Friday 31 January 2020

Temporary Bride by Arabella Sheen - EXCERPT 3


Temporary Bride
  
Arabella Sheen



Max Jordan is one of America’s most powerful, leading corporate lawyers. He is also the major stockholder and head of the billion-dollar corporation - Jordan Diamond Empire.
Max must marry soon to keep the business safe and the company secure from a takeover.
Returning to England in search of the only woman he knows and trusts to help him in his moment of need - he tracks Amy down and asks her to marry him.

Amy Denver wants nothing to do with Max Jordan…and she certainly wants nothing to do with his marriage proposal. Five painful years have passed since Max disappeared from her life and a lot has happened to her in between. Amy has a secret she’d rather he didn’t discover…her secret is Jake…their son. Once again Amy finds herself surrendering to Max and his demands as he whisks her and Jake off to Waterfront, his private, secluded home in the Hamptons.


Chapter 1  -  Excerpt  3 continued...

Without any problems, the limo cut through the city’s heavy morning traffic and when it reached a tall building where Martin and Campbell had their law offices, Max stepped out of the car and was immediately greeted by an entourage of eager people. A welcoming party had been patiently waiting on tenterhooks for his arrival.
A zealous individual willing to please Max gathered the laptop and briefcase from the car and Max was politely steered towards a rank of open lifts which were all being held in anticipation of his arrival.
“We’ve been expecting you, sir. How was your flight?”
“The flight was good thank you…long, but good. Now, perhaps one of you would like to show me around your firm before the meeting. I’d like to get a feel for the place and see how you run your operation.” He was taking control of the situation.
 Max glanced pointedly at the sleek, slim watch on his wrist and everyone took the hint.
They all stepped into the waiting lifts and, with the doors closed securely behind them, they went straight to the fifth floor where Martin and Campbell had their offices.
Max was in London on two accounts - company and personal business.
He was working with the English law firm Martin and Campbell on an international lawsuit involving worldwide diamond embezzling. But the diamond lawsuit wasn’t his only reason for being in London…he was here for more. He wanted to find Amy Denver and take her back to America with him, only Amy didn’t know that…yet.
Jordan Diamond Empire was in trouble and if Max didn’t marry soon to protect the company, he might not have a company to run.
On the sixth floor, Amy was blissfully unaware of Max Jordan’s presence in the building. In the conference room, she was busy laying out files and briefs on the long, wooden, mahogany table and generally preparing for the onslaught of lawyers who were about to descend on her.
Catching a glimpse of herself in the reflective shine of the conference room window, Amy smoothed her hair back into place and straightened her pencil-slim, black skirt over the smooth, slender, sexy curves of her hips.
She was ready to face the barrage of lawyers heading her way.
She knew she looked good and she felt good. Adrenaline was pumping in her veins and she was ready to take on the world.
In the four years, Amy had been with the law firm as a junior lawyer she’d been faultlessly brilliant in her work. She excelled at her job and there was no one with better skills to run and manage the support teams.
It was her ability to organise and cope in any difficult situation that had won the hearts of her colleagues and she was greatly valued by them all.
“Is everything under control Amy?” Peering around the door was Cathy Moore.
Cathy was one of the female partners who had also become a good friend of Amy’s.
“Sure…everything’s fine. Why what’s up?” Amy asked.
“The American’s here. The whole place is buzzing with the news and it seems they’re now heading here to the conference room.” There was an urgency in Cathy’s voice.
Cathy was showing concern for the controlled chaos that seemed to be rampant throughout the building.
“Well that’s good news,” said Amy brightly. “Hopefully we’ll be sticking to our schedule and we’ll have no delays. For once maybe…just maybe, I’ll be able to get away from work on time.”
“You’ll be lucky,” said Cathy letting out a deep sigh. “We’ll probably all have to stay and work overtime. I imagine we’ll be here slogging away until midnight catching up on any decisions they make during the meeting.”
Amy let out a long agonising groan.
“Don’t worry. I’m sure James will let you leave early. But right now I’ve got to go . . . see you later.” With a quick wave, Cathy disappeared from sight.
Amy hadn’t thought about the extra hours she might have to work this evening and she felt uneasy about having to stay on longer than planned.
The full-on meeting was due to take place in ten minutes and anyone of importance had to attend.
Today of all day’s there was no room for error. It was decision day and the partners were going to determine which of them would be working with Max Jordan and take on the Diablo case.
Rumour had it James Martin - the senior partner - was likely to take the job. It was James who had brought the American lawyer in on the case and this new guy was supposed to be an expert in the field of diamonds and corporate law.
From somewhere along the corridor Amy heard a scurry of foot-falls approaching. It was her boss James Martin and his team.
“Good morning Amy,” James said giving her a conspiratorial wink.
She saw he was wearing his blue shirt and tie which meant James was in a good mood and ready for action.
“James, morning…nice to see you,” she said enthusiastically and greeted him with her usual sunny smile.
Four years ago James had sat in on her interview. Throughout the years he had mentored her and encouraged her to work hard. Little by little she had climbed and worked her way up the corporate ladder. She thought of James as the older brother she never had. But James liking what he saw, was continually trying his luck and asked Amy out on numerous occasions. Every time she refused, he took it on the chin and waited…until the next time.
“We’re ready when you are sir,” she said politely.
Everything was in place and ready for the meeting. The white marker board had been cleaned and the new digital hologram projection system was set-up and running.
Nearly everyone had arrived and were ready to take their seats and prepare for the onslaught of questions. They were, however, still waiting for the infamous American lawyer to appear.
Everyone was on tenterhooks expecting his arrival at any minute and even James, who was rarely flustered, seemed on edge.
At that moment, the door to the conference room opened and a tall, forceful figure appeared framed in the doorway.
Amy felt the blood drain from her face.
Gripping the back of a nearby chair for support, she just managed to stop herself from fainting.
Max Jordan - her Max Jordan - was standing in the doorway and Max looked like he owned the place.

