Thursday, March 3, 2016

Author Showcase: Annie West

Hello, hello. How is everyone doing today? It's time for another Author Showcase, one of my favorite posts to write because it allows me to shine a light on a fabulous author and do a little flag waving, gesturing and general raving about a wonderful author. Today's lady is no different. Please give a warm Deanna's World welcome to the lovely Annie West.

I have a new book out this month (yay!). It’s about a woman who believes her days are numbered and decides to make the most of the time left by breaking out of her humdrum world and ticking a few things off her bucket list, starting with Paris. The last thing she expects is a fling with a charming, debonair Frenchman, but Thierry is too wonderful to resist. Complications arise when she discovers she’s pregnant and Thierry offers marriage, purely for the sake of their child.

I won’t tell you any more about the story, apart from the fact I loved writing it. I adored Imogen and Thierry plus there was the bonus of the setting: Paris and then the French countryside. One of the best parts of writing the book was revisiting my own trips to that part of the world. No, I didn’t have a romantic fling with a sexy Frenchman (Mr West would have objected) but I did find places and events that helped inspire the story (and I’ve shared a few photos on my website).


What was the best part of researching in France? I think sitting watching the world go by has to be one of them. There’s nothing quite like a prime position at an outdoor French cafĂ© or bar to give you a fascination for the people around you and for the place. And then there was the food and the wine…ooh, la, la! Such fun!

Do you have a favourite French meal or wine? Or maybe one you’d love to try?
I can’t pin down a single favourite and I feel I may want to take a little time exploring the wines in more detail in future travels. But here are a couple of photos to show some treats I’ve enjoyed on recent trips.

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Annie enjoying a lovely Kir Royale in Paris

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Duck with salad, goat’s cheese and fabulous Salardaise Potatoes from the Perigord Region

Annie is giving away a signed copy of A Vow To Secure His Legacy to one lucky commenter. All you need to do is leave a comment below and tell us what you'd like to do if you got a chance to visit France. 

And now ... on to Annie's latest release ...

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A Vow To Secure His Legacy
(One Night with Consequences)
By: Annie West
Releasing March 1, 2016
Harlequin Presents

Buy Links:  Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iTunes | Kobo | Google Play | Mills & Boon


Synopsis


“Marry me. This week.”

After losing her mother, Imogen Holgate believes she’s living on borrowed time with the same terminal illness. So the cautious accountant blows all her savings on a once-in-a-lifetime trip around the world, where she meets sexy Parisian Thierry Girard. But after two steamy weeks there are permanent consequences to their temporary affair…

Now with more than herself to think about, Imogen turns to Thierry to help, but the last thing she expected was for him to imprison her with a gold ring!



Excerpt

    ‘It’s kind of you to see me to my room.’
    The doors slid open and he ushered her down the hall to her room, her arm clamped to his side.
    Probably afraid you’ll collapse like you did last night.
    ‘That’s the second time you’ve accused me of being kind.’ His voice sounded tight but she didn’t look at him, delving instead into her purse for her key card.
    ‘You’ve been wonderful, and I appreciate it. I-’ She frowned as he took the card and opened the door.
    Did he have to be so eager to say goodnight?
    But instead of saying goodbye, Thierry stepped over the threshold, drawing her in. The door closed behind them and, stunned, Imogen turned. His tanned features looked chiselled, uncompromising, and those liquid dark eyes…
    ‘I’m not good at kind.’ He stroked a finger down her cheek in a barely-there touch that rocketed to the centre of her being. ‘In fact, I excel at doing exactly what pleases me most.’ His head dipped and Imogen’s breath stalled as his breath caressed her lips. ‘And what pleases me most is to be with you, Imogen.’
    Imogen swallowed hard. It was what she wanted, what she’d steeled herself to ask. Yet part of her, the cautious, reserved part that had kept her safe for twenty five years, froze her tongue.
    Safe? There was no safe, not any more. Not when she could count the future in months, not decades.
    ‘Or am I wrong?’ His hand dropped and still she felt his touch like a sense memory. ‘Do you not want-?’
    ‘Yes!’ Her purse tumbled to the floor as her hand shot out. She clutched his fingers, threading hers through them. The flash of heat from the contact point was like an electric charge. ‘I want.’



