The Partying Starts Now!

Well, it's almost Christmas Eve here in Australia (in fact it probably is Christmas Eve already in most of Australia!) so I'll take this opportunity to wish you all a very happy and merry festive season.

If you have a moment, pop over to Magical Musings where we're starting the holiday early with some tasty eye-candy!! And there's also a chance to win a copy of Captive!

Christmas Cuteness! & 4 Star Review for CAPTIVE

A month ago my eldest daughter rescued a pair of kittens. They were only six weeks old and as you can see from the pic, are completely adorable!! Today Miri and Ava are starring over at the LoveCats Down Under blog, where they spill all their naughty little secrets.

And I was very happy today to discover RT BOOK Reviews gave Captive 4 Stars! Here's a snippet:

Phillips’ second in the Forbidden series is just as hot as its predecessor. Readers will be held Captive by the magic between Druid priestess Morwyn and Bren. More than the passion between them, however, are the misunderstandings and half- truths that also blossom. Readers will be intrigued as the layers of the story unfold.

But is my stocking big enough...?

Are there really only five days to Christmas Day? (and if I tell Santa I've been a very bad girl will I get Henry in my stocking...?)

I know this week is freakishly busy for everyone, but just want to let you know that this Thursday, 23rd December I'm partying over at my good friend Michelle Diener's group blog, Magical Musings. There will be cookies and hot warriors to help melt the snow ~and~ I'm offering up a copy of either Forbidden or Captive to one lucky party-goer who leaves a comment on my post!

Win a Copy of Captive for Christmas!

Over at Dear Author today is the Berkley Winter giveaway with masses of awesome books up for grabs - including a couple of copies of Captive! So if you'd like to be in with a chance of winning any of the books on offer, hop on over and leave a comment. It's that easy!!

Freebie Read for December

My good friend Michelle Styles, who writes for Mills and Boon Historical, has a free read up this month over on the eHarlequin boards. His Stand-In Bride is a regency and we're up to chapter four this week. Well worth popping over for! And in other news, Michelle and I both have Roman set books out in February so we're planning some fun then!

I'm a third of the way through Enslaved, so am happy about that. Things always slow down writing wise over the Christmas holidays although I'm hoping to hit 40k before the big day.

And speaking of Christmas the tree is up, the presents are wrapped and I'm almost done with the shopping, hooray!

Fab December Giveaway

The lovely Vamp Fan Girl, over at Lovin Me Some Romance, is holding a month long contest throughout December to giveaway the entire series so far of The Parasol Protectorate by Gail Carriger! All you have to do is hop on over and leave a comment on the post - make sure to follow the guidelines to be in with a chance of winning. How easy is that?

Book Trailer for Captive

I've been working on the trailer for Captive for the last few weeks, and it's finally finished. Here it is - hope you enjoy!

Go, Captive!

I'm quite easily pleased, and last night I was pretty much over the moon when I discovered (via Google!!!) that Captive is up for pre-order at WH Smith in the UK! Growing up in England, WH Smith was a huge part of my life, and I used to spend most of my pocket money on the lovely Penguin classics. Captive is also up for pre-order at Tesco UK - and I used to do all my grocery shopping there for years, so this all feels very surreal and strange and exciting!

Don't forget to pop over to the Dark Side Dowunder blog tomorrow (Wednesday) to check out who won my Magic Thursday giveaway!

The "Forbidden" Goddesses

Join me over at the Dark Side Downunder blog, where I'm chatting about the goddesses who inspired me in my Forbidden series, and there's a chance to win an early copy of Captive!!

Countdown...

Huge thanks to my good friend, Tracey O'Hara, who made this awesome countdown widget for Captive! Tracey's second book in her fabulous Harper/Voyager Dark Brethren series, Death's Sweet Embrace, hits the shelves one week before Captive, so we're almost shelf sisters!!

If you'd like to post the widgets on your sites, please do!!!

And don't forget, on Thursday I'm over at the Dark Side Downunder blog where there's a chance to win a copy of either Forbidden or an early copy of Captive (when I receive my copies, probably mid January 2011)

Babbling About Books...

I discovered another wonderful review for Forbidden the other day, from Katiebabs at Babbling About Books, and More:

"Christina Phillips has a nice way with words and setting up a story. Her love scenes have just the right amount of heat and should appeal to those readers who like a little more spice and passion. Forbidden was an enjoyable read by an author who can really tap into the emotions of her characters and the world around them. For a solid reading experience, I would recommend Forbidden."

That made me very happy!!!

I'm deep in the world of Enslaved now, and really enjoying getting to know both Nimue and Tacitus. I love when they surprise me with unexpected revelations from their past!

How a Book is Acquired...