Disclaimer, Copyrights and Publishing
Any names or characters have no existence outside the imagination of the
 author or are used fictitiously and actual events are purely coincidental.
No part of this publication may be reproduced, transmitted, copied,
stored in a retrieval system known or hereinafter invented, without
 written permission of the publisher.

Copyright © 2013 by – Arabella Sheen
Published by priceplacebooks

All rights reserved.
ISBN 978-0-9575698-0-5



About Arabella Sheen

Arabella Sheen - Author


Arabella Sheen is a British author of contemporary romance and likes nothing more than the challenge of starting a new novel with fresh ideas and inspiring characters.
One of the many things Arabella loves to do is to read. And when she’s not researching or writing about romance, she is either on her allotment sowing and planting with the seasons or she is curled on the sofa with a book, while pandering to the demands of her attention-seeking cat.
Having lived and worked in the Netherlands as a theatre nurse for nearly twenty years, she now lives in the south-west of England with her family.
Arabella hopes her readers have as much pleasure from her romance stories as she has in writing them.

Social Media

Click on Image for Excerpt


BOOK BLURB:
Max Jordan is one of America’s most powerful, leading corporate lawyers. He is also the major stockholder and head of the billion-dollar corporation - Jordan Diamond Empire.
Max must marry soon to keep the business safe and the company secure from a takeover.
Returning to England in search of the only woman he knows and trusts to help him in his moment of need - he tracks Amy down and asks her to marry him.

Amy Denver wants nothing to do with Max Jordan...and she certainly wants nothing to do with his marriage proposal. Five painful years have passed since Max disappeared from her life and a lot has happened to her in between. Amy has a secret she’d rather he didn’t discover. Her secret is Jake...their son. Once again Amy finds herself surrendering to Max and his demands as he whisks her and Jake off to Waterfront, his private, secluded home in the Hamptons.

