Escape with a Romance (Part 2)

Two more recommendations from our Medical Romance authors, who have sorted through their backlists to recommend their favourite escape stories.  Enjoy!

Taming Her Hollywood Playboy, by Emily Forbes

Redeemed…

…by his fake fiancee!  Hired as the on-set paramedic on Hollywood actor Oliver Harding’s latest film, Kat Angelis finds herself equally as charmed by his off-screen persona. And when his playboy reputation threatens his hard-earned career, she’s the first person Oliver turns to – to pose as his fiancée! Kat’s warm personality and commitment to her family opens Oliver up to something he’s never had. Is this girl from the outback the key to unlocking his heart?

Why recommend?  I think this book might be the perfect antidote to being stuck indoors – it will take you to the Australian outback where there are no nasty viruses lurking!

It is set in Coober Pedy, South Australia in the middle of the red desert where my hero, Hollywood actor, Oliver Harding has been sent in order to keep him out of trouble. Needless to say – it doesn’t work!

Book available here  and Mills&BoonAus plus Mills&BoonUK and Harlequin USA

You can also find an excerpt on this blog.

 

English Rose for the Sicilian Doc, by Annie Claydon

Uncovering a sizzling attraction…

Burned in love, Dr Matteo Di Salvo knows he should stay away from single mother, Rose Palmer.  But as he gets to know the beautiful English archaeologist, he longs to chase the shadows from her eyes…

Rose is drawn to the handsome radiologist, though after her disastrous marriage, getting emotionally entangled is out of the question! But as the sun-drenched island of Sicily works its magic, she wonders if she’s finally found a man she can trust…with her heart and her son.

Why Recommend?  The book features a beach, a handsome doctor, a vineyard and a hot spring – along with an archaeological mystery, solved by modern medical knowledge.

The book is available from Mills and Boon UK, Mills and Boon Australia and Harlequin, and you can read an excerpt on this blog.

 

June New Releases

Happy June! Sorry this up later than usual and if there’s typos, it’s because of my dumb finger which is recovering from an accident.

Congrats to Julie Danvers on her debut!

 

 A Rival to Steal Her Heart by Annie Claydon

Is love the one challenge…

…they’ll face together?

Her rivalry with doctor Jamie Campbell-Clarke is fun and, most important, strictly professional! After the devastating demise of her brief marriage, that’s all plastic surgeon Anna Caulder can handle. But when Jamie’s own painful past arrives at her London clinic, Anna’s compelled to seek a deeper connection… Once in his arms, Anna knows that’s where she wants to stay—if only she can find the courage to share her heartbreaking secret.

 

 

From Hawaii to Forever by Julie Danvers 

Two things she never meant to fall for:

Hawaii…and him!

When her perfect life implodes, high-flying city doctor Kat Murphy plans the ultimate escape. In Hawaii, she finds sun, sea and sand on her doorstep—and delicious paramedic Jack Harper to rescue her from drowning! Her fascinatingly carefree new colleague is temptation personified… And when Kat can no longer resist, she has an enticing offer for the island’s most eligible bachelor: a fling without forever…

 

 

One Hot Night with Dr. Cardoza by Tina Beckett 

Can one steamy night…

…take them to paradise?

Physiotherapist Amy Woodell is going to use her time in Brazil to embrace her heritage. She might even let loose while she’s there! Who better to indulge in than her new colleague, sexy ex-footballer turned orthopedic surgeon Roque Cardoza… Only, once she uncovers the passionate man behind the determined bachelor, Amy knows one night—no matter how hot—is never going to be enough!

 

 

Reclaiming Her Army Doc Husband by Sue MacKay

He’s back on her doorstep…

And wants her back in his life.

Nurse Vicki has always supported her husband, Cole, even when he enlisted in the army, leaving her behind. But after going through the agonizing loss of their baby alone, she vows to pursue her own dreams. So when Cole returns wanting a second chance, Vicki finds herself waging war with her heart—especially when a disaster means joining forces and remembering just how good they are together…

 

 

Reunion with His Surgeon Princess by Karin Baine

She ran from his proposal…

…but fate isn’t through with them yet!

