We have lovely friend and debut New Zealand Author Barbara DeLeo and she came with a GIVEAWAY! So over to Barbara now.....
Hi Nas,
It’s been a wild couple of weeks for me as
I celebrate the release of my debut book, Contract
for Marriage, but it’s wonderful to be at Romance Book Paradise and
chatting to your readers. Thanks so much for having me.
Contract for Marriage explores something
that can often cause relationships to falter from the start, or cause rifts between
families that leave unbearable scars. I’m talking about when lovers cross the
social “class” or wealth barrier.
I think we all like to imagine that people
overlook things like status and money in relationships these days, but when
these things have defined you, or shaped your world, how can you know that
someone wants you and not the package you come with?
 |
| Contract For Marriage on my Kindle Fire in Fiji! |
Ruby and Christo from Contract for Marriage grew up on the same
estate on the city’s golden mile. Ruby was the daughter of the very wealthy owner,
Christo, the son of the Greek immigrant housekeeper. After growing closer as
teenagers, they were caught making love by Ruby’s father who banished Christo
from the house and grounds forever, claiming Christo was only using Ruby for
status and privilege. Horrified that Ruby didn’t stand up for him, Christo
leaves without a response.
The book opens ten years later, only this
time the house is in dispute after the death of Ruby’s parents. Christo wants
the house, the only home his mother has ever known, so she can retire there in
peace, Ruby has travelled back from the States where she’s been for the last
ten years. She wants the house for her unborn baby so it can have links to the
family it’s lost.
The twist? Now Christo has the millions and
Ruby nothing, except her ex-lover’s baby, the baby Christo could never father.
Imagine you’re single and you’ve just won a
million dollars. How do you think that might change the way you approach
relationships? Would you be less trusting? I’d love to hear what you’d do and I
have an e-copy of Contract for Marriage to give away to one lucky commenter!
CONTRACT FOR MARRAIGE Add to your
Barbara DeLeo around the web:
Website Facebook Goodreads Twitter
Oooh, good question! Yes, I definitely would be more skeptical of people's motivations toward me.
ReplyDeleteHi Jennifer!
DeleteYes, of course we would be skeptical of people's motivation!
Thanks for coming by!
Hi Jennifer! So lovely to see you here. It would stop and make you think, wouldn't it? Make you be more wary? And I wonder what it would be like to be someone like Ruby who'd always been very wealthy. Would she have felt that way about everyone she met?
DeleteYes, I think it would have to make you question other people's motives in befriending you. Sad, but true.
ReplyDeleteYes, it is sad but unfortunately true. I would be very skeptical for all the new people wanting to be BFF!
DeleteThanks so much for dropping in, Shelley! Unfortunately I've never been in Ruby's situation... having to worry about whether someone would want me for my money! {;o) The interesting thing in CfM is that the boot is suddenly on the other foot as it's Christo who suddenly has some of the things Ruby wants.
DeleteWell, being maried with four kids, I know exactly what I'd do with money like that. But even then, married or single, I would never like publiity if I won money like that. If I was single, I'd probably suspect any guy who tried to get close. And as a person with kids, I'd be scared of the effect it would have on them. So I'd rather keep the win a secret, use the money wisely and carry on with life.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on the publication of your book.
You make some valid points Maria!
DeleteThanks so much for the congrats, Maria! I have four kids too, so know exactly what you mean. That's an interesting point about the kids and the effect the money would have, too. Would they learn to be more suspicious of people right from when they were small? Would it mean they automatically chose friends in a similar situation? Interesting.
DeleteSorry, I meant publicity!
ReplyDeleteLoL! I figured that out Maria!
ReplyDeleteEntangled puts out some really great books.
ReplyDeleteThanks Kelley, yes, Entangled has put out some great bestsellers recently!
DeleteI agree, Kelly, my e-reader is queued with some fabulous looking books! All sorts of romance too—sweet, sexy, paranormal, romantic suspense, shorts and an historical line coming soon, too!
DeleteI think I'd be less trusting.
ReplyDeleteIt's sad, isn't it, Chey? I agree with you too. It's something I'd never really thought about until I started thinking about Ruby's character.
DeleteThanks for coming along Chey!
DeleteThis sounds like a fascinating book and I like the way things changed over time. I am definitely curious about this one. If I was single and rich- I would definitely be cautious when it came to love and connecting with someone. I would prefer if they didn't know about the money. Thanks for the giveaway.
ReplyDelete~Jess
So lovely to see you here, DMS! There are so many changes for Christo and Ruby and it was great fun writing their story. Yep, maybe keeping the money quiet would be the best idea......but then would that be too deceptive? Would it mean that you're hiding a part of yourself from someone, especially if you'd grown up with wealth? Oooooh...a whole lot more questions!
DeleteThanks for coming by DMS!
DeleteWow, lots of twists in this novel! Yes, I would be less trusting if I had a lot of $.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for stopping by, Theresa! I loved turning the tables on Christo, having him suddenly understand what it was now like for Ruby to have nothing and to be wanting him for what he could provide—the house that she loved so much.
DeleteHi Theresa!
DeleteContract For Marriage does have lot of interesting conflict. It is on my Kindle and I'm slowly working my way towards it!
