
Today is my giveaway day at Nicola Marsh's Be My Valentine celebration. Visit Nic's blog for details of how you can win my prize today and more fabulous prizes every day until Valentine's Day!Labels: Be My Valentine, giveaway, other blogs, Valentine's Day
Aussie author Nicola Marsh is hosting a fabulous celebration of Valentine's Day and romance over the next two weeks. Mark your calendar to check out Nic's blog on January 31st for details of how you can win a fabulous (what else?) prize pack of romantic reading featuring titles by:
- Liz Fielding
- Jill Shalvis
- Lucy Monroe
- Anna Campbell
- Kate Walker
- Nalini Singh
- Bronwyn Jameson
- Jaci Burton
- Julie Cohen
- Fiona Lowe
- Christine Wells
- Yvonne Lindsay
- Barbara Hannay
- Kate Hardy
- and, of course, our Valentine's hostess with the mostest, Nicola Marsh.
Then visit daily for your chance to win.
Labels: Be My Valentine, giveaway, other blogs, Valentine's Day
I celebrated early, as it happens, with a delish dinner at a harbourside restaurant last week and then at the annual Harlequin Australia Valentine's Ball.
Held in the Australian Museum--a superbly atmospheric venue--we dined, we wined, we talked (a lot), we danced (not quite as much), and afterward the authors who attended got together to continue the talking part (see picture.) In case you're wondering about the pink Ninja look: all the guests received a gift pack which included his-and-hers gowns. We couldn't get any of the "his" side to model but we all look gorgeously pink and shimmery, don't we?
The picture is courtesy of HM&B Medicals author
Fiona Lowe and features new Desire author Paula Roe, Medicals author Amy Andrews, Elizabeth Rolls who writes HM&B Historicals, Robyn Grady who sold recently to both Desire and M&B Modern Extra (the clever chickie!), Fiona Lowe, myself, Presents author Annie West and her bodyguard, and another Presents author, my buddy Trish Morey. The second photo is of Trish and me, courtesy of
Annie West, and was appropriately titled The Sparkly Twins. Thank you Harlequin for the splendid night where we all sparkled.
I hope you all enjoyed celebrating Valentine's Day as much as we did!
Labels: Harlequin authors, Harlequin Ball, Valentine's Day
