Friday 24 September 2021

Temporary Bride by Arabella Sheen - EXCERPT 1


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 1

Dawn was breaking on the horizon of the London skyline as Max Jordan, head and company director of Jordan Diamond Empire, flew into Heathrow airport in his private jet.
It had been a long, arduous North Atlantic flight but Max had spent his hours in the air lucratively. During the flight, he had been fighting a mid-air battle using his laptop and he had won a diamond laser contract for his company worth billions of dollars. All that remained to be done was for him to fly to Japan and finalise the deal with a face-to-face handshake and a signature on the dotted line.
Looking at Max, no one would guess he hadn’t slept in nearly twenty-four hours. Having had a quick shower on the plane and changed into one of his many handmade suits, he looked as fleshly groomed and as sleek as he had hours earlier when he’d boarded the luxury jet in New York.
Tall, tanned and dynamic, Max could be described as sex on legs.
Ploughing his way through the VIP lounge to the waiting limousine outside, all eyes turned in his direction. Chic, stylishly-beautiful women followed him with desire in their eyes, while waiting businessmen revealed a flash of envy as he passed. But Max was oblivious to all their stares. He was a man on a mission and time was of the essence.
The door to the limousine was being held open in readiness for him and, without ceremony, Max sped passed the onlookers and climbed into the back seat. Pulling away from the airport the chauffeur looked in the driving mirror and asked, “Where to Mr Jordan? Your hotel or the office?”
“Office please,” Max replied. He then proceeded to indulge in a luxury he never normally found time for…he sat back and let himself experience the ride.
The laptop and briefcase he had brought along with him lay unnoticed and forgotten on the seat beside him and, as he sat back looking out of the window watching familiar landmarks go by, he felt a pang of nostalgia for the old times.
After five years of absence from the city, he was once more back in London and vivid memories of happier times came flooding back. It had been a carefree period in his life when he could do exactly as he wished. Now things were different. He had responsibilities.
Max still called the shots and had ultimate power and control of the business, but in some things, his hands were bound and tied.
Often he felt the weight of his obligations heavy on his shoulders, and that was one of the reasons he was here today in London.
He was here to perform a duty…his duty.
He needed a wife and he knew what he had to do.
Max had returned to England to find and marry Amy Denver.
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 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 


 

Tuesday 21 September 2021

Welcome to Contemporary Author - Katrina Coll

I’m delighted to welcome Katrina Coll to my blog.

Katrina Coll - Author

Hello Katrina – I was so pleased when you said you were able to join me on Arabella’s Blog and Chit-Chat this week as I know you must be busy sharing the news about your debut release. But before we discover more about A Match Made for TV, here are a few questions that will hopefully give your readers and followers and insight into some of the things that matter to you.

 Arabella: How did you manage to get your first novel published and what did you learn from the experience?

Katrina: When A Match Made for TV won the Stiletto Award for an Unpublished Contemporary Short novel in the USA (under a working title), I thought it would find a home easily. But after submitting it to an editor who’d requested it, then hearing nothing despite nudges, I started to doubt. Covid hit around then, and it seemed a poor time to pitch a story featuring a doctor with burnout.

Late last year, I decided the time had come and subbed it to a few smaller publishers I thought it would suit. The first was pro-forma rejection. The second noted my “engaging plot and strong voice” but had just signed something similar. The third, Evernight Publishing, offered for it right away.

I guess what I’ve learned is to have faith in your story and get it out there.

 

Arabella: If you could choose, which would it be?

1)                       A walk in the woods

2)                       A walk along a beachfront to dip your toes in the sea

3)                       A day shopping for clothes

Katrina: Oh, a walk in the woods, definitely. My hometown has the best beaches in the world, yet I used to only go there to watch the sunsets while eating fish and chips. Shopping for clothes is torture.

 


Arabella: Who or what inspired you to write your debut release, A Match Made for TV ?

Katrina:  A very dear friend of mine is both a doctor and a psychologist deserves the credit. We were chatting one day about the pressures faced by young doctors and my heroine was born. As for the premise, I adore forced proximity romances, but it had to be modern. Reality TV is ideal for that. The show my hero and heroine are on is part 90s movie (Fortress, Wedlock) and part Crystal Maze meets Big Brother.

 

Arabella: Roses, Lilies, or another flower of choice?

Katrina:  I love roses, lilies give me headaches, but my favourite would be freesias. They’re so pretty and the scent is amazing.


Freesias

Arabella: Some authors write at first light, others need a mug of coffee or a glass of wine before putting pen to paper. When writing, are there any “essentials” you need to help the words flow?

Katrina:  I’m a fan of scented candles (current choice: Book Shop) and a thermos pot (as in an actual insulated teapot) of herbal tea. I’ve yet to find a Pukka tea I didn’t like.


      


Arabella: You’re halfway through the work-in-progress and you’re stuck! If you had to contact an “author/publisher/editor friend” for guidance, who would it be?