World-renowned transplant surgeon and single dad Seth Davenport will do everything to save his royal patient. Even if that means a reunion with his patient’s daughter—Princess Kaja Alderisi, the surgeon who once ran from him…after he’d offered her a diamond ring and his heart! But one look into Kaja’s captivating gaze and it’s clear that their past isn’t so willing to be left behind…

 

 

The Paramedic’s Unexpected Hero by Alison Roberts

Can this maverick midwife…

…be her knight—in shining leathers?

Thrown together with motorbike-riding, leather-wearing midwife Ari Lawson, cautious paramedic Kelly Reynolds is immediately out of her comfort zone. But when they find their paths keep crossing, Kelly discovers she was too quick to judge, because beneath his bad-boy exterior, he’s dedicated, kind—and irresistible! Being around him makes her finally feel safe—and, dare she say, loved for the first time?

Catching up with a PB&J

Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.  They’ve always fascinated me, not least because when I first heard about them, I thought that they actually did contain peanut butter and jelly.  (Note for our American readers – we refer to the preserves that we spread on our toast as jam.  In the UK, jelly is the wobbly gelatine dessert that goes with ice cream.)

Anyway.  PB&J always sounded a little odd to me, but it came up in the course of an email conversation with the lovely Susan Carlisle, which started with my enquiry about a typical American breakfast, took an unexpected right turn via marmalade and then got lost in a discussion of the various different names for things you can spread on bread or toast.  Somewhere along the line I admitted to my jam/jelly confusion, and Susan recommended peanut butter and jelly sandwiches to me, although not necessarily for breakfast.

It’s taken me a while to indulge my curiosity, but staying at home has given me a new respect for the untravelled path.  So I decided to make a totally British PB&J.  That’s peanut butter and jam, in case you were wondering 🙂

And my results?  Well, I think that ‘getting there’ might be the right term to use, and if anyone out there can see a flaw in my method and help steer me in the right direction, I’d be grateful.  I used buttered wholemeal toast, along with equal amounts of crunchy peanut butter and strawberry jam.  (I spent some time extracting the pieces of strawberry from the jam.  I’m not entirely sure why I did that, but it seemed a good idea at the time.)

I’m not sure that I qualify as a PB&J lover yet – I may need to work on my recipe a bit, or it may be an acquired taste.  But it has a lot of potential.  And it’s reminded me of what book-lovers already know.  Not being able to go out into the world, doesn’t stop the world from coming to you.

And, in other news, I have a book out next month.  It makes absolutely no mention of PB&J’s but it does have a hero, a heroine and home made apple pie 🙂

Is love the one challenge…

…they’ll face together?

Her rivalry with doctor Jamie Campbell-Clarke is fun and, most importantly, strictly professional!  After the devastating demise of her brief marriage that’s all plastic surgeon Anna Caulder can handle.  But when Jamie’s own painful past arrives at her London clinic, Anna’s compelled to seek a deeper connection… Once in his arms, Anna knows that’s where she wants to stay – if only she can find the courage to share her heart-breaking secret.

 

March New Releases

We’re finally into March! Spring (for some us) is just around the corner. Not that I’m counting down the days or anything!

So to tide us over during the transition from season to season we have some brand, spanking new Harlequin Medicals for you.

 

 

A Fling to Steal Her Heart by Sue MacKay

Can they afford to risk their friendship…

…by giving in to their desire?

Following her painful divorce, nomadic midwife Isabella Nicholson is determined to put down roots, and where better than in London with best friend obstetrician Raphael Dubois? However, temporarily living together leads to an unexpected yet powerful attraction… And when Izzy discovers Rafe has been hiding his own attraction, the temptation suddenly becomes hard to resist!

