Susan Mallery – ONLY YOURS Q&A and GIVEAWAY (International)

New York Times bestselling author Susan Mallery has entertained millions of readers with her witty and emotional stories about women and the relationships that move them. Publisher’s Weekly calls Susan’s prose “luscious and provocative,” and Booklist says, “Novels don’t get much better than Mallery’s expert blend of emotional nuance, humor and superb storytelling.” While Susan appreciates the critical praise, she is most honored by the enthusiastic readers who write to tell her that her books made them laugh, made them cry, and made the world a happier place to live. Susan lives in Seattle with her husband and her tiny but intrepid toy poodle. She’s there for the coffee, not the weather.  Susan's website









Q: ONLY YOURS was released today,  August 30. Tell us a little bit about it.



ONLY YOURS is a Beauty and the Beast story, which is one of my favorite themes, but which I never get to write because I don’t normally do dark, tortured heroes. Simon is a brilliant surgeon whose intelligence set him apart as a child, made him seem strange to everyone around him, including to his own mother. After a fire left him with scars on half of his face, he became even more convinced that he was unlovable. All his life, he has protected his heart by burying himself in his studies, then in his work. He travels from hospital to hospital to heal their toughest cases, moving on before anyone gets too close.



Montana, on the other hand, is deeply connected to her hometown, Fool’s Gold, and to her large, boisterous family. One of the Hendrix triplets, Montana has always seen herself as the screw-up. Until now. She’s finally discovered what she was meant to do – she works with therapy dogs, and the dogs play a big role in the story, which was a lot of fun. Montana has an amazing purity of heart. She’s just what Simon needs, and he will love her with a ferocity that will complete her.



Simon and Montana are one of my favorite couples. I love these two together!

September 1st, on Facebook, Harlequin is hosting a "live" interaction with Susan.  Hope to see you there!

Q: ONLY YOURS is the fifth Fool’s Gold romance novel, and the second book of the Hendrix triplets’ trilogy. Do readers have to read the other books first?



No. Each book in the Fool’s Gold series is a standalone novel, so you won’t be confused if you start with ONLY YOURS. Of course, I hope you’ll love it so much that you’ll immediately rush out and buy the previous books. In order of publication, they are: CHASING PERFECT, ALMOST PERFECT, FINDING PERFECT, ONLY MINE, ONLY YOURS… and coming soon, ONLY HIS.



Visit Fool’s Gold online at www.foolsgoldca.com. You’ll find some amazing bonus content, including excerpts, between-the-books updates and teasers, a map of the town, a calendar of events, and some fun freebies!



Q: You said the therapy dogs play a big role in the story. Did you enjoy writing dog characters?



I loved it! Plus, the research was a lot of fun. Therapy dogs are pretty amazing. Montana and her dogs visit patients at hospitals and nursing homes. They do more than brighten the patients’ day – they improve the healing process. Montana has also started a reading program with her dogs. Kids who have a tough time learning to read can benefit from practicing by reading to a dog. The dogs are trained to behave as though they’re truly listening. Dogs are 100% love, and having that nonjudgmental audience can really take the pressure off a struggling reader and give him or her the boost of confidence they need.



One of the dogs in the book, Cece, is based on my real-life dog, Nikki. That was a lot of fun! I immortalized my dog by capturing her quirks on the page. She is a sweetheart and makes my life better.



Not every dog is therapy dog material, though. As the book starts, Montana is working with Fluffy, a mixed breed bundle of love and energy. Montana so wants Fluffy to succeed, but Fluffy has a slight problem with impulse control. I laughed myself silly while writing the opening scene of the book.



Q: What’s next for you?



ONLY HIS, Nevada Hendrix’s story, will be out on September 27. Imagine – you’re the last single triplet. Your sisters recently fell in love, and now they’re planning a double wedding. Poor Nevada feels left out, to say the least. Not only is she not in love – she doesn’t even have a date for the wedding!



Her answer to that is to put her focus on her career. As an engineer, she has always worked at the family’s construction business. She wants to test herself, so she decides to apply for a job with the developers of a luxury casino/resort that will be built outside Fool’s Gold. Unfortunately for Nevada, the leader of the project is her first, unrequited love. A rule of thumb I try to live by: avoid being interviewed by a man who’s seen you naked.



