Books-n-Kisses is pleased to have Rachel Lyndhurst on the blog today to chat about her newest book The Spanish Billionaire’s Hired Bride

Rachel, can you please share with us a little about yourself

I live with my daughter, son and The Exec in Fareham, Hampshire, on the south coast of England and can sometimes smell the sea from my back garden.

I write full-time when my children are at school, but am still proud of my law degree and accountancy qualifications. I’ve worked in the space industry, pharmaceuticals, insurance, a supermarket, a bus station, a railway depot, and a lingerie department among others.

I don’t have a lot of time for hobbies these days, but if I get the chance I do enjoy rummaging through antique shops and visiting famers’ markets. I’m also partial to the odd glass of wine and hoarding expensive lipstick.

Have you always wanted to be an author?

Not consciously. I spent my childhood wanting to be many things, including a Concorde pilot, but the writing was always there. I wrote silly stories including my friends and our imaginary adventures in the Maggot Club (don’t ask!), and angsty teenage poems ridiculing boys that I fancied rotten. In my twenties the boring old office job improved when a subversive Viz-style comic came into being – it featured a character that looked like my boss quite heavily. I left that job soon after … During a decade working in as an accountant, I began to think how wonderful it would be to become an author instead.

Can you share with us your typical writing day.  Is there anything you have to have while writing?

I come back from the morning school runs and log on to my laptop while I make tea and toast for breakfast. I then work until about 3 pm slotting in lunch and playtime with our new kitten. I switch from writing to doing promotional copy and social networking as the need arises. And deal with emails of course. Then the children come home and it’s pretty much game over on the writing front. I have to have my reading glasses nearby these days, I’m afraid, but I’ve two very different pairs to wear depending on my mood. I’m currently wearing my purple leopard print Escadas.

Most challenging or rewarding part of writing?

The promotion side of writing is the most challenging for me. I enjoy it and I know it’s an essential part of the job, but it’s extremely time consuming. The most rewarding thing is when people get in touch and say how much they enjoyed reading my book – that’s simply brilliant.

Can you please tell us about your latest book(s)?

Here’s the blurb for my latest book with Entangled Indulgence, The Spanish Billionaire’s Hired Bride:

He bought her with cold, hard cash, but can she stop him from stealing her heart?

Blackmailed to marry against his will, Ricardo Almanza needs a wife before he’s thirty, and time is running out. A notorious playboy, marriage is the last thing he wants, but his stepmother’s sexy, debt-ridden personal assistant is the perfect solution. He makes her a business deal she can’t refuse—one million euros for three months as his wife. He might even enjoy being married to her … if she doesn’t kick the crap out of him again.

Helen Marshall can’t believe she’s considering Almanza’s outrageous proposal, but she must help clear her parents’ debts or they face financial ruin. The small print on the marriage contract changes to read three months as his wife in every way—including in the bedroom. Has she gotten in too deep, or will she need a new contract addendum, extending their marriage forever?

How did you come with the idea for this story?

I saw a spectacular male underwear model on a huge billboard in Marks and Spencers. Nobody in the store (or even marks and Spencer’s HQ in London) could tell me who he was, but we all agreed he looked Spanish. So I had to write a Spaniard, didn’t I? Soon after that I holidayed in Ibiza and fell in love with the White Isle. Watching a very wealthy couple get off their flashy yacht and then dine expensively at a posh harborside restaurant was also a defining moment. I wanted to write about a poor but proud British woman, feed her lobster and champagne, and then plonk a gigantic diamond ring on her finger!

Can you share with us your current work in progress?

Currently I have a few category length projects going on in varying states of completion. I can’t say too much about those, but they have Sicilian, Australian-Greek and American heroes.  I also have a couple of longer novels simmering away and a head full of inappropriate ideas.

Who are some of your favorite authors?

I have so many different favorite writers I’m not sure where to begin but they would include India Grey, Anne McAllister, George Orwell, Salman Rushdie and Howard Jacobson.

Do you feel that any of your favorite authors have inspired your writing style? 

I don’t think any one author has influenced my writing style but a few editors have certainly helped me hone it! I write more compactly these days, less flowery prose, shorter sentences, snappier dialogue. It works better with short category romance. But I still love beautiful words, Salman Rushdie is very good for that sort of thing, reading his prose is like eating Christmas pudding with ice cream ; a sensory feast of contrast,  rich and delicious.

