Can A Reality TV Programme Sort Lucy's Love Life Out?

TODAY ONLY - 77p EBOOK SALE

My full length novel The Love Programme, a contemporary romance set on a luxury estate in the Scottish Highlands, is on sale on April 29th for one day only - meaning, if you so wish, you can grab a copy for just 77p over on Amazon 

The Love Programme

A contemporary romance set in the wilds of Scotland

What do you do when your childhood sweetheart and now ex-boyfriend won’t accept it’s over?

Lucy’s life is a mess. With her ex pursuing her across the country, she flees to Scotland and finds herself part of a reality TV show about love… will she find some answers or end up even more confused in matters of the heart?

The Scottish Highlands where my novel The Love Programme is set

***

Marcus won’t give up on trying to rekindle his relationship with Lucy, not even on the day he should be marrying somebody else! 

Lucy decides she needs a place to escape to for a while and fate seems to agree when she’s given the chance to star in a reality TV show called The Love Programme whilst enjoying two weeks of luxury living on a grand country estate in Scotland.

When Lucy meets Paul, the owner of the estate, she thinks he might be The One but who is the mysterious Hannah and what part does she play in his life?

With Marcus planning to win her back Lucy has some serious soul searching to do.

It seems The Love Programme has its work cut out if it’s going to help Lucy sort out her life…

Get The Love Programme on Amazon

Fancy reading an extract from The Love Programme? 

You do?

Wonderful, then please read on....

Business had been slower than usual at the Price Right Travel Agency where Lucy worked. “Isn’t it boring when nobody comes into the agency?” She sighed as she deftly slid a pair of scissors through some plastic wrapping on a pile of holiday brochures proclaiming Turkey to be ‘paradise in the sun’.

Her boss Melanie glanced up from her computer with an irritated expression on her pixie-like face. “I imagine we’re being boycotted thanks to your little shenanigans with Marcus.”

Trying to wedge some brochures with a picture of a gorgeous sun-drenched Turkish beach on the front onto the shelving, Lucy said, “For the tenth time, Mel, I didn’t do anything. What do I have to say for people to believe me?”

Mel shook her head. “I’m not here to judge your love life but when it starts to affect my business…” she paused, choosing her words carefully. “For starters Marcus was one of our best customers. He even booked his honeymoon here. Goodness knows what will happen there. Nobody has asked about the chance of a refund yet. What with Marcus paying for it and then jetting off to Portugal straight after the non-wedding, he hasn’t had a chance. I expect he’ll be in to try to sort it all out when he gets back.”

“He’ll lose his money. I’m pretty sure walking out on your wedding isn’t covered under his insurance,” said Lucy with a grimace, feeling guilty about how Marcus and Amelie wouldn’t get to enjoy the five star hotel he’d chosen on a gorgeous stretch of beach on Cyprus. If she remembered rightly the place had three restaurants, five swimming pools, a spa and a gym. Everything you could wish for. She’d helped him to choose the place. Now she was the reason he wouldn’t be going there.

“Perhaps it would be best if you took a bit of a sabbatical. Have you thought about it at all?” Mel asked with more than a hint of encouragement in her voice.

“Sabbatical?” Lucy queried, the brochures in her hand slipping to the floor. “Not a polite way of saying I’m fired is it?”

“Of course not. I’ll hold your job open for you. Just consider it an opportunity to take a few weeks off to go and have yourself a bit of fun. Hopefully by the time you return, all the gossips will have moved on to someone else and the next Friadon scandal.”

“You’re serious aren’t you?” Lucy asked, sitting down on several bundles of as-yet unopened brochures.

“Definitely. I have this friend who works for a small TV production company. They’re doing some sort of programme about love and one of the girls has had to pull out at the last moment for family reasons. They need a replacement right away and the filming is supposed to start in two days. Craig, my friend, doesn’t want to have to go through all the audition info again to choose someone else. I bet you’d be ideal.”

Sceptically Lucy asked, “What sort of love programme? It’s not something tacky is it?”

“No, no,” Mel answered, tapping away at her computer keyboard. “I think the idea is for three girls and one boy to spend two weeks together at some glam location. It’s properly organised and supervised. Each of you would get to go on your dream type of dates. It’s all about the psychology of finding the love of your life.”