A London Hospital Midwives novel

London Hospital Midwives quartet

Book 1 — Cinderella and the Surgeon by Scarlet Wilson
Book 2 — Miracle Baby for the Midwife by Tina Beckett
Book 3 — Reunited by Their Secret Daughter by Emily Forbes
Book 4 — A Fling to Steal Her Heart

 

 

Conveniently Wed in Paradise by Meredith Webber

A marriage made on paper…

A passion explored in paradise!

When nurse Kenzie Steele takes a job as a companion for a wealthy lady on an idyllic Thai island, she’s certainly not looking for love. But to secure her family’s legacy, she does need a husband! Enter Alex McLeod, the charming A&E doctor whose grandmother’s dying wish is to see him happily married. Only, while their wedding in paradise is all business, their intense chemistry is anything but…

 

 

Reunited by Their Secret Daughter by Emily Forbes

Her three-year-old secret…

…is about to be revealed!

Between her job with Queen Victoria’s Air Ambulance and raising her three-year-old daughter, midwife Chloe Larson’s too busy to find love. Only maybe love has found her… Xander Jameson—the gorgeous Australian doctor she had a fling with and who disappeared without a trace—has joined her team! The attraction is definitely still there. But first, Chloe must tell Xander he’s a father.

A London Hospital Midwives novel

London Hospital Midwives quartet

Book 1 — Cinderella and the Surgeon by Scarlet Wilson
Book 2 — Miracle Baby for the Midwife by Tina Beckett
Book 3 — Reunited by Their Secret Daughter
Book 4 — A Fling to Steal Her Heart by Sue MacKay

 

Stolen Kiss with the Single Mom by Deanne Anders

A stolen moment…

A lifetime together?

Three years ago, single mom and nurse Lacey lost her husband in the same IED blast that left his best friend, ER doc Scott, with an injured leg and survivor’s guilt. Thrill seeker Scott’s sworn to always be there for cautious Lacey… And on one fraught night shift, this leaves them entwined in an electrifying kiss—an impulsive encounter that has him longing to keep her in his protective embrace always…

 

The Nurse’s One Night to Forever by Janice Lynn

One shy nurse…

One liaison of a lifetime!

When surgical nurse Riley King shares an unexpected night of passion with heartthrob surgeon Justin Brothers, she vows that their intense connection is for one night only! Riley’s not looking for a relationship—she’s been there and been left at the altar to prove it. But there’s more to Justin than meets the eye… Can she let her past go and allow herself to risk her heart?

 

Winning the Surgeon’s Heart by Annie Claydon

The ultimate prize?

Capturing the guarded bachelor’s heart…

Entering the “Hospital Challenge,” the last person single mom paramedic Hannah Greene wants to be partnered with is Matt Lawson! She’d planned on winning the competition, not getting distracted by a sexy surgeon! But forced to put her trust in lone-wolf Matt, Hannah uncovers the compassion behind his charisma and can’t help inviting him into her world. They make the perfect team. Could they also be the perfect family?

 

Happy Reading!

February New Releases

February is the month of love! Valentine’s Day is just around the corner. February also marks the arrival of Medicals brand new North American cover redesign.

I have to say I’m a fan of the new cover look!

Also, this month marks the last book by Dianne Drake, who sadly passed away in November 2019.

 

 Best Friend to Royal Bride by Annie Claydon

When two friends break the rules… the consequences are irresistible!

Best friends Marie and Alex have been inseparable since medical school. Until one impulsive kiss changes everything…and Alex reveals his long-kept secret: he’s king of an exiled royal family. Marie knows she doesn’t belong in Alex’s privileged world, but now neither can deny their unexpected and intense connection. And Marie must decide if she can risk it all to stay in Alex’s arms…as his queen.

 

Cinderella and the Surgeon by Scarlet Wilson

A Cinderella midwife… and her dashing duke!