If you've ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes at an acquisitions meeting in a publishing house, agent Rachelle Gardner has a great blog post, highlighting two possible scenarios. I found it a fascinating read but also quite painful!!!

Fairy Bad Day ARCs!

My good friend and CP, Amanda Ashby, recently received a couple of ARCs for her upcoming YA novel, Fairy Bad Day. And OMG but they are sooo adorable!!! Look at that cool kick-ass sword!!

My life seriously couldn’t get any worse.

First, my rightful designation of dragon slayer is STOLEN right out from under me by Curtis Green. Sure, he’s really cute, but that doesn’t give him an excuse.

On top of that, I am assigned to slay fairies. I know what you’re thinking—how hard could it be, right? Wrong! These menacing beasts with their tiny hipster clothes and mocking sarcasm love taunting me. And they won’t STOP!

But the thing that tops my list of stuff to ruin my day? That would be the GIANT KILLER FAIRY that I have to hunt down and slay because I am the only one who can see it. There is someone who can help me. Unfortunately…it’s Curtis.

It’s going to be a fairy bad day.

A New Sale!

I'm absolutely thrilled to announce Berkley Heat have bought the third book in my Forbidden series, ENSLAVED. This is the story of Nimue, a Druid priestess who appears near the end of Captive. As soon as she appeared I knew I wanted to tell her story and I'm so excited I'll be able to!

Here's the blurb from Publishers Marketplace:

Christina Phillips's ENSLAVED, in which a druid priestess is captured and enslaved to a Roman tribune who must decide whether his loyalty lies with his heritage or the woman he suspects may be Rome's deadliest enemy...

Updates

It's been a busy week writing wise. I started a new book which I'm very excited about and wrote a synopsis for another one (I don't love writing synopses, they're a form of torture!) I also joined the Romance Writers of America and entered the RITAs with Forbidden. I've only ever entered a couple of writing contests before, since I tend to get a bit stressed out with all the formatting rules and what not, but since all I had to to do for this one was fill in the form, pay the fee and have the books sent, I thought I could manage that!!

I've also started organising my blog tour for Captive in February and have some totally awesome stops lined up.

And don't forget to check out the Dark Side Downunder blog! So much juicy goodness going on over there. I'll be hosting the blog on 25th November where I'll be chatting about the goddesses in the world of the Forbidden series.

Dating Mr December!

I want to give a big shout out to my lovely writing mate, Phillipa Ashley, whose debut book for Little Black Dress, Decent Exposure, has been republished by Sourcebooks - with a brand new title! - and is launching today in the US! Congrats, Phillipa! I love Emma and Will!!

Here's the blurb from Phillipa's blog:

Dating Mr December is about Emma, who leaves her high-powered London PR job after losing her boss and her boyfriend in one fell swoop. She escapes to the Lake District where she decides to use her skills to help the local mountain rescue team raise funds for a new base – with a nude calendar! But not everyone in the community is happy to receive her help – including a certain, heart-stoppingly gorgeous, Mr December…

Win a signed copy of Dating Mr December

There are going to be giveaways and contests on various blogs, but this is one of only two blogs where you can win a signed copy of the US edition wherever you live in the world It’s one of my author copies.

To win one, simply visit the blog here and post a comment OR visit my Facebook Author page and say hello and let me know you want to be entered in the draw.

I’ll be back later when the US wakes up!

Just to clarify, you need to leave a comment on Phillipa's blog to go into her fab contest!

Happy Halloween!!

I can't believe the last time I posted was on Monday!!! In my defense I have had a totally insane week (in the best possible way!) More on that later!!!

But today it's not only Halloween, but the launch of the Dark Side Dowunder blog! Since my Monday shout out lots more amazing authors have joined the launch party, giving away some more fabulous books. To check out the line-up, hop on over and have a look. And don't forget to leave a comment to be in the running to win a copy of Storm Glass by Maria V. Snyder and a small jigsaw puzzle of a space scene ~or~ a copy of Kelley Armstrong's Haunted. I have Storm Glass on my tbr pile and can't wait to dive in!

For all the latest news on what I'm up to, don't forget to subscribe to my newsletter - it's an announcement only group so your inbox won't be flooded!

See you on the Dark Side!

DarkSide DownUnder

Lots more excitement coming up! The RWA Paranormal Group I belong to has recently set up a blog to promote Aussie and New Zealand authors, who write paranormal and fantasy romance, UF and spec fic with romantic elements. When I say *we* have set up the blog, what I really mean is Eleni Konstantine, who has spent I don't know how many hours making the site beautiful and arranging for a most fantastic launch!