BUY LINKS:


Arabella Sheen  http://arabellasheen.co.uk 

Wednesday 29 January 2020

Welcome to Romance Author - Elly Redding


I’m delighted to welcome Elly Redding to my blog.

Elly Redding

Hello Elly – I’ve been looking forward to hosting you on Arabella’s Blog and Chit-Chat, and I am eager to learn some of your writing secrets. But before we discover more about your latest release, In Too Deep, here are a few questions which will hopefully give your readers and followers an insight into some of the things that matter to you.

Elly: Thank you, Arabella, and I’m really pleased to be here 😊

Arabella: Authors can release books, making them available to readers in various ways…via an agent, or working directly with a traditional publisher, or they can even go the self-publishing route. Which method of publishing do you prefer, and why?
Elly: It’s great, these days, that we have the choice of so many options.  Having secured an agent, some years ago, while I was writing screenplays, I decided that this time I’d go it alone with my novels.  Winning the New Talent Award at the Festival of Romance for my first book, ‘True Colours’, certainly gave me the confidence to try. However, time was limited so I used SilverWood Books, who held my hand, as I took my first steps down the self-publishing route.  This time, backed by their expertise and advice from The Alliance of Independent Authors, I will be launching the ebook version of ‘In Too Deep’ on Amazon, as well as a paperback version through SilverWood and KDP.  There’s a lot to learn as an Indie Author, but I’m definitely enjoying the experience.

Arabella: A slice of Chocolate Cake, a piece of Fruit, or Burger and Fries?
Elly: Definitely a slice of chocolate cake. My mouth waters at just the thought of it, but (sadly) it would have to be dairy and soya free these days.  Allergies and intolerances are such a pain!



Arabella: Who or what inspired you to write your latest release, ‘In Too Deep’?
Elly: I love second chance romances. I also like a little bit of mystery, so that it’s not just the ‘will they/won’t they get together’ by the end of the book, but also what’s happened to them in the past, to cause them to break up in the first place?  In my latest book, ‘In Too Deep’, Isy takes on the role of amateur detective, and discovers a little more than she bargained for as she seeks to uncover the mystery of Jack’s troubled childhood.

Arabella: If the person of your dreams, (husband/wife/partner/or superstar), were to take you out for the night, where would they take you and what would you do?
Elly: I love travelling on trains, and I’ve always wanted to travel to Scotland on the Caledonian Sleeper from London.  A great way of spending a night with the man of my dreams, so long as he doesn’t snore 😊.  And a brilliant springboard to touring the Highlands, which is definitely on my rather long bucket list.  It might also be a precursor to something else lurking close to the top of this list: a trip on The Orient Express.  I’m always optimistic!

The Orient Express

Arabella: Currently, what is your most favourite T.V. programme, and why?
Elly: I’m currently about to start watching the third season of The Marvelous Mrs Maisel.  Season one was so fresh and entertaining, with witty writing and brilliant characterisation. Season two followed in the same vein. I also loved the clothes, the scenery, the sense of atmosphere created.  I do hope the latest season doesn’t disappoint!

Arabella: When writing a book or chapter, which do you concentrate on first: plot, character, or setting?
Elly: I think, for me, the characters always come first, little seeds developing and buzzing around in my brain, long before I put them down on paper.  Once I’ve got to know them, then a sense of the plot develops, or as a fellow writer brilliantly says, ‘the stuff that happens’.  Then all I have to do is work out how they’ll react and where it will all take place. Or, possibly, where I’d like to go for a spot of research. After all, there’s only so much you can gain from the Internet. 

Arabella: How do you research your novels and characters?
Elly: I thoroughly enjoy research and we’re so lucky these days to be able to access so much information.  It’s amazing what you find on YouTube.  However, there’s nothing quite like personal experience.  Friends, friends of friends or family are invaluable, and they all have their stories to tell, whether it’s how to restore a building or ride a motorbike (when you’re too much of a coward to do it yourself.)  All great fun.