Lucy got to her feet, then swayed unsteadily as her sandals slipped across several of the glossy holiday brochures scattered about the floor where she’d dropped them minutes earlier. Stooping to gather up the brochures before a customer (should one of them ever appear) broke their ankle on them and sued the agency, Lucy contemplated Mel’s suggestion. “So it would all be quite tasteful then?”

“I should imagine so. I think they’ll be having a psychologist on hand too, so after each date you can talk about how you think things went. There’s a complete relationship analysis service available so you can learn about yourself, men, and your attitude towards dating. Sounds ideal for you.”

Realising she’d been holding her breath for a few seconds, Lucy let it out in a long sigh. “Okay, I might be interested. Shall I call this Craig or will you?”

*****

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About The Author :

Zanna Mackenzie lives in the UK with her husband, 4 dogs, a vegetable patch that’s home to far too many weeds and an ever expanding library of books waiting to be read.

Being a freelance writer and editor of business publications is her ‘day job’ but, at every opportunity, she can be found scribbling down notes on scenes for whatever novel she’s working on. She loves it when the characters in her novels take on minds of their own and start deviating from the original plot!

Formerly a travel agent and therapist (she has qualifications in clinical aromatherapy, crystal healing, naturopathic nutrition and herbalism) she loves walking the dogs and gardening – that’s when she’s not writing or reading!

Zanna has written three novels, The Love Programme, How Do You Spell Love? and If You Only Knew.

Find out more about Zanna at:

www.zannamackenzie.blogspot.co.uk

Twitter: @ZannaMacKenzie

Facebook:  www.facebook.com/zanna.mackenzie

Goodreads - http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/10703273-zanna-mackenzie

Guest post: Anna Jacobs - A Much Loved Series

In April 2014 ‘The Trader’s Reward’ was published, Book 5 and final in the series called The Traders, set in Western Australia and Singapore in the 1860s to 70s..

I didn’t start off to write this series at all, but one character from the final book in the previous series (Destiny’s Path) would not get out of my mind. I kept seeing Bram Deagan, thinking of what might happen to him next. In fact, he e refused to go away.

I not only started to write his story, but found that he stayed at the heart of the whole series. He’s the most romantic, loving hero I’ve ever worked with. He’s not tall, dark and handsome, just middle height, scrawny and fairly ordinary – till he smiles! But he’s the most loving, big-hearted man you could ever hope to fall in love with – and be loved by.

When he took up the offer to travel to Australia with the son of a neighbouring family, the voyage opened Bram’s eyes to how ordinary people were making successful new lives. Why be a servant all his life? He too would make his fortune.

He had acquired some goods by chance and decided to become a trader. Since people from Western Australia often imported goods from Singapore, he travelled there to make his own contacts and find out what was available.

He met and rescued a beautiful woman, way above him in status, but destitute. They made a marriage of convenience, backed by the Chinese merchant she’d been teaching English to, who would now trade with Bram.

But the marriage became so much more, a deeply loving relationship, the sort that makes you stop and go ‘Ahhh’ very softly. Bram did start to make money, but he cared most about his Isabella.

I had a wonderful time writing about them as they set up Deagan’s Bazaar in Fremantle, Western Australia. She had experience in selling silks from her time in Singapore, so set up her own business within the Bazaar.

I planned to write three books about them, with members of his large but poor family coming to join him in Australia in the other two books.

Ha! It wasn’t nearly enough. Readers wanted more stories about the Deagans and I wanted to find out what happened next. I’m not a planner, I only find out when I meet the character and write the story. So my editor agreed to two more books, and I started dreaming of other linked characters.

But five is the maximum my publisher wanted for a saga series, so I’ve had to say goodbye to Bram and his family. I took great care to tie up all the ends from the whole series, then I had to give him a really good send-off, so I wrote a warm, fuzzy epilogue where he got his reward ie being surrounded by the family and friend he loved. He had such a big capacity for love of all sorts.

I wonder sometimes where these characters come from, the ones who grip your heart and won’t let go. Are they real, living in a nearby universe, popping over for a visit? They can’t just be figments of our imagination . . . can they?