Wow, that sounds like a great book!
ReplyDeleteI guess if I was single and had a million dollars, I would be a little less trusting of people I dated.
Hi Sherry! Thanks so much for coming. I'd love to be in one of those TV experiments where you change your appearance to see if people react differently. I saw one where a very wealthy guy was put in a situation where people saw him as poor and he was quite shocked by his treatment. Money definitely talks for some people.
DeleteHi Sherry!
DeleteBut what if you wanted something like Ruby in return?
Sorry if there's a little delay in replying, everyone. I'm in Cyprus at the moment and traveling to the other side of the island but I'll be popping in and out all day!
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your visit to Greece, Barbara!
DeleteBarbara, congratulations on the release. I'm imagining that having money would give you a whole new outlook on people and what they want, unless, of course, you kept it a secret!
ReplyDeleteThanks Annie for coming along to congratulate Barbara! Lol! Can we really keep such an explosive thing a secret?
DeleteAnnie, so lovely to see you here! It makes you think, doesn't it, about how the people you know might change toward you. Or how the new people you meet may not ever be able to see past the money to the real you. Thanks for the congrats!
ReplyDeleteAww, love the premise of this! Can't wait to see what happens to these two characters.
ReplyDeleteHi Deniz (what a gorgeous name) Thanks for the lovely comment!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Barbara!
ReplyDeleteIt is Deniz, I've always admired the unique way your name is spelt!
DeleteCongrats on the release of Contract For Marriage, Barbara. Sounds like a great read. I think many people can relate to this situation. We've all known people who fell in love with someone their family and friends didn't approve of. And as far as being wealthy and having to beware of those who want to use you, that's a very real scenario. If I won a million dollars, I'd be wise to keep it on the down low and be careful of new friends who suddenly show up!
ReplyDeleteThank you Lyn for coming along!
DeleteHi Lyn! I love a Romeo and Juliet story and a "wrong side of the tracks" story too. Nothing more intriguing than love crossing social lines. And I agree—if I won a million dollars, not only would I be on the alert for people who wanted to date me, but for people who wanted to be my friend, too.
ReplyDeleteI think I'd be less trusting only if the other person knew I won.
ReplyDeletebn100candg(at)hotmail(dot)com
Great to see you here, bn100! I wonder at what point you'd tell someone and then how they'd react? Interesting!
DeleteThank you BN for coming along. All the best in the giveaway!
DeleteThis looks like a great read with interesting conflicts.
ReplyDeleteI would be distrustful, too.
Hi Medeia! Thanks so much for stopping by. I think the interesting thing about these conflicts is that the tables are turned. First it's Ruby who has the wealth and the things Christo wants, and ten years later it's the other way around. Thanks for your comment!
DeleteThanks Medeia for reading along and for your comment!
DeleteSounds like a great book! And yes, I do think I'd be more distrustful if I had a lot of money.
ReplyDeleteLovely to see you here, Susan! I've loved this discussion because it's made me think a lot more about what we bring materially to relationships and the trouble those things can cause. Thanks so much for your comment!
DeleteHi Susan! Thank you for swinging by.
DeleteContract for Marriage sounds like a gripping read. I like the premise. I guess these days it's easier for a woman to hide her wealth than it would have been years ago. Modern expectations are very different to those of women in the past, but I guess everyone should be cautious about sharing too much too soon early on in a relationship. I learned the hard way that being too trusting can lead to tears... Good luck with the book launch Barbara.
ReplyDeleteLovely to see you here, Madeleine. I'm so sorry that you had such a bad experience. So true that it would be much easier for a woman nowadays to hide her wealth, I hadn't thought about that. I guess easier for her to hide a lot more about herself too. Thanks so much for the comment!
DeleteHello Madeleine!
DeleteI wish you get to read this book. Thanks for coming along.
lovely interview! Fun to get to know Barbara. Her story sounds intriguing :)
ReplyDeleteNutschell
www.thewritingnut.com
Hi Nutschell, so glad you loved the interview!
DeleteThanks Nutshell!
DeleteNice to meet you, Barbara. This sounds like the kind of story I like to read. I'm putting it on my list.
ReplyDeleteHi, Nas!
Thanks so much for putting Contract for Marriage on your list, Carol. I hope you enjoy Christo and Ruby's story.
DeleteHi Carol!
DeleteHi, Nas. Just wanted to pop over and thank you for your comment. You are just a lovely person. So good of you to host all of these authors and give them a space to talk about their work.
ReplyDeleteSo true, Suze! Lovely to be hosted by the gorgeous Nas and great to have such detailed conversations about the books.
DeleteThanks Suze for your lovely comment!
DeleteHi Nas! Hi Barbara! Gosh, I guess if I was single and won million dollars, I'd be less trusting, too. Of course, people would have to find me first because I'd be on a beach drinking tropical drinks and reading romance novels. :) Congrats again on your release, Barb!
ReplyDeleteHi Robin!
DeleteThanks for coming by!
Robin, what a perfect thing to be doing with all that money! And maybe that's where the millionaire men would be hanging out too so keeping the secret wouldn't be an issue! Genius. Thanks so much for the congrats. {:o)
Delete