I think ONLY HIS might be the funniest book I’ve ever written, and I’m both nervous and excited to see how readers react.

Romance Author Buzz is offering one resident of the United States a $10.00 Barnes and Noble card.  To win a copy follow this blog and sign up for Susan Mallery's Membership page.  Don't forget to leave your email address so that you can be contacted.  Contest will end September 30th.

Susan Mallery Giveaway - US Residents Only - Chasing Perfect (Fools Gold Series - autographed)

Fools Gold Series

Fool's Gold is the Land of Happy Endings. This charming small town, set in the foothills of the Sierra Nevadas, is know for its friendliness, its festivals and its strong sense of community. Despite the man shortage, there seems to be plenty of romance to be found. All of it fun, much of it complicated! The Fool’s Gold series will continue in 2011 and 2012. To learn more about Fool’s Gold and to enjoy between-the-books updates on the characters from the books, go to http://www.foolsgoldca.com/!

Meet Author Susan Mallery

Susan Mallery is the New York Times bestselling author of over one hundred romances and women’s fiction novels, and she has yet to run out of ideas! Her funny and sexy family stories consistently appear on the USA Today bestseller list and have landed as high as #5 on the New York Times list. She has won many awards, including the prestigious National Reader’s Choice Award. Her books have been named to the Top 10 Romance Novels lists of 2007, 2008, and 2009 by Booklist, a publication of the American Library Association, and she was the only author on the list all three years. Because her degree in Accounting wasn’t very helpful in the writing department, Susan earned a Masters in Writing Popular Fiction.


Susan makes her home in the Pacific Northwest where, rumor has it, all that rain helps with creativity. Susan is married to a fabulous hero-like husband and has a six pound toy poodle...
 Source  Susan's website

CHASING PERFECT

Welcome to Fool's Gold, California, a charming community in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada. There's lots to do and plenty of people to meet, especially women. Because there's just one tiny problem in Fool's Gold: the men don't seem to stick around. Maybe it's the lure of big-city life, or maybe it's plain old bad luck, but regardless of the reason, the problem has to be fixed, fast. And Charity Jones may be just the city planner to do it.


Charity's nomadic childhood has left her itching to settle down, and she immediately falls in love with all the storybook town has to offer—everything, that is, except its sexiest and most famous resident, former world-class cyclist Josh Golden. With her long list of romantic disasters, she's not about to take a chance on another bad boy, even if everyone else thinks he's perfect just the way he is. But maybe that's just what he needs—someone who knows the value of his flaws. Someone who knows that he's just chasing perfect.

To win a copy of Chasing Perfect, join Susan's membership page. or follow her on Twitter and/or Facebook.  Come back here and tell me what you did, share your favorite Susan Mallery Book.  Don't forget to post your email address.  Winner will be announced January 24th.

Susan on Twitter

Susan on Facebook

Meet Historical Author Delilah Marvelle - Bloggiesta Ole

Around three years ago, I met the beautiful Delilah Marvelle at a Reader/Author Conference (Celebrate Romance) which was held in Portland Oregon.  She is absolutely beautiful inside and out plus charming.  Since then we have connected at luncheons sponsored by the Portland Romance Writers of America and in Seattle at the Emerald City Writers Conference.  Her workshops are amazing, full of insight and humor.

Meet Delilah Marvelle and 28 facets about her from her website:

1.) Delilah is her real name.

2.) She actually met a guy named Samson in her lifetime. It was back in college. He even wore his hair shoulder length. She had to show him her picture ID with her name on it when they first met because he refused to believe her name really was Delilah. She never tried to date him. She knew it wouldn't end well...

3.) She speaks Polish and English fluently. And while she took four years of French in high school and can still understand quite a bit of French, she hasn't had much practice. Please do not send her emails in French unless you include a translation.

4.) She is married. Thank God.

5.) Her favorite authors are all dead. They include: Edith Wharton, Jane Austen, Charles Dickens, William Shakespeare, Henryk Sienkiewicz, the Bronte sisters, Chaucer, Henry Fielding, and Hemingway.