And now, I’m starting a new series. I’m ‘finding’ some new people to care about. But I’m sad not to be writing about Bram. I wonder how he’s going on, if he’s still happy. He seems so real . . .

Anna Jacobs: Historical stories: ‘The Trader’s Gift, ‘Heir to Greyladies’, ‘The Trader’s Reward’ (4/14)  Modern stories: 'Winds of Change', ‘A Place of Hope’, ‘In Search of Hope’  http://www.annajacobs.com

Famous Five Plus: Tall Dark & Kilted - A Taster!

Famous Five Plus: Tall Dark & Kilted - A Taster!: Tall, Dark and Kilted - Notting Hill Meets Monarch of the Glen  A taster for Tall, Dark and Kilted by Lizzie Lamb. Enjoy!      ...

Famous Five Plus: Posters from Lizzie Lamb

Famous Five Plus: Posters from Lizzie Lamb: Lizzie Lamb shares the posters she uses to promote her top selling books.Its so important to grab readers and reviewers within five seconds! These posters have certainly helped to sell my books and raise my profile.

Guest Blog: Elaine Violette 'A Kiss of Promise'

Adventurer Martin Blackstone escapes the stuffy rituals of England to seek his destiny in America. He leaves Alaina Craymore behind, believing she is better off without him. Suffering under the scandalous circumstances surrounding her father’s death, only Alaina’s love for Martin and the memory of their one stolen kiss have kept Alaina steady. But she hasn’t heard from Martin in far too long and cannot wait forever in the hopes that he will return from America. Just as Alaina begins to recover, one of her father’s associates emerges from the shadows with a choice—she must pose as his fiancée in America or he’ll send her brother to prison on charges of forgery. Willing to endure ruin and an uncertain future, Alaina agrees—she can do no less for the brother who’s spent his entire life protecting her. Only the man who spurned her can save her from the black mailing scoundrel and a ruined reputation.

Martin hasn’t forgotten Alaina or the kiss they shared. When word of her sacrifice reaches him, he’ll move heaven and earth to find her and make her his, no matter the cost.

Will the strong-minded, independent Alaina chose ruin over the fear that a marriage proposal has been offered out of duty rather than love?

 A Kiss of Promise continues the story of the Blackstone brothers, introduced in Regal Reward. It will be released on April 3^rd, 2014 by Ellora’s Cave Publishing under their Blush imprint and is presently available for pre-order on Amazon.

Excerpt:

It was much too late to hope for his love. She had compromised her decency beyond redemption. What a mess she’d made of her life.  She still had nightmares of the night her father died, of the gun slipping from her fingers. The dreams had lessened during the year spent with Aunt Cornelia. She had gained some hope for her future, but now she lived in a stranger’s home under the guise of being a widow and strolled the streets in a gaudy pink gown.  Martin would certainly shun her. Better not to think of him.

When they reached the gates set up where the auction was being held, Harrington drew her to a quieter spot but near enough to watch the goings on.

“Remain here, Alaina. I must have words with one of the sellers before the carriages go up for auction. He waved a hand toward a bench that had one remaining seat available.  Do not move from this place.  You know what is at stake if I can’t find you when I return.”

Alaina’s mouth thinned but she nodded her acquiescence. When Harrington strode off, she signaled for Maria to take the empty seat. The woman was older and Alaina preferred to stand and observe the crowd.  As the minutes went by the crowd grew. She glanced toward her chaperone, though she had to rise up on her tiptoes to have the bench in view. She was surprised to see Maria in an animated conversation with another woman. Their hand gestures suggested their own excitement over the venue.  How she wished that she could find a friend in this mob of foreigners.

That was her last thought before clutching her throat. Martin.  He was there in the crowd, standing taller than those about him.  Her eyes grew wide as she watched him saunter casually toward where she stood. He hadn’t seen her. She watched his agile gait, his expression, one of expectation, even determination as he strode closer. She opened her mouth but clamped it shut again. She clenched her fingers into the folds of her skirt—she didn’t know what to do. Should she run to him, plead for his help, or hide? Instead of doing either, she stood paralyzed. She couldn’t believe that it was truly him. He drew closer and his eyes darted in her direction. He stopped when he saw her, nearly causing a man behind him to stumble back into the crowd.