Open your book to a random page and tell us what’s happening.

Ha! Easier said than done with an eBook! I have done a random slither with the mouse on the final PDF and …

Farmer’s daughter, Helen, has just had her bottom affectionately slapped by Ricardo Almanza under the sheets of his massive bed on his superyacht. It’s the morning after their Marriage of convenience wedding night. They didn’t get much sleep …

What is in your To Read Pile that you are dying to start or upcoming release you can’t wait for?

My To Read Pile is massive and that doesn’t include all the juicy downloads on my Kindle! I’m desperate to read every single Entangled Indulgence releases, and the Brazens – but time isn’t on my side at the moment. There’s also a big bag of signed books I brought back from a recent romantic fiction festival which are tempting me very badly. Hopefully I’ll be able to get stuck in over the Christmas holidays.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

I’d like to thank you very much for having me here today on Books-n-Kisses. It’s been lovely! I love to hear from readers too, you can find me in the following places:

Website | Facebook | Facebook page | Twitter | Goodreads 

 Amazon | Amazon UK | B&N

 He bought her with cold, hard cash, but can she stop him from stealing her heart?

Blackmailed to marry against his will, Ricardo Almanza needs a wife before he’s thirty, and time is running out. A notorious playboy, marriage is the last thing he wants, but his stepmother’s sexy, debt-ridden personal assistant is the perfect solution. He makes her a business deal she can’t refuse—one million euros for three months as his wife. He might even enjoy being married to her … if she doesn’t kick the crap out of him again.

Helen Marshall can’t believe she’s considering Almanza’s outrageous proposal, but she must help clear her parents’ debts or they face financial ruin. The small print on the marriage contract changes to read three months as his wife in every way—including in the bedroom. Has she gotten in too deep, or will she need a new contract addendum, extending their marriage forever?

Order Carrie Ann’s Redwood Pack Books Here:
Redwood Pack Series on Amazon | Redwood Pack Series on B&N

An Alpha’s Path

Redwood Pack #1

Melanie is a twenty-five year old chemist who has spent all of her adult life slaving at school. With her PhD in hand, she’s to start her dream job, but before she does, her friend persuades her to relax and try to live again. A blind date set up through her friends seems like the perfect solution. Melanie can take one night away from the lab and let her inner vixen out on a fixed blind date – a chance to get crazy with a perfect stranger. The gorgeous hunk she’s to meet exceeds her wildest dreams – but he is more than what he appears and Melanie’s analytical mind goes into overdrive.

Kade, a slightly older werewolf (at over one hundred years), needs a night way from the Pack. Too many responsibilities and one near miss with a potential mate made Kade hide in his work, the only peace he can find. His brother convinces him to meet the sexy woman for a one night of fun. What could it hurt? But when he finds this woman could be his mate, can he convince her to leave her orderly, sane world and be with him and his wolf-half, for life?

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A Taste for a Mate

Redwood Pack #2

Jasper Jamenson’s only responsibility to being the Beta of the Redwood Pack, second son of the Alpha, is to protect the Pack from themselves and the human world. After a century of selfless service, his brother’s new found mating forced him into taking a good look into his life. He isn’t sure he wants a mate, but fate may have other ideas.

Willow Delton is a skinny, bakery owner – the type most woman love to hate. Being without family, she finds herself alone to the Greek god with green eyes who saunters into her bakery every morning. Her desire to follow him, to be with him, overrides every rational sense she possessed.

Jasper and Willow are drawn together, despite every nuisance that works against them. But evil beyond even Jasper’s supernatural compensation will make war against him, by going after the only thing in his eternal life he desires – Willow. Is Willow’s heart enough to overcome Jasper’s soul to save her life? A fight he cannot win, but to save her life – he must.

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Trinity Bound

Redwood Pack #3

Hannah Lewis, a rare earth witch, is taken from the only life she’s ever known. Held at her will by a sadistic wolf, she almost gives up hope that she’d ever see her real life again. But as her fellow captive, a werewolf named Reed, tries to calm her fears, she begins to feel a spark of something she never thought she’d feel – love. But is Reed, alone, enough to get her out of this dark basement so she can move on with her life?