Check out some of these titles by Annie too

Other recent books include 2 which have been nominated as finalists for the 2015 Australian Romance Reader Awards: THE SULTAN’S HAREM BRIDE and SEDUCING HIS ENEMY’S DAUGHTER. Coming up soon is THE FLAW IN RAFFAELE’S REVENGE (July 2016).



About the author

authorUSA Today Bestselling author Annie West loves writing passionate, intense love stories. She has devoted her life to an in depth study of tall, dark, charismatic heroes who cause the best kind of trouble in the lives of their heroines. Creating heroines who are a perfect match for those strong, stubborn men is one of her all time favorite things. As a sideline she's also researched dreamy locations for romance, from vibrant cities to desert encampments and fairytale castles. She leaves on the east coast of Australia and her favourite things are books, good company, good food and travel. She’s thrilled by the fact that last year she won the Australian Romantic Book of the Year Award.

Author links: Website - FacebookGoodreads




Giveaway
Leave a comment below and tell us what you'd like to see or visit if you got a chance to go to France for a signed copy of A Vow To Secure His Legacy. Open internationally.


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47 comments:

  1. Hai Deanna and Annie
    In France there are was a one time, in the Cote d'Azur (Nice, Monte Carlo, Menton). If I had to go there again I'd like to visit the castles of the Loire, Mont Saint Michelle, and of course Paris.

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    1. Ooh, I've heard a lot about the Cote d'Azur, Franca. I've love to see it. I wonder if there's a time of year when it's not packed with tourists?

      I can recommend the Loire. So very beautiful, especially the wonderful castles. You'd have a marvellous time. Hope you get there one day.

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    2. Poli, I've never been out of Paris when I visited. I'll need to plan a longer trip to see more of France.

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  2. Deanna, I have to say it's lovely of you to have me visit. Especially to talk about one of my favourite books and about travelling and eating. Yay!

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  3. Hi, Deanna! Hi, Annie!

    Annie, congrats on the release of A Vow to Secure His Legacy! I have this book in my hot little hands and can't wait to get immersed in it. I spent only four days in Paris a few years ago, but I would so love to return for a boulangerie tour. :)

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    1. Hi Vanessa. LOVE the sound of a boulangerie tour. Or a tour of cheese shops! Or of patisseries. Actually, my first act on my first day in Paris, after settling in to our accommodation was to walk around to a gorgeous, ultra chic chocolate shop and ask for two little truffles for me and my son. The others were resting so clearly didn't need them! As my French was almost non existent I felt very daring. But the lady there was lovely and the chocs were out of this world!

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    2. Vanessa, I forgot to say I hope you enjoy Imogen and Thierry's book. I loved writing it.

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    3. Vanessa, ah, French food. It's basic but I do love a good Croque Monsieur. They seem to taste better in France.

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  4. Hi Annie! Hi Deanna! Two of my fave people in one spot - that counts as a party. Oh, my goodness, Annie, I loved, loved, loved A Vow to Secure His Legacy. All your books are great but this one hit it out of the ballpark for me. They're such wonderful characters and your heart aches for their dilemma. And there's something about feeling like time is short to really heighten the emotion and the romance. Well done! Whoever wins this is in for a huge treat.

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    1. Anna, thank you for stopping by. I can't wait to read the book. It sounds like the sort of story I love.

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    2. Hi Anna. I'm sure you can imagine how I'm grinning after reading your comment. Yes, there was that sense of urgency in this one because Imogen thought her time was short. I'd loved that intensity in the story, almost as much as I loved Thierry...

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  5. Annie, thank you so much for stopping by. I love Frenchmen. They have a je ne sais quoi about them. It makes them extra charming and extra sexy.

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    1. Deanna, Thierry certainly seemed that way to me. Of course I could be biased! :)

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  6. Visit the Notre Dame go sightseeing and enjoy the food especially the food and probably that will give me motivation to learn the french language

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    1. I loved the Notre Dame when I visited. Such a wonderful building. And yes, you can't have enough of the food. The food is amazing.