In this London Hospital Midwives story, when Harry Beaumont, Duke of Montrose, arrives at Queen Victoria Hospital, down-to-earth midwife Esther McDonald clashes with the buttoned-up neonatal surgeon. They’re from different worlds, but when Harry invites Esther to a glittering ball, she begins to see beyond his title to the man inside. Independent Esther’s life has never been a fairy tale—dare she let gorgeous Harry sweep her off her feet?

Read the rest of the London Hospital Midwives series:
Cinderella and the Surgeon by Scarlet Wilson
Miracle Baby for the Midwife by Tina Beckett
Reunited by Their Secret Daughter by Emily Forbes
A Fling to Steal Her Heart by Sue MacKay

 

 

Falling for Her Army Doc by Dianne Drake

She’s helping him rediscover his memories… Can she also mend his heart?

After an injury in Afghanistan, Mateo Sanchez finds himself in an amnesia clinic in Hawaii. Struggling to piece together how he arrived on the gorgeous island, Mateo may not be the easiest patient, but no-nonsense doctor Lizzie Peterson is determined to help the brooding ex-army doc. Only as Mateo begins to recover do they discover a bond and a temptation that’s so very hard to resist…

 

 

Healed by Their Unexpected Family by Karin Baine

Two heartbroken strangers… brought together by their baby!

Midwife Kayla was only intending to be a surrogate. But after tragedy strikes, she’s unexpectedly thrown into the role of mother! Plus, the biological father—eternal bachelor doctor Jamie—wants to be involved! Kayla’s wary of his determination; she’s learned the hard way that her trust is often misplaced. But as the heat between them rises, can she trust him enough to let him into her life…and her heart?

 

 

Miracle Bay for the Midwife by Tina Beckett

A night like no other leads to a miracle she’s dreamed of!

In this London Hospital Midwives story, Carly Eliston knows that she may never have children. That’s not an easy realization for a midwife but devoting her life to helping other mothers realize that dream is fulfillment enough. Until she begins working alongside sexy neurosurgeon Adem Kepler! After the charismatic doctor challenges Carly to let her hair down, she’s in for a miraculous shock—she’s carrying Adem’s baby! Could this be the passioante romance she’s been searching for?

Read the rest of the London Hospital Midwives series:
Cinderella and the Surgeon by Scarlet Wilson
Miracle Baby for the Midwife by Tina Beckett
Reunited by Their Secret Daughter by Emily Forbes
A Fling to Steal Her Heart by Sue MacKay

 

 

Surprise Baby for the Billionaire by Charlotte Hawkes

From passion, to pregnancy… to a family for real?

Betrayed by her cheating fiancé, pediatrician Saskia fell into the arms of brooding entrepreneur Malachi Gunn. Her on-the-rebound encounter has consequences she never could have imagined—she’s pregnant! Whisking her away to his Tuscan villa, Malachi makes it clear she must wed him to give their baby the family it deserves. But can Saskia settle for a paper marriage…or should she hope for more?

I’m making a list…

I love a good list.  (I know that’s something I share with a lot of the regulars here at Love is the Best Medicine 🙂 )  For me, there’s something about writing everything down in a list, that gets it all under control and makes it easier to tackle.  Categorising is always good, and if there’s an opportunity for colour-coding, I’ll take it.

And ticking everything off.  That’s the reward, isn’t it?  Sometimes accompanied by chocolate.

So of course, when the New Year (a new decade, even!) rolled around, I had my pen at the ready.  I’m one of those people who still has a physical diary, an A4 day to the page one, which is great for jotting everything down in one place, and making lists.

But this year, my enthusiasm for the New Year’s list had palled.  Maybe it’s because this time last year I had a back injury, which meant that about the only thing on my list was to get back on my feet.  Anything that involved more than the minimum of physical activity stayed on the list, transferred from one to the next for months.  For a while, it seemed that my lists only reminded me that I had a mountain in front of me, and I was climbing it frustratingly slowly.