She saw the disbelief in his features as he pushed his way through the throng, his eyes never leaving hers.  She didn’t move, every ounce of her being wanting to run to him, while a warning within her kept urging her to flee.

“Alaina? By God, it’s really you.” He rushed to her side, breathless, grasping her upper arms. “What are you doing here?” He scanned her surroundings. “Who are you with? I can’t believe you’re here.”

She stared up at him, the sensation of his strong hands on her arms, rapturous.  She didn’t want the warmth that encompassed her to end. She dared to lift her fingers and grasp his forearms, feeling the heat of his body beneath his shirt sleeves. Her lips trembled. She had to get hold of herself, say something.

“Martin,” she finally breathed. “I-I, I never expected to see you.  Richard…” she swallowed as the story she must tell him, formed in her mind. “I have come with my brother. He is here to handle some business affairs.  He is in there.” She pointed past the gates, in the direction where Philip had disappeared. “He wanted to look at the items at auction.  He preferred I wait here.” She was amazed that she could utter even a sound or put a sentence together. She’d believed she could fall no further, yet she’d become worse than disgraced, she’d become a shameful liar. Would he believe her? She continued, the words invented as she uttered them. “My maid came along and is over there, on the bench.” She waved a hand, thankful the bench was now fully hidden by the crowd moving forward.

“Alaina, I have thought of you often. And to see you here, I’m speechless.  Are you…how was your voyage? How long have you been in Boston?”

She realized that he was as tongue-tied as she and just as shocked at their meeting. Somehow, she needed for him to leave her. Her prayer had been answered only for her to realize how futile it was. As soon as she’d spoken her brother’s name, only seconds before, she had regained her senses and her purpose. She could not involve Martin, not now.  Phillip would return at any minute. She feared his reaction if she saw them talking. She had to complete her mission alone and deny her dreams.

A Blush® historical romance from Ellora’s Cave

Biography

Elaine is a veteran high school English teacher and teaches public speaking part time at a local community college. She holds a BS in English Education from the University of CT and an MS in Educational Leadership from Central CT State University. Her published works include novels, poetry, non-fiction publications, and book reviews. Her first novel, Regal Reward, a Regency Historical published in 2007, and available in ebook and print was a finalist in the NJRW Golden Leaf contest. Her second Regency, A Convenient Pretense, is available as an ebook. Her newest novel, A Kiss of Promise will be released April 3rd, 2014, and is presently available for pre-order on Amazon and at Ellora’s Cave Publishing. Her affiliations consist of Romance Writers of America, CT Romance Writers, and Charter Oak Romance Writers. Visit her website at www.elaineviolette.com Buy links: A Kiss of Promise available at Ellora’s Cave http://www.ellorascave.com/a-kiss-of-promise.html On Amazon http://amzn.com/B00HQH99V6 On her website www.elaineviolette.com Visitors can follow Elaine on Facebook at www.facebook.com/elaineviolette/author and Twitter https://twitter.com/elaine_violette

The Novice is FREE!

That's right, to introduce you to Victor and Zara's dark world of BDSM, The Novice, Book #1 in the Sexy as Hell Trilogy is FREE for a few days only!

Blurb

London – one meeting, one month of lessons and a landslide of new desires. 

My journey to hell started with a decaff coffee. Nothing more than a grey mug full of dull-brown liquid devoid of its most useful ingredient. 

One sip, one smile, one touch of her hand and it was soon clear my life wasn’t destined to stay dull. Oh, no, suddenly I had a month of bedroom education planned by a sultry vixen who intended to broaden my horizons beyond my usual peach-pink palette. 

She wanted to take me to deep purples and navy blues and the pitch blackness that was pure sin. And on the other side of that blackness was a place that might look like Hell, with debauchery and wantonness, people playing devil’s advocate, luring innocents into the hotter, steamier corners of the world. 

Her world. 

Oh, yes, she promised each night to take me there and paint me an orange-and-red picture that would come alive, flickering like flames, enticing me, holding me spellbound and eager to learn more. To touch, explore, drown in coming. 