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    2. I'm with you, Deanna. The food can be amazing. Natasha, I thought the best part of Notre Dame was climbing up to the roof and seeing the view from up high on the tower.

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    3. Hi Natasha, I've just done a random draw for someone to win a signed copy of 'Imprisoned by a Vow' and you're the winner! Congratulations. If you email me at annie(at)annie-west(dot)com with your postal address, I'll get your prize in the mail.

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    4. Natasha, don't forget to contact Annie for your win.

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  7. Congrats! I just want to travel all of Europe! <3

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    1. Europe would be wonderful. There is so much to see in Europe. It would take you years to see everything.

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    2. Thanks, Amy. There's so much to see and do, isn't there?

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  8. Hi Annie and Deanna

    Annie I so loved this story everything about it is fab the setting Thierry and Imogen I have not visited Paris so I thank you (and all authors) who take me on trips to places I wand to visit from my armchair I would dearly love to go to the top of the Eifel Tower one of my daughters went there on a school excursion when she was 14 :)

    Have Fun
    Helen

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    1. Helen, the Eiffel Tower is magnificent. I hope you get to visit it soon.

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    2. Hi Helen. I'm so very happy you enjoyed this book so much. As for armchair travelling, it's one of my favourite things. It was great fun including snippets of places I'd visited in this story. Of course now I want to go back for more.

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  9. I would have to visit as many places as I could! Especially The Louvre!

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    1. I'd love to visit the Louvre. I didn't get a chance when I was in Paris last.

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    2. Mia, that sounds like an excellent place to start!

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  10. I would have to visit as many places as I could! Especially The Louvre!

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  11. I've been to Paris and took a river cruise up to the Normandy beaches. But I've love to go back to France and visit Mont St Michel and the Loire valley.

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    1. I've only ever been to Paris. My Steve and I hope to one day tour the various wine regions of France.

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    2. Michelle, I haven't made it to Normandy but I can recommend the Loire Valley. You'd enjoy it too, Deanna. So lovely and nice wine as well. I used that as a setting for one of my earlier books (Rebel's Bargain).

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  12. Hi Annie and Deanna, lovely blog post! That goat's cheese, duck and potato salad looks absolutely delicious! And what a way to relax - sitting in a cafeteria in Paris watching the world go by! I'd rather like to try that myself.

    Would have been perfect if I'd passed French in high school - so perhaps it would be fun to take language lessons in France!

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    1. Sharon, I learned French in school and was quite fluent at one point. Alas, not anymore. It's been a long time since I've had the opportunity to speak the language.

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    2. Deanna, a trip to France would be a good reason to brush up!

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  13. Sharon, that meal was fantastic. And what made it particularly appealing was that we were sitting beneath a grape vine, with fresh figs ready for plucking right behind us. A lovely setting!

    Learning French in France sounds idyllic.

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  14. I would like to see the Eiffel Tower of course! Thanks for the chance!

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    1. The Eiffel Tower is stunning. Try to see it at night too, when it's lit up. It's quite something.

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    2. Of course! And so pretty at night, as Deanna says.

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  15. Thanks for the giveaway on Facebook!

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  16. Thanks for the giveaway on Facebook!

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  17. I'm late! I totally meant to stop by yesterday. I am totally jealous of Annie (and everyone else) that gets to do all this traveling! I totally want to see Paris, Prague, St. Petersburg, Ireland, Oz and of course my favorite, Scotland!

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    1. When you come to Oz, I'll drag you out to some lunches with some lovely Australian authors I know. They are the most awesome people. Just ask Annie. I know she'll tell you she's lovely! I know she is. :-)

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    2. Bambi, you're going to be busy seeing all of that! Hope you eventually get to all of them. Make sure Australia is top of your list!

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    3. Deanna, a romance reader and writer lunch sounds lots of fun. Maybe in the vineyards!

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  18. Thanks, Deanna, and everyone for the warm welcome here. I love talking books and travel and food. I've just done a random draw for someone to receive a signed copy of 'A Vow to Secure His Legacy' and the winner is NATASHA PERSAUD. Congratulations, Natasha! If you send me your postal address via my website or at annie(at)annie-west(dot)com I'll send your prize.

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