As the only date to launch a Dark Side Down Under blog is Halloween - that's what we're doing! Then during the months of November, December and January there are fab giveaways every Thursday from the following awesome authors:

Keri Arthur - NYT bestselling author of the Riley Jenson series

Mel Teshco - Ellora's Cave and Nocturne Bites

Maree Anderson - Red Sage

Nicole Murphy - Harper Collins

Erica Hayes - The Shadowfae Chronicles

Shona Husk - Samhain Publishing

Denise Rossetti - Berkley

I'll be blogging over there on 25th November, with a giveaway of either a copy of Forbidden or, if the winner doesn't mind waiting a few weeks, an early copy of Captive.

So if you enjoy a slice of the dark side with your romance, be sure to check out our new blog!

Lovin Me Some Maximus

Today is the last chance to win a copy of Forbidden on my blog tour, and I'm very excited to be over at Lovin Me Some Romance. VampFanGirl has a gorgeous site and I'm always finding books I want to read from over there! And just as a change, I thought I wouldn't chat about buff warriors but instead about the background to the Forbidden series. Because while both Forbidden and Captive are, above all else, strong romances and my heroes and heroines have to work hard for their Happily Ever After, it's also the story of an entire people fighting for survival against the threat of annihilation. If you'd like to see more books set during this time, I'd love to know :-)

There is also an awesome review for Forbidden over at LMSR. Thank you, Barbara! And also a fab review over at The Romanorum which made me very happy!!!

Chapter One of Captive

Yesterday I received the page proofs for Captive, which was a bit of a shock since it seems like only a couple of months ago I went through the page proofs for Forbidden! Hopefully this cold from hell will go away so I can concentrate properly next week (why do I always come down with a rotten cold as soon as the weather turns lovely and warm?)

I can hardly believe it, but there's only three and a half months until Captive hits the shelves! So I thought I should put the first chapter up on my website. If you'd like to have a read, it's here under Excerpt. I have a serious crush on the hero, Bren. Hope you enjoy!

More Partying!

Today I'm partying over at the lovely Lila DiPasqua's blog, where she's celebrating the release of her second Fiery Tales, The Princess In His Bed. Having just finished her first awesome collection, Awakened by a Kiss, I'm really looking forward to reading the second one in the series!! If you get a moment do pop over and join in the fun. I'm talking about princesses and villains and there's a chance to win a copy of Forbidden!

The other thing I want to pass on is the link to the fabulous The Romance Review site for both readers and authors. Authors can sign up for a free author page/wall and profile in the Authors page, request reviews for their books and participate in contests and in a forum with readers. And for readers there are reviews and the chance to win some fantastic books plus the forum to chat with authors. It's launch was yesterday, so everything is very new and sparkly and lots of fun!!!

Lord Lightning ~ Jenny Brown

Please welcome my special guest today, the very lovely Jenny Brown! I first found out about Jenny's debut Regency romance, Lord Lightning, over a year ago when I discovered she was a client of my agent :-) I was immediately intrigued because the hero, Edward Neville, Lord Hartwood, is a Leo - my star sign! I was further intrigued when I realised Jenny was writing a series of astrologically theme romances, called Lords of the Seventh House.

Lord Lightning was released from Avon on 28th September and I am so looking forward to reading it.

Jenny, thank you for stopping by today. Can you tell us why the series is called Lords of the Seventh House?

In astrology the "Seventh House" is the term used to describe the sector of the chart that describes a woman's husband and the nature of her committed relationships. In 19th century astrology the "Lord" of a house was the planet that ruled the house and its strength determined how the affairs connected to that house would prosper. I thought the phrase had a nice Regency era ring to it, and of course, everyone loves a lord!

Why did you choose to write romances with an astrological theme?

I didn't actually set out to do this at all, as I'd been told in the past by a very successful agent that it was impossible to sell a book to a mainstream publisher that treated traditional astrology with respect. But the first few chapters of Lord Lightning showed up and demanded that I write them. When I did, I fell in love with the premise that an astrologer's ability to see beneath the surface might free a man who had become trapped by playing a social role that was destroying him. It was my agent who came up with the idea of writing an astrology-themed series and pitched the book that way.

Eliza Farrell, the heroine of Lord Lightning, has a very interesting occupation - especially given the era - that of an astrologer. Can you give us some insights as to her character? What are some of the qualities that attract the hero to her?

My hero, Edward Neville, is a man who has carefully cultivated the reputation for shocking behavior and eccentricity that has earned him his nickname "Lord Lightning," But to some extent the role he has taken on to shock society is an act and Edward cares far too much about other people's opinions of him. Eliza, on the other hand, though superficially prim and proper, is a true eccentric who has the courage to live according to her beliefs no matter what anyone else thinks. Her ability to astonish Edward is what first brings them together, but as the story unfolds the two of them discover they have far more in common.