Reed Jamenson, the artist of a werewolf Pack of Alpha males, knows instinctually that Hannah is his mate. Thus, despite their imprisonment, he will do all to protect her and then worry about their hearts. But is he strong enough to find a way for both of them to escape? And why does he feel as though something else is missing?

Josh Kolb, an ex-military human, stumbles upon Reed and Hannah and finds he must trust this new world of supernatural beings to survive. But that desire will lead the three to a triangle of attraction that will test the boundaries they all possess and its consequences in defeating the enemy. Can they all trust one another to save themselves and life as they know it? Even at the cost of their own hearts?

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A Night Away

Redwood Pack #3.5

Kade Jamenson has been mated to Melanie for almost two years. They’ve been through mating circles, battles, loss, misunderstandings, and finally, the birth of their son, Finn. The world is in turmoil around them as the Redwoods engage in war with the Centrals. But for Kade and Melanie, the turmoil is also happening at home. The responsibility of a restless baby and their Pack has taken a toll and they need a break.

Not from each other. But from their Pack. Just for a night.

Kade takes Mel away for a romantic getaway and leaves Uncle Maddox alone with baby Finn. The Omega of the Redwood Pack may be adept at emotions but the idea of a baby may be beyond his immense capabilities.

Author’s Note: This is a novella set between books 3 and 4 to give you a taste of Mel and Kade. It is best that you have already immersed yourselves in the Redwood Pack world, however even new readers will enjoy a glimpse of one of the Redwood’s favorite couples.

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Enforcer’s Redemption

Redwood Pack #4

Adam Jamenson has suffered through the worst loss known to man. The only reason he lives day-to-day is to ensure the safety of his Pack. As the Enforcer of the Redwood Pack, it is his job to protect all in his path, though he was unable to protect the ones he held dear. The war with the Centrals is heating up and Adam must try and grit through it in order to survive. Though the broken man inside of him may not want to…

Bay Milton is a werewolf with a past. And a secret. She’s met the Redwood’s Enforcer only once, but it left a lasting effect. Now she needs to find him or everything he had thought he lost, may be lost again.

Together, they must struggle and find a way to fight their pasts and present in order to protect their future. But the Centrals have a plan that might make their path one of loss and destruction.

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Blurred Expectations

Redwood Pack #4.5

Hannah Jamenson has babies on the brain. It seems that her sisters-in-law are expanding their family in the blink of an eye, but Hannah feels left behind. Every time that little test reads negative a little part of her dies and she feels like her Healing powers are failing her. Her mates, Josh and Reed, are doing everything they can to help her deal with their trials and losses, but they too feel like there is nothing they can do.

Just when the lines of what they mean to each other go out of focus, an enemy from Josh’s past is back to prove the things that go bump in the night are real and everything they had held dear is now in jeopardy. In order to fight back and find their way, they’ll need to put everything on the line before they lose it all.

Author’s Note: This is a novella set between books 4 and 5 to give you a taste of Reed, Josh, and Hannah. It is best that you have already immersed yourselves in the Redwood Pack world, however even new readers will enjoy a glimpse of the Redwood’s favorite triad.

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Forgiveness

Redwood Pack #4.7

An Adam and Bay Novella

Expected publication: May 2013 by Fated Desires Publishing, LLC

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Shattered Emotions

Redwood Pack #5

Expected publication: June 2013

Maddox Jamenson is the Omega of the Redwood Pack, the one burdened by emotions stronger than his own. He’s spent his entire life shrouded in the secrets of his “gift” and the price he has to pay to keep it, yet the cost just escalated. He’s known a mate could be in the cards for him, but he can’t have what he wants. Not when the battles he has yet to fight could destroy her.

Ellie Reyes was the Central’s princess, the daughter of the most hated Alpha of all time, yet not prized. No, she’s spent her life as the toy of her brother’s sadistic torture and has endured a pain that no one else should have to even contemplate. Though when she’s rescued, the one person who could help her, her mate, turns his back on her for reasons unknown to her. As each day passes, the strength that everyone sees in her dwindles to a point that there may be no coming back from.

When the Centrals find a new way to attack, leaving Ellie’s only protection a mate that she doesn’t think wants her, they’ll both have to overcome their fears and fight for something stronger than their pain. The war isn’t over and new players are coming that will decide the outcome. Maddox and Ellie’s connection will be tested even as their fragile bond is only newly forming.