Katrina: My go-to gal is my critique partner, Cassie Laelyn. I literally called her last week about getting stuck midway on a Bake-off story to follow A Match Made for TV.

 

 Arabella: The T.V. is on and you’re in control of the remote. Which would it be?

1)                       A quiz programme

2)                       An afternoon of sport

3)                       A family soap

4)                       A romantic film you always wanted to see but missed when it was shown at the cinema?

Katrina:  Decisions, decisions. I’m a huge quiz fiend but I rarely choose that for myself, by myself. Sport only if Ireland is playing rugby. No to soaps. Always. Therefore, by a process of deduction, the romantic film. Come to that, I watch those at home quite often.

 

Arabella: Do you have any great writing, publishing, or marketing tips you’d like to share to “want-to-be” authors starting out on their writing journey?

Katrina:  Perseverance, I think, serves in all things. From writing a novel; to submitting to agents and/or publishers; and in learning the promotional ropes. It’s more than persistence, it’s the resilience to overcome the rejections, delays, and challenges of being an author.

 

Thank you for joining me on Arabella’s Blog and Chit-Chat, Katrina. And after a foray into the world of promotion and marketing, I hope you manage to relax with your scented candles and comforting pot of herbal tea.

Wishing you all the best for your debut novel – A Match Made for TV




www.arabellasheen.co.uk

 

About  Katrina Coll



Katrina Coll - Author

Originally from Australia, Katrina fell in love with an Irishman and emigrated the wrong way. She and her family now live in the heart of the Emerald Isle, surrounded by neighbours that mostly moo but sometimes baa.

Happily, she prefers castles to beaches and can handle her whiskey—even if she can’t convince the human locals that she’s definitely staying.

Social Media:

Website:  www.katrinacoll.com

Facebook: KatrinaCollAuthor

Instagram: @katrinacollauthor

 

Book Blurb - A Match Made for TV

 


Ria DeLorenzo is a damn good doctor. Or was. Burnt out before she’s begun, a three-month paid vacation as the medical consultant to a reality TV show is just what she needs to recover her mojo.

Cancer survivor and headline grabber Griffin Stromberg is desperate to reboot his ultra-macho image. Typecast by years of fame, showcasing his softer side with a picture-perfect relationship should do the trick. Until Ria breaches show protocol and gets Griff's fake girlfriend disqualified.

Now Ria's only hope of clocking out of reality is to check in to a fantasy by becoming his new partner. Griff, however, wants their relationship to be the real deal, not one of his infamous life-hacks.

Can a man renowned for taking shortcuts prove he's ready to commit to a forever relationship? Or will reality bite once filming is over?

Buy Links:

Website: https://www.katrinacoll.com/#book

Evernight Publishing: https://www.evernightpublishing.com/a-match-made-for-tv-by-katrina-coll/  

Books2Read: https://books2read.com/A-Match-Made-for-TV 

Monday 20 September 2021

HIS WOMAN by Arabella Sheen - EXCERPT 1



HIS WOMAN

Romance on the Go ®

Arabella Sheen

 

Book Blurb

Lesley York, a divorced mother of two with a PhD in Fine Art, finds herself falling hard for the charm and charisma of Rafael Capello.

And love? Well, love has nothing to do with it. She’s making no plans for a future with Rafe. And besides, she’s ten years too old for him. What she needs from Rafe is physical fulfilment … in other words, sex, but without the romance or strings attached.

But Rafe wants more from Lesley than a fleeting romance. He thinks she’s sophisticated and stylish, and he’s developed an unexpected passion for one sexy mature lady in particular...

As the University goes into lockdown, can Rafe and Lesley find love amid the crisis of a pandemic?


EXCERPT…

Chapter One

“Wow! Now that is what I call hot!” Annie whispered.

Lesley York had just bought two takeaway coffees, and as she flipped the lid on her cup, hot steam and the aroma of freshly ground coffee beans teased her nostrils.

“I did warn you,” Lesley said.

Sat on a stone bench in the University’s campus courtyard, and huddled beneath the thick thermal padding of her coat, she took a sip of the scalding liquid.

“No, not the coffee. I mean him … over there.” Annie nudged her, almost making her spill her coffee.

Lesley followed Annie’s look across the courtyard and her gaze fell on Rafe Capello. She had to agree. Rafe was indeed a hunk of manhood. In fact, he was more than that. He was drop-dead gorgeous.

He had that dark, sultry Latino look most women fell for, and he was what her students would call fit. On the other hand, she would say he was just darn right sexy.

Annie giggled. “If he was to give me one of his sports massages, I wouldn’t refuse.”

Rafe’s specialty was sports, and as head of the University’s Sports Management department, he lectured on the subject. But Lesley doubted he would give massages. “Stand in line, girl. If anyone’s due for a rubdown, I am.” She laughed.