The hero, Edward Neville, is a renowned rake (and a Leo!) What do you think will make readers fall in love with him?

I hope they'll love his banter and the vulnerability that he struggles, unsuccessfully to hide. I also hope they'll also love his rebelliousness. The characters in most Regency novels seem to me to be for too accepting of social norms that doomed people for making a single youthful error and evaluated behavior entirely in terms of superficial appearances rather than what was really going on. Edward has been a victim of both tendencies and fights back against the hypocrisy of his class in a way I hope readers find refreshing.

When you first started thinking of writing Lord Lightning, who appeared first in your mind, the hero or heroine, and why?

I'd have to say both. The first scene of Lord Lightning which you can read here http://www.harpercollins.com/books/Lord-Lightning-Jenny-Brown/?isbn=9780061976056 came out very close to what you read in the excerpt back when I first sat down to write the book.

What can we expect next from you?

My next novel features a Scorpio hero and heroine. Captain Trevelyan, the hero, is a cavalry officer just returned to London after serving for a decade in India. When he rescues a beautiful pickpocket from arrest, he responds to the sexual invitation she offers in return feeling safe in his belief that he is engaging in nothing more than a pleasant dalliance with a woman who is completely disposable. But he's wrong, and as his connection with the pickpocket draws them both into a web of political intrigue and sexual torment, they will learn how terrifying it is to find a soul mate when you know how dark the secrets are that you keep hidden in your own soul.

Blurb

"They call him Lord Lightning...for his shocking behavior. An unrepentant rogue with a wicked reputation, his outrageous conduct ensures no woman will get close enough to hurt him.

But demure and lovely astrologer Eliza Farrell casts a chart that tells her Lord Hartwood is capable of great, passionate love. When Hartwood indulges in one of his famous pranks and invites Eliza to become his new mistress, the virginal country miss must meet her fate armed only with her knowledge that the cynical lord will become the tender lover she sees predicted in the stars.

Though Eliza is nothing like the brazen strumpets he prefers, the seemingly incorruptible seer excites Lord Lightning much more than the hard, calculating women he is accustomed to. Eliza's trusting spirit and quick mind touch his cold heart—and when the bewitching innocent surprisingly agrees to be seen on his arm, neither can predict the sparks that fly between them—or resist the electric passion that threatens to transform them both."

The Goldilocks Zone

I've always been fascinated by outer space and the Universe (I'm sure this comes as no surprise to those who know of my obsession with shows such as Battlestar Galactica!) So I was very excited to learn of the discovery of a planet that could possibly be habitable. It got me thinking... and I ended up writing an article for the lovely Sia at OVER COFFEE today about that elusive Goldilocks Zone and how it also applies to the publishing world. I'd love if you could pop over and share your thoughts too!!And there's a giveaway!!

More Upcoming Party Fun!!!

Mark your calendars! Starting Oct. 4th to Nov. 1st, historical romance author Lila DiPasqua will be hosting a BLOG PARTY. Counting down to the release of the next book in her sexy Fiery Tales series, THE PRINCESS IN HIS BED (out Nov. 2nd, Berkley Sensation), she's hosting wonderful authors with GIVEAWAYS EACH DAY!

You won’t want to miss out! Stop by HERE and join in the fun!

Maggie Robinson

Kimberly Killion

Kris Kennedy

Tiffany Clare

Courtney Milan

Michelle Rowen

Eve Silver

Miranda Neville

Monica Burns

Christina Phillips

Ann Macela

Margie Lawson

Anna Campbell

Juliana Stone

Sarah MacLean

Carrie Lofty

Kathryn Smith

Donna Grant

Evangeline Collins

Delilah Marvelle

Fairy Bad Day

My fab CP, Amanda Ashby, has just received the back cover copy for her upcoming YA novel, Fairy Bad Day (her titles slay me!!!) It is awesome! And sounds soooo much like her heroine, Emma, it's a bit freaky!!!

My life seriously couldn’t get any worse.

First, my rightful designation of dragon slayer is STOLEN right out from under me by Curtis Green. Sure, he's really cute, but that doesn't give him an excuse. On top of that, I am assigned to slay fairies. I know what you're thinking - how hard could it be, right? WRONG! These menacing beasts with their tiny hipster clothes and mocking sarcasm love taunting me. And they won't STOP! But the thing that tops my list of stuff to ruin my day? That would be the GIANT KILLER FAIRY that I have to hunt down and slay because I am the only one who can see it. There is someone who can help me. Unfortunately... it's Curtis.

It's going to be a fairy bad day.