Arabella: What advice would you give to someone who is starting out on their writing journey?
Elly: Try and set out a time, if you can, on a regular basis, when you can write. I know, with life, that it’s always easier said than done, and I have definitely struggled with it over the years.  But, as a friend once said to me, you can always edit what you’ve written. But you can’t edit a blank page.  I think she was probably right!

Also, join an organisation, if you can.  Writing can be so lonely.  I belong to The Romantic Novelists’ Association, where you can make friends and receive advice, as well as have your work critiqued by a professional author, as part of their New Writers’ Scheme.

Thanks, so much Arabella, for having me on your blog.  It’s been great fun answering the questions.


Thank you for joining me on Arabella’s Blog and Chit-Chat, Elly.
You’ve whetted my appetite…I’m tempted to experience an over-night excursion on the Caledonian Sleeper from London to Scotland. I’m not too sure about The Orient Express – the thought of discovering a murder whilst journeying in a far off country is daunting.

Oh, and just for you… The Best Vegan Chocolate Cake  (soya and dairy-free)
If you click on the link and then “Jump to Recipe” you’ll find a list of ingredients and cooking instruction. It says you can use almond milk in place of soya. Happy eating.

Vegan Chocolate Cake

Best wishes and good luck with your latest release, In Too Deep.
Arabella


About Elly Redding

Elly Redding
Elly Redding is an award-winning romance writer. Having originally written screenplays, her first novel, ‘True Colours’, won the Festival of Romance’s New Talent Award, and third prize in the Independent Author Book Award “Words for the Wounded”, as well as being voted Chill with a Book Readers’ Book of the Month and receiving a B.R.A.G. Medallion.
Born in London, she now divides her time, with her husband, between Bedfordshire and Devon, where she loves art, dancing and watching the waves. 
Elly is a member of The Society of Authors and Alliance of Independent Authors, and would love to hear from you. She can be found @ellyredding on Twitter, Elly Redding Author on Facebook and Elly Redding on Instagram.
Her website is www.ellyredding.com

Website and Social Media Links:

Twitter: @ellyredding
Instagram: Elly Redding



Book Blurb:  In Too Deep

Set in the rolling countryside of Devon, ‘In Too Deep’ is the emotional story of a woman’s determination to win the trust of the man she’s adored since they were thrown together as children, by forcing him to confront the darkness of his long-lost past.
Blurb on back of Book:
One little lie.  A guilty secret.  And the man she mustn’t love…
It’s been six years since Isy Forrester left home. In that time, she’s strived to forge a new life for herself in London, away from Jack Mancini, her father’s adopted son, and his devastating betrayal of everything she thought they had.  
Only now her father’s in hospital, and the house that’s been in her family for generations is at risk. Forced to return to Devon, she finds Jack as infuriating and stubborn as ever, and just as irresistible. Soon she realises the bright lights of London can’t hold a candle to him.
But Jack has a past, one which he refuses to share with her. And until he can trust her with these deepest secrets, how can she risk her heart? How can she even begin to help him, when he won’t tell her what happened all those years ago – before her father brought him home to Hambledon Hall?

Release date: 3rd February 2020 (as a paperback and ebook)

Available for PRE-ORDER on:

Amazon US:

Friday 24 January 2020

Temporary Bride by Arabella Sheen - EXCERPT 2



Temporary Bride
  
Arabella Sheen



Max Jordan is one of America’s most powerful, leading corporate lawyers. He is also the major stockholder and head of the billion-dollar corporation - Jordan Diamond Empire.
Max must marry soon to keep the business safe and the company secure from a takeover.
Returning to England in search of the only woman he knows and trusts to help him in his moment of need - he tracks Amy down and asks her to marry him.