6.) Her favorite living romance author who got her hooked on reading the romance she sought to write: Judith McNaught.

7.) All of the heroes in her books are based on her husband. Which is why her husband refuses to read any of her books. He is a model and a firefighter. No, she will not post pictures. If you ever wish to see Mr. Marvelle in person, Delilah recommends you come to a book signing. Taking photos of her husband will cost extra.

8.) The etiquette book she is holding (in the right hand picture) is from the year 1881. It inspired her to write the scandal series featuring a red little etiquette book by an Unknown Author. It was used in the scandal series book trailer and is now sitting on her writing desk.

9.) She can type 90 words per minute. She thanks the Lord every day for signing up for that typing course back in high school. She did it to avoid taking chemistry. She still had to take chemistry the following semester. She was not happy.

10.) She cannot write without having at least one Starbucks Frappucino. She intends to sue Starbucks if they ever discontinue making Frappucinos.

11.) She is not as young as she looks. This is a good thing. She hopes it lasts.

12.) Her favorite food is sushi.

13.) Her favorite color is red. Can you tell?

14.) She loves animals but does not own any.

15.) She has always secretly wanted to be a race car driver.

16.) She has a culinary degree. She even won a national cooking contest for the most original cookie, winning $10,000. Despite this, the only real chef in the house is Chef Boyardee because Delilah's writing is keeping her out of the kitchen. Her family does forgive her every Thanksgiving when she goes all out and makes everything from scratch. Even the gravy.

17.) Delilah was born and raised in Chicago.

18.) She now lives in Portland, Oregon. The rain ensures she is always writing. She usually takes the summers off because that is the only time the sun ever comes out.

19.) Her favorite movie is Amelie.

20.) She once walked in the jungles of Belize in her flip flops at night to go to the bathroom. When these black things were skittering beneath her feet, she stupidly asked the locals what they were. Tarantulas. She never wore flip flops in the jungle again.

21.) Her grandmother calls sex "poom-poom." Seriously.

22.) Delilah is not decedent of royalty. She wants to be. BUT...her great-great-GREAT grandfather was knighted by a King. Sadly, he was poisoned shortly afterward. This is, in fact, true. Unless her relatives are big fat liars. Which would explain where she gets her incredible story-telling skills.

23.) She loves kickboxing and running.

24.) Her favorite sinful snack is salted dark chocolate.

25.) Delilah cannot write when there are other people around. She cannot even have anyone in the house and must have complete silence. Why? Because she talks aloud in a British accent as she is writing. It helps her characters come alive but she knows if anyone heard her doing it, they would think she is a freak.

26.) She was involved in theater for four years.

27.) She played the pianoforte for 10 years and competed regionally for about 5, taking first place several times. She also took five years of ballet.

28.) Delilah is impressed that you made it this far. You are either really freakin nosy or a real fan. She hope it's the latter.

Delilah Marvelle loves writing historical romances with scandalous twists she digs up from history. She is a two time Golden Heart Finalist, an RT Reviewers Choice Nominee and a double finalist in the Bookseller's Best Award. You can visit her at her website at www.DelilahMarvelle.com or visit her blog, A BIT O'MUSLIN which explores the naughtier side of history at


The Official Scandal Series

 
Delilah's latest release Prelude to a Scandal

Lady Justine is willing to trade her good name, her reputation and her place in London's gossip-hungry ton to secure her father's release from prison. But when the notorious Duke of Bradford counters her offer with a proposal of marriage, the stakes grow higher still. For while the smoldering lord is famous for his conquests, the man is oblivious to both her devotion and her charms. And Justine is soon afraid she has wagered all for naught….

A recent fun interview from SOS Aloha

I purchased Prelude To A Scandal today and I'm going to offer it to US Residents Only.  To win a copy,  go Delilah's Facebook Page and tell her what you liked about this post.  Come back, post a comment and your email address.  For a second chance to win, follow this blog.  Winner will be announced January 24th

April 1 - Susan Mallery Launches Her Fools Gold Series and Chasing Perfect

Fools Gold Cast of characters


April 1st many things are happening on Susan Mallery's Facebook page. Her Fools of Love contest ends tomorrow and she's celebrating the launch of Chasing Perfect which takes place in Fools Gold, CA.