One of my Fave Scenes

My good friend Catherine Bybee (who writes about scorching hot Highlanders, shifters and time travel!!!) found Forbidden on the shelves at Barnes and Noble in Glendale, California USA! And for a double thrill my book was sharing the shelf with my fellow debut Berkley author Lila DiPasqua!!

Today I'm over at Seductive Musings sharing bits and pieces about Forbidden, including one of my fave scenes in the book, and there's an exclusive excerpt up as well. There is also a giveaway!

RIP Little Chick

For the last few years we've had resident doves in our back garden, and this year a pair built their nest right outside our back door on top of the light. Not really a great place because there's not much room but it was nice and secluded from the weather. We were very excited when she laid two eggs and we've been watching them over the last couple of weeks.

Yesterday afternoon, the doves were nowhere in sight and when we went outside to investigate we found half an egg shell on the ground. And then, some distance from the broken egg shell, we found a tiny chick.


Sooo sad. It was still soft. The other egg has been abandoned and we can't work out what happened. This afternoon the doves are back, but they're not going anywhere near their nest.

We buried the chick in a matchbox next to the grape vine.

Clive Owen, Gerard Butler and Maximus

I love this photo with the golf club and ball!!! Big thank you to Cathryn Brunet for taking it for me!!

If you fancy a giggle, hop on over to Seductive Musings where there is a fun post about a UK outfit called Butlers in the Buff, and yes it's exactly as it sounds :-) There is a very nice bottom on display as well.

The Romance Reviews have an exclusive excerpt posted from Forbidden - and they're also holding a fabbo contest with heaps of books to be won. All you need to do is become a follower of their blog!

And for another chance to win a copy of Forbidden, today I'm over at Tawny Weber answering her Quick Six! And *drum roll* can you believe I managed to bring both Clive Owen and Gerard Butler into the conversation?!?

Smexiness!

Today I'm over at Smexy Books chatting about my heroine's magical abilities and my deliciously evil villain, Aeron. There is also a copy of Forbidden up for grabs!

The lovely Mandi has also reviewed Forbidden, and I love the quote she picked out!!!

More Juicy Goodness!

Just want to give a quick shout out to two good friends who have new releases this week!

Shelley Munro has a historical romance from Carina Press, The Spurned Viscountess - here's the blurb and gorgeous cover:

She must marry him.

Cursed with the sight and rumors of witchcraft, Rosalind’s only chance at an ordinary life is marriage to Lucien, Viscount Hastings. She doesn’t expect love, only security and children of her own. Determined to go through with the wedding, she allows nothing she encounters at the gloomy Castle St. Clare to dissuade her.

He wants nothing to do with her.

Recently returned from the Continent, Lucien has no time for the English mouse his family has arranged for him to marry, not when he’s plotting to avenge the murder of his beloved Francesca. He has no intention of bedding Rosalind, not even to sire an heir.

Dark secrets will bind them.

Though spurned by her bridegroom, Rosalind turns to him for protection when she is plagued by a series of mysterious accidents and haunted by terrifying visions. Forced to keep Rosalind close, and tempted into passionate kisses, Lucien soon finds himself in grave danger of falling in love with his own wife…

And Helen Hardt has a contemporary erotic romance out from Ellora's Cave today - I love Helen's titles, they're so clever!!

Huge success has so far eluded musician Jane Rock. Coming from a modest background, she’s had to work hard for everything she has. When a music agent attends one of her rock band’s performances at a local club, she thinks her big break has finally come, until an inebriated—though handsome and muscular—patron spoils her show.

Classical pianist Chandler Hamilton has had most of his success handed to him due to his family name. He has his reasons for detesting rock music, but he finds himself drawn to beautiful and talented Jane. Although the two sizzle between the sheets, outside the bedroom they bicker endlessly and envy what they perceive as the other’s good fortune. When Jane needs a favor, Chandler resists. Can love blossom amid clashing notes and tempos?

Unusual Historicals

I'm deep in the editing cave at the moment, not only on copy edits for Captive, but also revisions on my next book for my awesome agent. I foresee a lot of late nights in my immediate future!!

Today, however, I'm continuing my blog tour over at Unusual Historicals with the lovely Carrie Lofty where I'm chatting a little about the historical background of the world of Forbidden. If you have time I'd love you to stop by and say hi! And there's a copy of Forbidden up for grabs too - winner announced at the end of the week!

Why Write Ancient Historicals?

Today I'm having some fun over at my lovely friend Eleni's Taverna, where I'm chatting about how the idea of Forbidden came to me and why I chose to write in an ancient setting. We'd love to see you over there plus there's a copy of Forbidden up for grabs!

Returning to Reality...