Finally, I took a different approach and decided to be a little kinder to myself.  Inspired by Facebook pictures from friends and fellow writers, showing some very impressive looking stacks of books written in the last ten years,  I made a list of all the things I had done in the last year.  And I’ll admit that it surprised me.  I wrote the better part of five books.  I rested up and then exercised my way back to full health.  Somehow, in the face of those two big things, the little things didn’t rankle quite so much.  And I when I thought about it, there were quite a few smaller things to add to the list as well.  However did I get this far in life without knowing how to knit socks?

So, this year the list-making has taken a new, and different turn.  Yes, I still have the To-Do list, because otherwise I’d forget things.  But the list in my diary, the most important list because it’s not jotted down on a spare piece of paper and thrown away when it’s served its purpose, has a slightly different function.  It’s a list of all the things I HAVE done that day.

So far it’s working rather nicely.  I jot everything down and go to bed satisfied, rather than wondering what I did today other than stare at my computer screen and mosey around in the kitchen (Ah yes!  That’s right, I wrote a couple of chapters…  Then I de-scaled the coffee machine, went for a walk, and…  So it goes.  I write down all the little, everyday things because those are the things I’d be putting on my To-Do list for the day.)

Maybe this is the start of something new.  Maybe by the end of the year, my lists will have become more elaborate, and I’ll find that I’m an inveterate diarist.  Or maybe I’ll abandon my Have-Already-Done lists, in favour of the To-Do lists again.  But so far, this year is the year of the list, but not quite in the way I’d expected.

I’ve heard people say that when they write a list they include a few things that they’ve already done, so that they have the satisfaction of ticking them off straight away.  I’ve long been guilty of that 🙂  So here’s the question.  What’s the very best part of a list?  The list itself, or the ticks?

A Mills and Boon puppy isn’t just for Christmas…

…it’s for all year round! Because here at True Love Towers we’ve been working on our Christmas titles since the Summer. But it’s beginning to feel a lot like Christmas in the heights of romantic real estate. And, though we may not quite have the decorations up, there’s no pink Christmas trees topped with our very own hot heroes (yet!), with the office secret Santa organised and the Christmas lunch all booked, we thought it would be a great time to delve into our 2019 festive offerings. And let’s just say, this year we’re obsessed with our furry, four-legged friends!

Across November and December, we’re treating you to some wonderfully festive Medical Romances with the added bonus of adorable dogs and puppies to steal your hearts and fill you with warm, fluffy feelings too! While, of course, it’s still all about our fabulous medical heroes and heroines finding love at Christmas, this year we also get to see the lovable companions who help bring them together (or cheekily get under their feet ;)). But which ones will be on your Christmas list this year…

 

In November and December:

Puppy Name: Dougal
Where you can find him: Pups that Make Miracles, including books by Susan Carlisle, Annie Claydon, Annie O’Neil and Karin Baine
Pawrents: Too many to name!

Say hello to Dougal! You get to see this fabulously mischievous pup in not one but four stories this Christmas. As a recurring character of the Pups that Make Miracles series this young canine is in the business of causing chaos and igniting romance magic (repeatedly!) as he helps the medical professionals of Heatherglen Castle Clinic find their happy-ever-afters!

In December:

Puppy name: Pirate
Where you can find him: Single Dad in Her Stocking by Alison Roberts
Adoptive pawrents: Max Cunningham and Emma Moretti

Named for the jet-black spot covering his eye and ear, Pirate is wily by name and wily by nature. He’s taken an instant like to doctor Emma and is determined to keep hot-shot consultant Max on his toes. And he won’t rest until his pawrents have found an everlasting bond this holiday season…

Puppy name: Boy
Where you can find him: A Puppy and a Christmas Proposal by Louisa George
Pawrents: Alex Norton and Beth Masters

You can’t not instantly fall in love with adorable little lost puppy Boy. And he won’t be lost for long! He’s about to find his forever home with gorgeous doc Alex and fabulous vet Beth – first he just has to convince them that a future together is worth fighting to overcome their shared past for.