Amy Denver wants nothing to do with Max Jordan…and she certainly wants nothing to do with his marriage proposal. Five painful years have passed since Max disappeared from her life and a lot has happened to her in between. Amy has a secret she’d rather he didn’t discover…her secret is Jake…their son. Once again Amy finds herself surrendering to Max and his demands as he whisks her and Jake off to Waterfront, his private, secluded home in the Hamptons.


CHAPTER ONE - Excerpt 2...

Without any problems, the limo cut through the city’s heavy morning traffic and when it reached a tall building where Martin and Campbell had their law offices, Max stepped out of the car and was immediately greeted by an entourage of eager people. A welcoming party had been patiently waiting on tenterhooks for his arrival.
A zealous individual willing to please Max gathered the laptop and briefcase from the car and Max was politely steered towards a rank of open lifts which were all being held in anticipation of his arrival.
“We’ve been expecting you, sir. How was your flight?”
“The flight was good thank you…long, but good. Now, perhaps one of you would like to show me around your firm before the meeting. I’d like to get a feel for the place and see how you run your operation.” He was taking control of the situation.
 Max glanced pointedly at the sleek, slim watch on his wrist and everyone took the hint.
They all stepped into the waiting lifts and, with the doors closed securely behind them, they went straight to the fifth floor where Martin and Campbell had their offices.
Max was in London on two accounts - company and personal business.
He was working with the English law firm Martin and Campbell on an international lawsuit involving worldwide diamond embezzling. But the diamond lawsuit wasn’t his only reason for being in London…he was here for more. He wanted to find Amy Denver and take her back to America with him, only Amy didn’t know that…yet.
Jordan Diamond Empire was in trouble and if Max didn’t marry soon to protect the company, he might not have a company to run.
On the sixth floor, Amy was blissfully unaware of Max Jordan’s presence in the building. In the conference room, she was busy laying out files and briefs on the long, wooden, mahogany table and generally preparing for the onslaught of lawyers who were about to descend on her.
Catching a glimpse of herself in the reflective shine of the conference room window, Amy smoothed her hair back into place and straightened her pencil-slim, black skirt over the smooth, slender, sexy curves of her hips.
She was ready to face the barrage of lawyers heading her way.
She knew she looked good and she felt good. Adrenaline was pumping in her veins and she was ready to take on the world.
In the four years, Amy had been with the law firm as a junior lawyer she’d been faultlessly brilliant in her work. She excelled at her job and there was no one with better skills to run and manage the support teams.
It was her ability to organise and cope in any difficult situation that had won the hearts of her colleagues and she was greatly valued by them all.
“Is everything under control Amy?” Peering around the door was Cathy Moore.
Cathy was one of the female partners who had also become a good friend of Amy’s.
“Sure…everything’s fine. Why what’s up?” Amy asked.
“The American’s here. The whole place is buzzing with the news and it seems they’re now heading here to the conference room.” There was an urgency in Cathy’s voice.
Cathy was showing concern for the controlled chaos that seemed to be rampant throughout the building.
“Well that’s good news,” said Amy brightly. “Hopefully we’ll be sticking to our schedule and we’ll have no delays. For once maybe…just maybe, I’ll be able to get away from work on time.”
“You’ll be lucky,” said Cathy letting out a deep sigh. “We’ll probably all have to stay and work overtime. I imagine we’ll be here slogging away until midnight catching up on any decisions they make during the meeting.”
Amy let out a long agonising groan.
“Don’t worry. I’m sure James will let you leave early. But right now I’ve got to go . . . see you later.” With a quick wave, Cathy disappeared from sight.
Amy hadn’t thought about the extra hours she might have to work this evening and she felt uneasy about having to stay on longer than planned.
The full-on meeting was due to take place in ten minutes and anyone of importance had to attend.
Today of all day’s there was no room for error. It was decision day and the partners were going to determine which of them would be working with Max Jordan and take on the Diablo case.
Rumour had it James Martin - the senior partner - was likely to take the job. It was James who had brought the American lawyer in on the case and this new guy was supposed to be an expert in the field of diamonds and corporate law.
From somewhere along the corridor Amy heard a scurry of foot-falls approaching. It was her boss James Martin and his team.
“Good morning Amy,” James said giving her a conspiratorial wink.
She saw he was wearing his blue shirt and tie which meant James was in a good mood and ready for action.
“James, morning…nice to see you,” she said enthusiastically and greeted him with her usual sunny smile.
Four years ago James had sat in on her interview. Throughout the years he had mentored her and encouraged her to work hard. Little by little she had climbed and worked her way up the corporate ladder. She thought of James as the older brother she never had. But James liking what he saw, was continually trying his luck and asked Amy out on numerous occasions. Every time she refused, he took it on the chin and waited…until the next time.
“We’re ready when you are sir,” she said politely.
Everything was in place and ready for the meeting. The white marker board had been cleaned and the new digital hologram projection system was set-up and running.
Nearly everyone had arrived and were ready to take their seats and prepare for the onslaught of questions. They were, however, still waiting for the infamous American lawyer to appear.
Everyone was on tenterhooks expecting his arrival at any minute and even James, who was rarely flustered, seemed on edge.
At that moment, the door to the conference room opened and a tall, forceful figure appeared framed in the doorway.
Amy felt the blood drain from her face.
Gripping the back of a nearby chair for support, she just managed to stop herself from fainting.
Max Jordan - her Max Jordan - was standing in the doorway and Max looked like he owned the place.