I actually did some writing today!! And realised it's been over a month since I finished my last book - since this time last month I was in Sydney already (it doesn't seem possible conference was that long ago!) Anyway, I knew it was time to tackle my revisions on Captive as I was starting to get twitchy. It felt good to be back in writing mode and I fell in love with my hero all over again. There's only four and a half months until it hits the shelves!!!

Speaking of Captive, here's the wonderfully dark and atmospheric cover. It really captures the tone of the book. And if you'd like to see some more fabulous work by the awesome artist, Tony Mauro, here is his website!

Forbidden - It's Really Out There!!!

Forbidden has been sighted in Borders! OMG and look at who's rubbing shoulders with my Maximus and Carys!!! Huge thanks to my lovely agent sister, Jenny Brown, who took this picture! Jenny's debut from Avon, Lord Lightning, is the first in a new series of Regency historical romances with an astrological theme and is out later this month. Can't wait to read it!




And look! My other lovely agent sister, Laurie London, whose debut from Harlequin, Bonded by Blood, will be out in February 2011, took a pic of Forbidden on her nook!

If you see Forbidden in your local bookstore, please let me know!!!

Finding That Elusive Thing Called Voice

I'm over at Magical Musings today, talking about that elusive thing called Voice that agents and editors search for in their slush piles. I'd love to see you over there, as I share how long it took me to find my voice - despite the fact I was convinced I'd discovered it ten years ago. Um, no! And ~ there's a copy of Forbidden for one lucky commenter!

Unforgettable!

What a wonderful week this has been!! Thank you to everyone who's helped make this party so fabulous. Thank you to all my lovely guests, and all my fantastic visitors, you've made this week unforgettable!

But!! The goodness isn't over yet!!

We still have the three winners of day six coming up later today, and then there will be the draw for the fab-four book bundle! So exciting!!

In my excitement yesterday, I put the wrong link up for Romance Bandits *smacks head* The sidebar linked OK but the one in my post went off for a little wander. There's still time to hop over and say hi!!

I'm also over chatting with the lovely Rita at Not Another Romance Blog, where I'm happy to answer questions on my Roman/Druid world. And hot warriors. I'm always happy to discuss hot warriors *heh heh* There is a copy of Forbidden up for grabs at both blogs!

I'm also thrilled with two more reviews that came through over the last couple of days.

Has at The Book Pushers gave Forbidden a wonderful B Review, and here is a snippet:

"The sexy elements of the book did not overpower the plot or the characterisation, but added to their love story. The real heart of the book is the emotional elements between them, and I really liked how that was played out throughout the book. Although the well written love scenes added a sensual layer of heat and passion, and *fans self*, I will never think of Roman Baths the same way again." The rest of this review can be found here

And Becky Pena at Fresh Fiction:

"FORBIDDEN is full of erotic goodness and endless action. Carys and her lover are not helpless beings but both use faith to succeed. A good chunk of this novel is about a woman's inner struggle between what she believes and what she desires, and her unwavering faith in a goddess who may have abandoned her. You will love this novel and agree when I say... I can't wait for the next installment in the Forbidden series." The rest of the review can be found here.

5 Star Review for Forbidden!

Just popping in to share a wonderful review I've received from Bookaholics Romance Book Club! The reviewer, Steph, awarded Forbidden 5 Stars, and here is a snippet of her review:

"This book was gritty and primal. I felt I was in the Romans times and I loved it! Maximus is pure, raw male and too sexy for words. I could understand by Carys was enthralled with him and wanted him despite him being her enemy. I am also a sucker for star crossed lovers and a really evil villain. It made this book very thrilling as I hoped Maximus and Carys would be able to evade Aeron’s nefarious plans and end up happily together."

This made me very happy!!!! If you'd like to read the full review, it's here.

Later today I'll be drawing a winner for the Spreading the Party Love contest, and have the winners for day five.

In the meantime, don't forget there's still lots of time to leave a comment on Emily, Shelley and Lila's posts!!

Day Five ~ Kandy Shepherd

I can't believe it's day five already! And a very Happy Father's Day to all the dads!

My first guest today is Berkley Sensation author Kandy Shepherd, who writes fabulous fun, feel-good romances. Kandy won the Favourite Contemporary Romance 2009 Award for LOVE IS A FOUR LEGGED WORD from the ARRA (Australian Romance Readers Association) and was also one of the Conference co-ordinators this year for the incredible Sydney conference. Congratulations on your elegant award, and thank you, Kandy!!

Hi Christina, thank you for inviting me onto your blog. Having read the sample chapter of FORBIDDEN on your website and read the glowing 4 star review in Romantic Times I cannot wait to read it! Good luck with the launch!