Carly Phillips & HQN Lucky Streak Contest

From a press release issued by Earthlink in the UK today:

"With all the doom and gloom in the world, I thought it was the perfect time for something fun and lighthearted," says the author. "There's nothing better than a romance novel to lift your spirits and take your mind off your problems. The theme and setting of my new book made this contest a natural."

To enter, readers must tell Carly about the luckiest moment of their lives, in 25 words or less. One lucky reader will win $1,000 to try her luck in any way she chooses. One entry will be chosen to win the prize, which can be used for a trip to Vegas, 1,000 lottery tickets--or just to pay a bill. It's up to the winner's discretion to decide.

In LUCKY STREAK, New York Times bestselling author Carly Phillips continues to explore the effects of an old family curse upon the current generation of Corwin men (HQN Books, June 2009). The second book in her new trilogy, this is Mike Corwin's story. When he awakens in Vegas $100,000 richer and married to the gorgeous Amber, Mike thinks he's hit the jackpot. The bad news is that Amber's a con who takes his money and runs. Seems the family curse has finally hit him. Hard. But to Amber, Mike isn't business as usual. If only she didn't need the money to ensure her father's safety, she might actually have fallen for the intense lawman. But when he catches up to her and the attraction kicks in, her biggest problem isn't getting caught--it's figuring out how to catch him for the second time.

To enter online, readers should visit follow the onscreen entry instructions and tell Carly Phillips and HQN Books in twenty-five (25) words or less the luckiest thing that ever happened to them. To enter via mail, readers should hand-print (or type), on an 8 1/2" x 11" plain piece of paper, full name, mailing address, telephone number and the luckiest thing that ever happened to them, in twenty-five (25) words or less and send it to "The Carly Phillips Lucky Streak Contest 20902." In the U.S.: 3010 Walden Ave., P.O. Box 9069, Buffalo, NY 14269-9069 or in Canada: 225 Duncan Mill Road, Don Mills, ON M3B 3K9. The contest begins at 12:01 a.m. (ET) on May 26, 2009, and ends at 11:59 p.m. (ET) on June 30, 2009. Online entries must be received by 11:59 p.m. (ET) on June 30, 2009. Mail-in entries must be postmarked by June 30, 2009, and received by July 7, 2009.

Readers can learn more about the contest and review the official contest rules and regulations at www.eHarlequin.com/LuckyStreakContest. A copy of the Official Rules can also be obtained by sending a self-addressed, stamped envelope (postage not required from residents of VT) to "The Carly Phillips Lucky Streak Contest 20902 Rules," 225 Duncan Mill Road, Don Mills, ON M3B 3K9, Canada. Limit one (1) entry per person. If more than one (1) entry is received from the same person, only the first eligible entry submitted will be considered. By entering the contest, entrants agree to be bound by these Official Rules and the decisions of Harlequin Enterprises Limited (the "Sponsor"), which are final and binding.

The stock market may be down and real estate sales plunging, but happy endings are up 32%, as HQN's parent company, Harlequin Books celebrates its 60th year of providing women with exactly what they want: involving, exciting, romantic reads. There's never been a better time to read a romance--or to win $1,000.

Welcome New York Times Best Selling Author, Susan Mallery

Bio:

Susan Mallery is the New York Times bestselling author of over one hundred romances and she has yet to run out of ideas!! She has written series romances, as well as single titles, historicals, contemporaries, even a lone time travel and recently a women’s fiction. Always reader favorites, her books have appeared on the Walden’s bestseller list, along with the USA Today bestseller list and, of course, the New York Times list. She has won awards for everything from best single title contemporary, to best Special Edition of the year and recently took home the prestigious National Reader's Choice Award. As her degree in Accounting wasn't very helpful in the writing department, Susan earned a Masters in Writing Popular Fiction.

Susan makes her home in the Pacific Northwest where, rumor has it, all that rain helps with creativity. Susan is married to a fabulous hero-like husband and has a six pound toy poodle...who is possibly the cutest dog on the planet.