 

Add to this all the wonderful, therapeutic joy and healing the many doggy characters we meet in the other stories across November and December bring and this Christmas is set to be a truly Puptastic wonderland!

And we’d love to hear from you! Who are the four-legged friends that you’ll be snuggling up with by the fire this Christmas?

Merry Christmas!
The Mills & Boon Medical Romance Editors

November New Releases

Happy November! Depending where you are it’s either the tail end of autumn or spring.

I’m in the autumn end, where it’s grey, bleak, windy. The cold is setting in and it’s darker for longer…although we just had daylight savings time so it’s not SO brutal early in the morning.

Either way, it’s a perfect time to curl up with a good book and here’s some brand new releases for you to enjoy! ❤

 A Christmas Kiss with Her Ex-Army Doc by Tina Beckett

Can a Christmas kiss…

…lead to their happy-ever-after?

Nurse Hollee Cantrell is stunned when ex-army doc Clancy deOliveira begins working at her hospital. Years ago, they shared a passionate kiss—but then Clancy left and Hollee married his best friend. Now widowed, it’s time for Hollee to admit that her marriage was a sham and she’s never stopped thinking about Clancy. And as their desire reignites, it seems Clancy hasn’t forgotten her either…

 

 

Festive Fling with the Single Dad by Annie Claydon

From festive fling…

…to forever family?

In this Pups that Make Miracles story, single dad vet Aksel Olson doesn’t have time for romance; his recently discovered daughter is his priority now. But his vivacious new neighbor, physiotherapist Flora McNeith, is helping Aksel connect with his little girl in the way he longs to…and spending time together, neither he nor Flora can resist their attraction. Could a Christmas fling open both their hearts to a new beginning…together?

Pups that Make Miracles quartet

Book 1 – Highland Doc’s Christmas Rescue
Book 2 – Festive Fling with the Single Dad

 

 

Highland Doc’s Christmas Rescue by Susan Carlisle

A chance to mend her body…

A doc to heal her heart?

In this Pups that Make Miracles story, search-and-rescue worker Cassandra Bellow arrives at Heatherglen Clinic injured and reeling from the loss of her faithful rescue dog. But a Christmas romance with the gorgeous clinic manager, Dr. Lyle Sinclair, along with Heatherglen’s adorable therapy dogs, restores Cass’s lust for life. Except soon she must return to America—unless guarded Lyle asks her to stay…

Pups that Make Miracles quartet

Book 1 – Highland Doc’s Christmas Rescue
Book 2 – Festive Fling with the Single Dad

 

Second Chance with the Surgeon by Robin Gianna

Can healing his ex-wife…

…also mend their marriage?

When occupational therapist Jillian Keyser breaks her wrist, the last thing she wants is treatment from her ex-husband, Conor McCarthy. But as he is a leading orthopedic surgeon, she knows she needs his help! As she is forced to live again with the man who broke her heart, they discover a new understanding. With their connection as strong as ever, will the Christmas lights over New York shine on their relationship for a second time?

 

 

 The Doctor’s Christmas Reunion by Meredith Webber

Can this husband and wife…

…be reunited for Christmas?

Losing the baby they desperately wanted tore doctors Ellie and Andy Fraser’s marriage apart. Though they still share a home, they no longer share their lives. But when they find themselves caring for an abandoned baby, they must temporarily join forces, and as Christmas approaches, Ellie and Andy start to fall in love all over again. Is it time they created their own Christmas miracle?

 

 

Unwrapping the Neurosurgeon’s Heart by Charlotte Hawkes

At the heart of a playboy…

…is the man of her dreams.

ER doc Anouk Hart wishes she could ignore her traitorous body’s reaction to high-flying neurosurgeon Solomon Gunn. Yet beneath his playboy reputation, Anouk sees flashes of compassion, which are even more dangerous than his charm! Especially when the warmth of Sol’s Christmas spirit starts to make her long to unleash the real Solomon Gunn and keep him by her side forever!