And drown I would. I was no match for her tricks and taunts. My only chance of survival was to show her that I wasn't vanilla. I had a rainbow of mastery up my sleeve, too, and if she just opened her eyes, she might be dazzled enough to stay—stay and take ‘my’ lessons. If she didn’t kill me first, that was, with pleasure. 

Amazon Amazon UK

If you enjoy Victor and Zara's story the cheapest way to enjoy the rest of the Sexy as Hell Trilogy AND get the three bonus spin-off stories is to purchase the Sexy as Hell Box Set on Amazon/Amazon UK

Also, if you do take advantage of the free book a Facebook LIKE would be appreciated and if you enjoy it a review would be awesome!

Lily x

Romantic Novelists' Association Blog: FOCUS ON: Leicester Chapter

Romantic Novelists' Association Blog: FOCUS ON: Leicester Chapter: This month we welcome members of the Leicester Chapter who tell us about their activities. The Leicester Chapter of the RNA is organ...

Fearless Pursuit is here!!!

Fearless is my latest book, just released, about sexy, pointed eared elves whose unusual powers are increased when they learn to use them wisely. Fearless takes place in 1957, in both London and Dover, and is an erotica book from Ellora's Cave.

I love these locales. In fact I love every place in England I've been. Have visited many times, but it's never enough for me.

Here's an excerpt from Fearless:

"He found her in the music room, staring out the window into the dark night.

He came up behind her and turned her slowly in his arms until she faced him. Tears were running down her cheeks, and when she saw who held her she sobbed and laid her dark head on his shoulder.

Astonished at her acceptance of his embrace, he handed her a handkerchief and held her while she gulped, mopped at her tears, and then relaxed again in his arms. The feel of her beautiful body so close to his almost broke his control. He kissed her hair softly and sweetly as she nestled closer. Unable to stop himself, he lifted her face and claimed her mouth. Their kiss blazed into instant heat and he groaned as he ran his tongue around her soft lips, demanding she let him in. Her hesitancy surprised him. It seemed more as if she didn’t know what he wanted rather than the reluctance he’d expected. Gently nipping her lower lip, she gasped and he thrust his tongue in to finally taste her sweetness.

Dear lord of all the elves, she tasted better than butter and vanilla icing. He’d noticed before she always wore a scent that smelled like daffodils, and he sucked on her tongue as he breathed in the evocative fragrance. She caught on quickly, running her tongue around his lips as soon as he released it, and then allowing him to deepen the kiss.

Holding her tightly with one arm, he freed the other to caress her face and then her shoulders, and finally he let his hands roam along the sides of her breasts and down to her narrow waist. Afraid to truly explore her breasts and nipples, he contented himself with tracing the shape of the perfect rounds and cupping them in his hands.

She made no attempt to stop him, and his cock raged almost out of control. Dear elves, he didn’t want to shoot his cum in his pants, but he was very near to doing just that. She was so damned delectable, so perfect for him, that he pushed her against the wall and ground his rigid cock against her soft body.

A mistake. Whether the size of his cock frightened her he didn’t know, but she suddenly pushed him away and slid from under his arms.

“Rurik, I’m sorry, I don’t know what came over me. I didn’t mean to lead you on like that.”

He finally gulped in enough air to answer.

“My love, and you are my love, don’t look so startled. I’m the one to apologize. I pushed you much too fast. I can’t feel truly sorry, though, it was simply too wonderful to have you in my arms.”

She’d sped to stand half-way across the room and was eyeing him warily.

“You can’t mean that, it’s too soon. We barely know each other. I never should have encouraged you on like that. I’ve never acted like a slut before.”

Rurik believed her. Her every response had been innocence itself. He found the fact she’d apologized to him the most endearing words he could envision.

“As I said, Reina, I rushed you. You are not a slut in any sense of the word. You are my love."

 

  Reina and Rurik have a thoroughly wicked villain to overcome, the lives of two lost youngsters to straighten out, and the perplexing distress of Rurik's brother Jake. Jake just might turn out to be the most powerful elf in the family, but that's in the next book, Redemptive Pursuit.

All my books can be found at Ellora's Cave, Amazon, Kindle, and Barnes and Noble, among others.

 

Or write me at jswriter@earthlink.net.  I'd love to hear from you....