Interview:

I would like to congratulate you on your latest HQN May release, Book 1 Under Her Skin- and the first in your Lone Star Sisters series. Can you tell us about the book and the series?



Susan: Thank you! I’m very excited about the release of the Lone Star Sisters series. The premise for the series started with a question: What would you get if you crossed Dallas with Sex and the City? The Titan sisters and their best friend Dana are like the women in Sex and the City, each unique but with a strong female friendship. They laugh together, cry together, support each other. Their father, Jed Titan, is a Dallas-type figure, a Texas tycoon on a major power trip. Instead of encouraging his daughters to be friends, he pits them against each other in a bid to inherit his entire estate. I was curious to see how these loving, supportive sisters would react with so much on the line. To them, it’s not just money; it’s their heritage.

The cover artists at HQN Books outdid themselves. Each of the covers is fun and flirty and right on point for the book. In Under Her Skin, for example, the heroine is a real girly-girl who loves all things feminine, so the red dress and kicky heels are very true to character. And there she is, kissing Cruz Rodriguez, who she met ten years before the start of the book. Back then, Cruz was a drag-racing bad boy with a wicked kiss. Flash forward ten years, and he’s got his own racing empire. He’s the kind of man who would succeed in any field because he simply won’t accept the alternative.

At the start of Under Her Skin, Lexi discovers that someone is trying to sabotage her luxury day spa by calling in a $2 million loan with just 21 days’ notice. She can’t turn to her father for help because admitting that she got herself into trouble will mean forfeiting her chance at the estate. So she goes to the only other man she knows who has a spare $2 million lying around.

Cruz loves the irony. Once upon a time, Lexi had been too good for him. Now she was coming to him for help. He agrees, but with a hefty price tag. He wants a toehold into the closed society of the Texas elite. He’ll give her the money, but she has to pretend to be engaged to him. And she has to make it look good.

What is your writing style like? Are you a plotter or a pantser?

Susan: Booklist has described my writing as both “funny” and “bittersweet,” and I’m very proud of both those descriptions. The humor isn’t calculated at all. It rises naturally from the characters’ reactions to the problems they face, the same way true humor comes in real life. My characters are like your friends and neighbors, real people facing life as it comes, dealing with real-world problems with wit and tenacity. And hey, in the midst of these realistic problems, they meet the love of their lives.

As for plotting, I’m such a plotter that I even have plotting parties. Seriously. My friends and I get together on a regular basis to help each other come up with new ways to torture our characters. I read recently that James Patterson writes 50-page outlines for each of his books. I come close to that. I write about a chapter a day, and for me, that means I have to have a detailed roadmap.

Describe a day in the life of Susan Mallery.

Susan: Oh, I lead a very glamorous life! I sleep in silk peignoir with a pillowed eye mask until about noon. After an hour or so of stretching and breakfast in bed, brought in by my hunky manservant, I don my feathered boa, dictate a few pages to my hunky secretary and then relax in the tub the rest of the afternoon.

Meanwhile, back in the real world… Successful writing takes dedication. I usually have a book at every stage of the publishing pipeline. For example, right now, I’m promoting Under Her Skin, Lip Service, and Straight from the Hip, my summer series. (Book four in the Lone Star Sisters series, Hot on Her Heels, will be released in November.) I’m also writing a book, expecting edits any day on my January release, The Best of Friends, and putting together proposals on future stories I’d love to write.

So a day in my life means saying goodbye to my hunky husband as he heads off for work, and then locking myself in my office for hours until I accomplish what I need to accomplish for the day. Did I mention I love it?

What are you currently working on?

Susan: I have a new series coming out starting next year. It’s open-ended, meaning it’s set in a specific place with an infinite number of characters. At least that’s the plan. So far, so good. The first book—Faking Perfect—features a former professional bike racer. Um, Lance Armstrong type bikes, not motorcycles. The town is Fool’s Gold, set in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada. I’m having the best time creating my fabulous town.

What kind of research do you do for your books? Do you get to visit the places you write about?