Here is my blog about the “forbidden love” between two of the characters in one of my books…

Forbidden love

He comes from the wrong side of the tracks, and has tragedy and loss in his background. He lives by his wits. Of mixed blood, he is more ugly than handsome but the mix gives him a potent charm that lets him manipulate people into giving him what he wants. He’s a player, a ladies man, taking what he wants and moving on. That all comes to a screeching halt when he sees her. She is all he wants—but she is forbidden to him. Her family will not let him anywhere near her.

She is aristocratic, elegant, her petite frame, glossy black hair and aquiline profile giving her stand-out looks. Her parents guard her closely; years of good breeding make her a valuable asset. Her future is carefully planned. She is to be matched with her social equal—there is no room in her life for our disreputable hero. But when she sees him, she is smitten. She will defy her family to meet with him.

When an unplanned pregnancy and an unexpected inheritance are thrown into the plot, Brutus and Coco find themselves relying on humans to thwart a dastardly plot to murder Brutus with an overdose of dog-toxic chocolate. Will they—and their puppies—find their happy-ever-after?

Brutus, a Heinz 57 varieties mutt, and his forbidden love Coco, a purebred miniature poodle, are the canine stars of the secondary love story in my debut novel from Berkley Sensation, LOVE IS A FOUR-LEGGED WORD. Poor Brutus even has Coco’s owner turn the hose on him to keep him away from her pedigree princess, Coco! But the human heroine of the book, Maddy Cartwright, and hero Tom O’Brien join forces to keep the doggy lovers together. Brutus and Coco also “guest star” in my new release, HOME IS WHERE THE BARK IS.

Christina, if any of your readers would like to read about Brutus and Coco (and the human characters, too, of course!), I’d be delighted to give away a signed copy of LOVE IS A FOUR-LEGGED WORD.

Thank you Kandy! Brutus and Coco are so adorable and I'm looking forward to seeing them again when I read HOME IS WHERE THE BARK IS! So, to be in with a chance of winning Kandy's book, what's your fave book or movie that features animals?

Day Two ~ Michelle Styles

My final guest for day two is Mills and Boon Historical author, Michelle Styles We first met up on eHarlequin about seven or so years ago, both of us targeting the Romance line. Funny how things turn out!!! I was thrilled when Michelle sold her Roman story to M&B and trail-blazed an ancient historical trend for the line!

Here is Michelle's fascinating glimpse into Roman society...


I’m delighted to be here helping to celebrate Christina’s launch of Forbidden. I had the great pleasure of meeting Christina back 2004 when she and I both attended the RNA conference in Leicester. And I’m really looking forward to reading Forbidden as I have a great fondness for the era.


Christina asked the contributors to her blog write about something Forbidden in their books, and I think it is a great topic for writing about Roman society in general. Roman society was riddled with rules and what could happen or could not happen, despite televisions shows to the contrary! Because of its militaristic nature, Rome was a place where form was everything. The law and its interpretations were important.


It was why at the end of the Republic, there was a huge clash between the traditionalists like Cato and the new young guns like Julius Caesar who wanted to flaunt their wealth (and sexuality). Later when Augustus takes over as Emperor, he tries to re-establish the old values. One of the laws he implemented was that men had to either be married or betrothed. This had the untended consequence of men betrothing themselves to infants so that they could remain single. This led to another law forbidding betrothals until the woman was twelve. If you look at the graves of Roman women, you see that many died when they were about 17 or 18 and giving birth to their first child. This normally happened about a year after the women started to have sex or about a year after marriage.



So what did I write about that was forbidden? Or rather how did it complicate things? In my debut book The Gladiator’s Honour, a long term relationship between a Patrician woman and a salve was forbidden. Such things were looked on with disapproval. This is in part because a woman’s status did depend on the men in her life. In A Noble Captive, the heroine as a priestess of a cult and a enemy of Rome was forbidden from having a relationship with a Roman soldier. In The Roman’s Virgin Mistress, the hero and heroine are on opposite sides of the political spectrum but I also explored some of the ‘forbidden activities’ that were practiced in a town like Baiae where the Romans went to party, rather than Rome where Romans went to govern. Given Roman behaviour, I was surprised to learn that nice girls didn’t dance nor did they recline at the dinner table. One of the great reasons to read about the Roman era is because of what was forbidden during that era and the opportunity to immerse yourself in that era.


To help Christina celebrate, I’m offering one lucky commentator a copy of one my Roman set books.







Michelle Styles writes historical romance set in the Roman, Viking, Regency and early Victorian periods for Harlequin Historical. She has written 15 books for them and recently sold a Roman set Undone which will be coming out sometime next year.