 

Pups that Make Miracles – Book 2

It’s my turn today, to introduce you to the second book in the Pups that make Miracles quartet.  I’m thrilled to be book-buddies with Susan Carlisle this month (our books are both out today!), and next month we’ll be having excerpts from Annie O’Neil and Karin Baine’s books.

This excerpt from Festive Fling with the Single Dad  introduces Flora and Aksel, along with another very important character.  Dougal is a puppy, rescued by Susan’s heroine and his story runs through all four of the books.  I don’t think I’m giving away too much to mention that Dougal will be finding his forever home in the final book of the series!

Chapter One

Up close, he looked even more…

More outdoorsy. Taller and blonder and… Just more. A two-day beard covered a square jaw, and his mane of shoulder-length hair was tied at the nape of his neck. His casual shirt and worn jeans gave the impression of an off-duty Norse god, and Flora McNeith resisted the temptation to curtsey. It was slightly over the top as a greeting for a new neighbour.

‘Hi. I’m Flora. From next door.’ She gestured towards her own cottage, tugging at Dougal’s lead in a fruitless attempt to get him to sit down for just one moment. ‘Welcome to the village.’

He looked a little taken aback when she thrust the food box, containing half a dozen home-made mince pies into his hands. It might be more than three weeks until Christmas, but the lights of the Christmas tree in the village had already been turned on, and in Flora’s book any time after September was a good time for mince pies.

‘That’s very kind.’ His voice was very deep, the kind of tone that befitted the very impressive chest that it came from. And it appeared that whatever kind of deity Aksel Olson was, language and communication weren’t part of his remit. He was regarding her silently.

‘I work at the Heatherglen Castle Clinic. I hear that your daughter, Mette, is a patient there.’ Maybe if she explained herself a little more, she might get a reaction.

Something flickered in his eyes at the mention of his daughter. Reflective and sparkling, like sunshine over a sheet of ice.

‘Are you going to be part of Mette’s therapy team?’

Right. That put Flora in her place. Apparently that was the only thing that interested Aksel about her.

‘No, I’m a physiotherapist. I gather that your daughter is partially sighted…’ Flora bit her tongue. That sounded as if everyone was gossiping about him, which was half-true. The whisper that Mette’s father was single had gone around like wildfire amongst the female staff at the clinic. Now that Flora had met Aksel, she understood what the excitement was all about.

‘You read the memo, then?’ Something like humour flashed in his eyes, and Flora breathed a small sigh of relief. Lyle Sinclair must have told him about the memo.

‘Yes. I did.’ Every time a new patient was admitted a memo went round, introducing the newest member of the clinic’s community and asking every member of staff to welcome them. It was just one of the little things that made the clinic very special.

‘Would you like to come in for coffee?’ Suddenly he stood back from the door.

‘Oh!’ Aksel’s taciturn manner somehow made the words he did say seem more sincere. ‘I shouldn’t… Dougal and I are just getting used to each other and I haven’t dared take him anywhere for coffee yet. I’m afraid he’ll get over-excited and do some damage.’

Aksel squatted down on his heels, in front of the ten-week-old brindle puppy, his face impassive.

‘Hi, there, Dougal.’

Dougal was nosing around the porch, his tail wagging ferociously. At the sound of his name he looked up at Aksel, his odd ears twitching to attention. He circled the porch, to show off his new red fleece dog coat, and Flora stepped over the trailing lead, trying not to get snagged in it. Then Dougal trotted up to Aksel, nosing at his outstretched hand, and decided almost immediately he’d found a new best buddy. Finally, Aksel smiled, stroking the puppy’s head.

‘I’m sure we’ll manage. Why don’t you come in?’

Two whole sentences. And the sudden warmth in his eyes was very hard to resist.

‘In that case… Thank you.’ Flora stepped into the hallway and Dougal tugged on his lead in delight.

