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Helen Lacey, Marriage Under The Mistletoe and GIVEAWAY!

We have Special Editions author Helen Lacey answering my questions and she's also doing a giveaway of her latest release, MARRIAGE UNDER THE MISTLETOE. So let's see Helen's answers....

Helen around the web:

Web     Facebook      Twitter      Author Page

NAS: What do you love most about writing for Harlequin Special Editions?

 Helen: Harlequin Special Edition books have always been my favorite romance novels to read. And now I love writing about the richly drawn characters and tackling deeply emotional subjects. The line’s catch phrase is that they celebrate Life, Love and Family and that’s exactly what drew me to them. There is a strong sense of community in a Special Edition book and a feeling of ‘realness’ that it’s as if these characters could be someone I know – a neighbour, a friend, even myself.

 NAS: What do you think makes a good story?

Helen: Strong and engaging characters for starters. In a romance, a heroine the reader can really identify with and a hero they want to fall in love with.

 NAS: What is your ideal holiday destination? Do you use your experiences in your stories?

Helen: My ideal destination changes constantly. At the moment I have a hankering for the American mid-west or maybe a ranch stay in Nebraska or Montana – somewhere that includes horses, big hats and wide open spaces.

I live in a small seaside town which is located at the most southern point of The Great Barrier Reef, so I guess you could say I do use my experiences in my stories,since my first books with Harlequin Special Edition are all set in a similar little town. And as an animal lover, I will often include my own animals, like my horses or dogs, in my books.

 NAS: Anywhere you haven’t travelled you would like to go?

Helen: Africa. I love animals and would love to see and experience the African native animals in their real habitat instead of at a zoo or on TV.  

 NAS: What one item do you always pack when you travel?
 
Helen: Clarins Beauty Flashafter a long flight this handy cream packs a wallop.

 NAS: Tell us a little about your current release …..
Helen:  My November release for Harlequin Special Edition is called Marriage Under The Mistletoe. It’s a Christmas story about Evie Dunn, a thirty-six year old widow with a teenage son who lives a quiet life running a beachside bed and breakfast in the small Australian town of Crystal Point. When she meets the much younger and totally hot L.A based firefighter Scott Jones, sparks fly, and the very sensible Evie has a brief holiday fling with unexpected consequences!

 

To celebrate the release of Marriage Under The Mistletoe I have a signed copy to give away to one commenter.

Read an Excerpt


Buy Links:

Harlequin          Amazon           Amazon UK
    
B&N              Book Depository 

59 comments:

  1. You ask some good questions, Nas!

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    1. Thanks Suze! And also for coming along to read! All the best in the giveaway!

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    2. Hi Suz - yes, Nas's questions are good!

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    3. Welcome to Romance Book Paradise, Helen! I hope you'll enjoy chatting with my friends here!

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  2. Great to meet you Helen. Your story sounds wonderful. I love my firefighters :)

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    1. Hi Donna, every one loves a firefighter! And I can guarantee, Helen's firefighter is seriously HOT!

      Thanks for reading along!

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  3. Hi Donna - I like firefighters too! Thanks for stopping by.

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  4. I really enjoyed the interview with Helen. I have very fond memories of reading lots of Harlequin and Barbara Cartland novels (yes, I'm that old) when I was young, and this took me back to those delightful feelings. :-)

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    1. Hi Lexi - delightful feelings - what a great reason to read romances. Thanks for stopping by today :)

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    2. Hello Lexi,

      You're not that old, I also remember reading all the Barbara Cartland romances!

      Thanks for reading along!

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  5. The Great Barrier Reef? I'm so jealous! Very nice interview. Best of luck to you, Helen.

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    1. Hi Kelly - I do feel lucky living in such a beautiful place. Thanks so much for dropping by today.

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    2. Thanks Kelly for coming along to read this interview with Helen!

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  6. Looks like a perfect time of year to promote a Christmas romance.

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    1. Ho Theresa - Christmas and romances do go together nicely. Thanks for commenting, you're in the draw.

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  7. Romance is one genre I don't read enough of. I'd love to win this copy. Great interview! Good luck everyone.

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    1. Hi ninidee - always lovely to meet someone who wants to read more romances :) You're in the draw!

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  8. Helen, I always love reading your blogs. Especially the part about Clarins. Have to check that out. Looking forward to reading your newest release.

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  9. Um that Unknown one is from Patti Shenberger. Me, not sure why it came up blank.