Thank you for that thought provoking post, Michelle. I know I discovered a lot of unexpected things when I was researching the period. So, to be in with a chance of winning one of Michelle's wonderful Roman set books, leave a comment for Michelle or tell us what's the most unusual/weird/shocking/funniest (umm you get the picture?!) thing you've uncovered during the course of researching, for whatever reason that research might have been for?

Once again I have to extend my apologies for not being around due to living Down Under! But I'm sure there are a couple of Roman warriors lurking if you need any assistance for any reason!!

Forbidden Party Trailer

Scroll down for newer posts!!

To help get into the party spirit, I'm giving away a signed copy of Forbidden to one lucky person who helps spread the word about the party.

So here are the deets. Please feel free to copy and paste!

To help celebrate the release of Forbidden, Christina Phillips's debut Roman/Druid Ancient Historical Romance from Berkley Heat, she's holding a launch party with lots of amazing authors and fabulous giveaways! In addition, Christina's giving away a signed copy of Forbidden to one lucky person who helps spread the love. All you have to do is mention the party (you can copy and paste this blurb), being held from 1st to 6th September at http://christinaphillips.blogspot.com. You can Tweet about it, blog, Facebook, MySpace or anything! And then drop her an email at ChristinapPh @ gmail dot com (no spaces) to let her know. Please put Forbidden Launch Party (or something similar) in the subject line. The winner will be drawn for that on Monday 6th September.

And if you'd like to also put the trailer up on your sites, please do!!! The YouTube link to embed is here

Here it is - hope you enjoy!!!

Who's Your Fave Hot Warrior?

After having lovely weather all last week and thinking Spring was on its way, it's been rainy and miserable today, so far. But not to worry! Because there is a great party going on over at Australian suspense author Helene Young's blog today, where we're chatting about ancient heroes and which actor would you cast as your favourite hot warrior? We'd love to see you over there and there is a copy of Forbidden up for grabs too!! *pats pretty cover*

The Published Cover!

Here is the final, published version of the cover of Forbidden! I love the new font for my name. Well I love everything about it!! (although I think I should probably stop hugging my copies!!)

I've had a contest running over at The Mystic Castle, where readers could ask me questions. Unfortunately, the site was hacked over the weekend and despite the lovely owners' best efforts, some of the questions have been lost. So the contest has been extended, and if you did ask a question, or want to ask a question, then please do pop over if you get a moment and repost. Thanks, and sorry for the inconvenience!

Visiting with our Golden Girl!

I tried doing my first sticky post today - let's see if it works! :-)

Today I'm over at Golden Heart Winner Kylie Griffin's blog, where I reveal all sorts of weird facts about myself :-) There is also a copy of Forbidden up for grabs for one lucky commenter - love to see you over there for a natter!!!

Pretty Animated Banners!

Have you noticed that totally awesome banner at the top of my blog? Isn't it gorgeous? I want to give a big Thank You to the talented Dorie Hensley who designed two for my pages over at the Mystic Castle and then went above and beyond the call of duty by taking the time to answer my questions as to how I uploaded them!!! Thank you, Dorie, and also to my younger daughter Charlotte who helped me out with the blog one (I did figure out how to upload to my website but blogger beat me!!!)

Speaking of The Mystic Castle, there's still time to pop over there and ask me a question to be in with a chance of winning a signed copy of FORBIDDEN! Would love to see you over there!

RWA Cocktail Party

I came home from conference to revisions for Captive, so that's been exciting, and I'm very relieved I had them this week and not next week, since I have something very special happening here next week!!! I'm holding a cyber launch party for Forbidden, and lots of wonderful author friends have agreed to come over and have some fun! And there will be prizes!!! I'll post more details over the weekend, once I've finished polishing my party trailer.

As promised here are some photos from the RWA's Harlequin Cocktail Party that was held last Friday (a week ago already!!) The fancy dress is just amazing. I'm going to have to seriously re-think my wardrobe for Melbourne!!

  

Here I am with my agent sister, the immensely talented Allison Withers, who won the Historical category in the Emerald award (the Aussie Golden Heart) Go, Alli! Guess what period of history Alli writes?










More fab fancy dress! And Johnny Depp!!!










Amanda Ashby and Sara Hantz with awesome Presents author, Trish Morey, who was The Princess Bride!



















Here I am with the lovely TWRP and Eternal Press author Suzanne Brandyn!









And Eleni Konstantine, in her amazing Batgirl outfit!!














I'm sorry I don't know who these fearless warrior maidens are, but underneath Darth Vader is Silhouette Desire author, Paula Roe!!!









And here with Sara is Emily Gee, who writes fantastic dark fantasy and also, as Emily May, wonderful historical romances for Harlequin.


I was so taken with my beautiful dessert on the Saturday night awards dinner, I took a photo of it!!