Excerpt – Falling for her Italian Billionaire by Annie Claydon

First impressions matter, but often a heroine has to wait before she hears what a hero really thinks of her.  But I decided to ring the changes a little in this book, which is the first of my ‘London Heroes’ duet.

Gabriel DeMarco wakes up in hospital with a beautiful woman by his bedside.  The after-effects of the drugs that were slipped into his drink last night mean that he’s not able to stop himself from voicing exactly what’s on his mind…  

 

 

 

 

Chapter One

Gabriel DeMarco opened his eyes. That seemed to be quite enough work for today, so he closed them again.

‘How are you feeling?’ A woman’s voice flowed over him like warm honey. It was a nice voice, quiet yet firm. The kind of voice that any man should take notice of.

‘I could go back to sleep.’ The words slipped out before he had a chance to tell himself that sleeping probably wasn’t what the voice wanted him to do. And at the moment it seemed like a siren’s call, which couldn’t be resisted. ‘Or…I could wake up.’

It sounded as if the voice was smiling. ‘Why don’t you wake up? You’re in hospital.’

Really? The thought didn’t bother him as much as it should. He was comfortable and relaxed, as if lying on a cloud. He tried opening his eyes and light seared through his brain, making his head hurt. He’d just have to keep them closed for a while…

‘Which hospital?’ Not that it mattered particularly. But talking might convince the voice that he’d complied with her request.

‘The Royal Westminster. You’re in the private wing.’

That made sense. Someone must know who he was, and that the son of Leo DeMarco, head of one of the biggest pharmaceutical companies in Europe, could stand the cost of a night’s stay in hospital. Or maybe he’d been here longer than just one night. Gabriel couldn’t remember.

He flexed his fingers, running his hand across his chest and then moving his legs. Everything appeared to be working. No pain. Whatever he was in here for was probably very minor…

‘Open your eyes.’

No… He didn’t want to. Maybe he said as much, without knowing it, or maybe the voice just read his mind, because he felt the touch of a hand against the side of his face.

‘Come on. Open your eyes.’

He couldn’t resist. This time the pain wasn’t so bad, because the hand was shading his face. When he turned his head in the direction of the voice, a mass of red-blonde curls and a pair of blue eyes snapped suddenly into focus. What had happened to him suddenly came a very poor second in importance to who she was.

‘What’s your name? Are you a nurse?’ Stupid question. She wore a dark blue sleeveless summer dress, which seemed to be held together by a few buttons and a belt around her waist. Clearly not a nurse unless they’d changed the uniform from sensible to sexy.

‘My name’s Clara Holt. I’m not a nurse, although I’m medically trained. Your father sent me.’

His father? Since when had he started sending women to sit at Gabriel’s bedside? The thought occurred to him that maybe his father had, for once, made a marvellous choice. She was perfezione…molto bella… Porcelain skin and shining gold hair. Right now, making the gorgeous Clara happy was all he wanted to do…

‘Grazie.’ Her lips curved into a slight smile. He’d missed out her lips, and that was unforgivable…

‘You speak Italian?’

‘Only a few words.’

She knew the ones that mattered. Every woman should understand the words a man said when he called her beautiful.

Wait. How many of his thoughts had sprung to his lips by mistake, and what language had he voiced them in? The feeling that this wasn’t right was beginning to nag at the edge of his consciousness. If he thought a woman beautiful, he usually had the manners to wait, and make quite sure it was the kind of compliment she wanted to hear.

Gabriel shook his head, trying to clear it, and struggled to sit up. Pain shot across his temples and he suddenly felt very nauseous. The wonderful Clara reached out, gently pushing him back down onto the pillows.

‘You’ll feel better in a moment, just take it slowly.’

She was an angel. Clara could take him up to her cloud any day of the week and…

No! He still wasn’t thinking straight. He fought to locate a sensible question in his head, and came up with only one.

‘What’s the matter with me?’