Disclaimer, Copyrights and Publishing
Any names or characters have no existence outside the imagination of the
 author or are used fictitiously and actual events are purely coincidental.
No part of this publication may be reproduced, transmitted, copied,
stored in a retrieval system known or hereinafter invented, without
 written permission of the publisher.

Copyright © 2013 by – Arabella Sheen
Published by priceplacebooks

All rights reserved.
ISBN 978-0-9575698-0-5



About Arabella Sheen

Arabella Sheen - Author


Arabella Sheen is a British author of contemporary romance and likes nothing more than the challenge of starting a new novel with fresh ideas and inspiring characters.
One of the many things Arabella loves to do is to read. And when she’s not researching or writing about romance, she is either on her allotment sowing and planting with the seasons or she is curled on the sofa with a book, while pandering to the demands of her attention-seeking cat.
Having lived and worked in the Netherlands as a theatre nurse for nearly twenty years, she now lives in the south-west of England with her family.
Arabella hopes her readers have as much pleasure from her romance stories as she has in writing them.

Social Media

Click on Image for Excerpt


BOOK BLURB:
Max Jordan is one of America’s most powerful, leading corporate lawyers. He is also the major stockholder and head of the billion-dollar corporation - Jordan Diamond Empire.
Max must marry soon to keep the business safe and the company secure from a takeover.
Returning to England in search of the only woman he knows and trusts to help him in his moment of need - he tracks Amy down and asks her to marry him.

Amy Denver wants nothing to do with Max Jordan...and she certainly wants nothing to do with his marriage proposal. Five painful years have passed since Max disappeared from her life and a lot has happened to her in between. Amy has a secret she’d rather he didn’t discover. Her secret is Jake...their son. Once again Amy finds herself surrendering to Max and his demands as he whisks her and Jake off to Waterfront, his private, secluded home in the Hamptons.

BUY LINKS:
Website: http://www.arabellasheen.co.uk/temporary-bride.html
books2read: https://books2read.com/u/4XZL86 
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00BT30FXO?tag=
Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BT30FXO?tag= 
Apple: https://books.apple.com/gb/book/temporary-bride/id615112868?mt=11&ign-mpt=uo%3D4 
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/291235?ref=draft2digital

Arabella Sheen  http://arabellasheen.co.uk 





Forbidden Stowaway - Arabella Sheen - EXCERPT 2

   Chapter One - Excerpt 2 Olivia was taken to the back of the tavern, where the landlady pulled aside a dark velvet curtain to reveal a ro...