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    1. Hi Patti - lovely to see you here! And Beauty Flash is awesome - thanks for dropping by.

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  10. Hi Nas! Hi Helen! Another Aussie Harlequin author. Your book sounds great. I'd love to read it. Here's hoping...

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  11. Hi Denise - thanks for dropping by. You're in the draw!

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  12. I've read Marriage Under The Mistletoe, and I couldn't put it down. It's got great pacing and real characters I could relate to. Congratulations on a great book, Helen.

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    1. Hi Laura - thanks so much for stopping by and for your lovely words about Marriage Under The Mistletoe - I'm so pleased you liked it :)

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  13. I haven't read this one- but it does sound interesting. I liked hearing from the author about where she would like to go for the holidays. I bet Montana or Wyoming would both be beautiful.
    ~Jess

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    1. Hi Jess - going to one of those states is on my bucket list :) Thanks for stopping by, you're in the draw.

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  14. Africa would be an awesome trip. I'd love to go on Safari myself. :)

    And congrats on your book! It looks like such a good book. Love the cute cover!

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    1. HI Cherie - Africa is my dream trip (and Alaska) so one day I hope to get there. Glad you like the cover too.

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  15. Fantastic questions and answers!
    What a great read!
    Thanks ladies =)

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    1. Hi Susan - Nas does ask good questions :) Thanks for dropping by today.

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  16. I adore books about firefighters and knowing that Helen's books totally rule I know I will be in for a awesome read! Thank you for the lovely interview Nas and thank you Helen for the give away.

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    1. Hi Desere - lovely to see you here. Thank you for your nice words :)

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  17. Loved the interview. Nice cover too. From the filthy writer to the wholesome one.
    Cathleen

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    1. Hi Cathleen - I shall have to tell my eighty three year old mother you think my books are 'wholesome' :) Great to see you here!

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  18. I'm also interested in traveling to the mid-west.

    It was great getting to know Helen. I love the cover of the book.

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    1. Hi Medeia - always great to find another mid-west enthusiast! I'm so pleased you like the cover too. You're in the draw :)

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  19. I'd love to visit Africa too. Not to mention your own country, Australia. I'm getting the feeling that at least once in a lifetime, it has to be seen!

    I also like reading deep emotional stories.

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    1. Hi Maria - I must admit Australia would be on my list if I didn't live here. We have some of the most amazing animals. Thanks for stopping by :)

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  20. Engaging characters, that's always the fun part of writing.

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    1. Hi Peaches - nice to meet you. Thnaks for dropping by today.

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  21. Nice to meet you, Helen. Your book sounds fun! I'm going to check out that Clarins Beauty Flash :)

    Hi, Nas!

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    1. Hi Carol - nice to meet you too. Beauty Flash is awesome :)

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  22. I enjoyed reading the interview! I think an African Safari would be a great trip!

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    1. Hi Sherry - thanks for dropping by. You're in the draw. :)

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  23. Hi Nas, Hi Helen
    I love the sound of this book. Hard working Australian mum meets handsome NY firefighter. Cool.

    Helen,
    About your dude ranch destination may I recommend Colorado or Wyoming. You get big hats, horses and mountains without terrible humidity. I live in Colorado so I can tell you, Nebraska is very humid in the summer and blistering cold in winter. Don't know about Montana. Then again, there are no fireflies in Colorado, we are too arid for them. If you do decide to come, look me up.
    Nancy

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  24. Hi Nancy - what a great way to describe the book :) And thanks you so much for your dude ranch recommendations, much appreciated. Will definately look you up if we get to Colorado! :)

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  25. Helen definitely knows her stuff. I enjoyed this very much, Nas. Thanks for this!

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  26. Congratulations Helen on the release of your second book. Can't wait to read it.

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  27. Hi Helen! Congrats on your new release. Anything with mistletoe in it gets my vote.

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    1. Hi Talli - I love to read Christmas romances so it was great to write one. We don't readily get mistletoe in Australia, so my hero and heroine had to have the plastic type to kiss underneath :) Thanks for stopping by.

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  28. Wonderful interview, Nas & Helen. The book sounds wonderful. Congratulations and best of success.

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  29. Hi Joylene (what a lovely name you have) Thanks you for stopping by today - you're in the draw.

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  30. Oh, my! He DOES sound totally hot! Would love to read these steamy pages, so thank you very much for your generous offer to a lucky winner!

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    1. Hi Laney - thanks so much for stopping by. You're in the draw!

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  31. Hi William - thanks for stopping by today :)

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