Lesley hoped it sounded like she was joking … but in reality, she wasn’t. And although she hadn’t told Annie that Rafe had already come on to her, she was seriously thinking about taking him up on his offer of a date. Only, she just hadn’t said yes to him … yet.

“You should go for it,” Annie said. “And if you don’t, I will.”

They watched as Rafe disappeared into the building that housed the swimming pool, and in unison, they both sighed with longing, and Lesley knew what she had to do.

The next morning, as dawn was breaking on the skyline, she cycled through the deserted, frost-coated streets of the city to reach her destination. There was a hushed silence around her, and having arrived at work, she noticed the campus courtyard was empty of life. In their halls of residence, students were still nestled beneath the warmth of their bedding, ignorant of the world awakening around them. And over in the main building, a shadowed outline of the night-watchman could be seen as he wandered corridors, switching on lights and unlocking doors in preparation for the start of another academic day.

Leaving her bike in the cycle rack outside, Lesley went to the side entrance where the door to the swimming pool and gym complex were. She punched in the security PIN, and shoving her hip against the door, she gained access and made her way to the locker rooms.

Having changed into a skimpy bathing suit that had once seen better days, she rinsed her body beneath the communal showers and made her way barefoot toward the edge of the pool. Without the protection of her bulky sweater and her long flowing skirt, she crossed her arms over her breasts, hoping to conceal the shortcomings of her figure.

As a mature woman of thirty-eight, she wasn’t the slender waif she’d once been. Her body, along with her mind and her outlook on life, had ripened.

Two teenage children, a PhD in Fine Art, and one acrimonious divorce later, and she had altered. Gone was the naïve dreamer of twenty years ago. In her place was a woman of calculated action. She thought before doing … except in the case of Rafe.

Against her better judgment, Lesley’s desire for Rafael Capello was ruling her head. She was falling hard for his charisma. And love? Well, love had nothing to do with her feelings for him. She wanted no commitments, and this time around, she was making no future plans.

What she felt for Rafe was a purely physical need, and it was something she was finding hard to resist. And then she saw him.

They had the huge indoor pool to themselves, and he was swimming in the fast lane, moving from one end to the other. As he skimmed across the surface of the water, plowing back and forth with such ferocious speed that a trail of white spray was left in his wake, a familiar heat of desire stirred inside her. She anticipated the forbidden dangers that lay ahead.

Finishing his lap at the deep end, Rafe climbed from the pool, and as he stood near the diving board with water dripping from his body, she had a chance to observe and admire his strong beauty. She watched, mesmerized, as he reached for a towel on a bench beside him and dried his face before draping the cloth nonchalantly over his shoulder.

Rafe was fit, muscular, and every woman’s dream. His dark hair was pushed back from his face and he had a broad expanse of chest that tapered down toward lean hips, while his well-defined thighs were a sight to be reckoned with. A chiseled physique declared him to be a perfect specimen of manhood, and unable to hold back, she let out a soft moan of longing.

Their eyes locked and her stomach flipped. She was venturing into the unknown, and it was too late to change her mind. She was in over her head.

“Come here.” He beckoned, inviting her to join him.

She laughed. “Give me a moment to get warmed up.”

Shaking off her inertia, she walked to the steel rungs at the shallow end of the pool and stepped down into the coolness of the water. She shivered. The clean scent of chlorine hit her nostrils. As she held on to the support bars, her teeth chattered and she allowed her body to grow accustomed to the sudden drop in temperature. Most mornings, she arrived for a swim and often encountered Rafe, but today was going to be different.

Pushing away from the bar, she kicked her feet and propelled herself forward. With smooth, steady strokes, her arms cut through the water as she swam toward the deep end of the pool.

She wasn’t a proficient swimmer. She was someone who could keep her head above water while she exercised. But by the way her heart was racing with excitement, she could have been an Olympic swimmer, swimming a fifteen-hundred-meter challenge.

Originally, she had intended to do another ten lengths before leaving the pool, but her plans were put on hold when she reached the end of her lane.

Rafe was waiting for her.

 

EVERNIGHT PUBLISHING ®

www.evernightpublishing.com

Copyright© 2021 Arabella Sheen

ISBN: 978-0-3695-0383-1

Cover Artist: Jay Aheer

Editor: Audrey Bobak

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

WARNING: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. No part of this book may be used or reproduced electronically or in print without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in reviews.

This is a work of fiction. All names, characters, and places are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

 

BUY LINKS:

Website: http://www.arabellasheen.co.uk/his-woman.html  

Evernight: https://www.evernightpublishing.com/his-woman-by-arabella-sheen/

Books2Read:  https://books2read.com/u/bojnQ0  (Kobo, Nook, Smashwords, etc.)

 

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

Website: http://www.arabellasheen.co.uk/

Twitter:  http://twitter.com/ArabellaSheen

Facebook Author: https://www.facebook.com/ArabellaSheenAuthor



 


  

Forbidden Stowaway - Arabella Sheen - EXCERPT 2

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