Susan: Most of my books are set in an area where I’ve lived. My husband and I have moved a lot for his work, which has been a boon to my work, as well. In the past year, for example, I’ve released books set in Seattle (The Bakery Sisters: Sweet Talk, Sweet Spot, and Sweet Trouble), California (Sunset Bay), and now Texas (The Lone Star Sisters: Under Her Skin, Lip Service, and Straight from the Hip).

I do a lot of research about my heroines’ and heroes’ careers. Research is a major chore. For example, for Under Her Skin, I had to spend a lot of time in luxury day spas, getting massages, mud baths, and pedicures. For Sunset Bay, I had to spend hour after hour watching Project Runway and shopping for designer clothes. But I think it’s important to be accurate!

What suggestions would you have for beginning writers as far as "breaking into the business”?

Susan: For all writers, the best, most important advice I can give is to write every day, even if you can only squeeze in half an hour. It’s important to exercise those writing muscles. Storytelling is a natural talent, but it’s also a skill that can be improved with study and practice. For romance writers, my additional advice is to join Romance Writers of America (www.rwanational.org) and to take advantage of everything you can learn through RWA.


Of all of your characters, do you have a favorite you identify with and why?

Susan: I get asked this question a lot. Honestly, the character I most identify with is always the one I’m writing about at the moment because I’m so deep inside her psyche as I write. (I say “her” because I tend to identify with my heroines more than with my heroes.)

I love all my characters, but the ones who stick with me the most are the most ordinary. These characters feel like real people, like true friends with whom I shared a lot of meaningful moments. I sat with them through problems and cheered with them when they persevered and found love. That’s why it’s so rewarding to me to write series, because it gives me the opportunity to check back in with these women who have come to mean so much to me.

What would you say has been your most significant accomplishment as a writer?


Susan: In terms of my career, I’d say the brightest moment so far was when I made the New York Times bestselling list for the first time. But my most significant accomplishment is affirmed every day in the emails I get from readers, telling me how my books helped them through a rough period in their lives. It honors me and moves me that I’ve had an impact in the lives of people I may never meet.


Tell us something about yourself that we might not know.

Susan: Even after all these years and all these books and a Masters degree in Writing Popular Fiction, I still consider myself a student of writing. I study the craft of writing on a regular basis. I get a lot of inspiration from how-to books on screenwriting, although I doubt I’ll ever write a screenplay. I like the structure they offer. I also read a lot of psychology books, which help me gain insight into character and personality.


On a humorous note, I’m possibly the worst gardener in the world. Serious, I have the black thumb of death. Plants physically recoil from me when I walk by in the nursery. I can hear their little plant voices screaming “Don’t take me. Take her!” I love flowers and gardens, but I can’t grow anything. I’ve killed air fern before. It’s very sad!


Who is your favorite author?

Susan: Oh, no. I’m not getting in trouble with this question! I offered a list of my favorite authors once and left out my best friend. I’m still hearing about it 10 years later. So no way!

Lastly, do you have any last thoughts you would like to share with your readers?

Susan: Thank you to all of you who have read my books and recommended them to your family and friends. I love hearing from readers, and I hope you’ll check in on me from time to time at www.SusanMallery.com. Writing is a solitary occupation, but when you read my stories and tell me about how they’ve affected you, you inspire me to keep writing. You mean more to me than I can put into words.


Susan, thank you so much for taking the time to do this interview and best of luck with your new series, I have my copy and hope to have it read over the weekend. You can see my review soon on Marilyn’s Romance Reviews Blog.

Susan Mallery website

On a personal note, Susan has charmed me over the years with her Desert Rogues, Marcelli Sisters and The Buchanan's and I can't wait for this new Lone Star series. Again, thanks Susan for taking time out of your busy schedule to do this interview!

National Reader's Choice Awards

Four of my most favorite authors have finaled in the prestigious National Readers’ Choice Awards……..Annie West,Robyn Grady,Susan Mallery and Roxanne St.Claire. Winners will be announced at the San Francisco RWA Convention. I’m keeping my fingers crossed ladies!


HIRED FOR THE BOSSES BED by Robyn Grady

FOR THE SHEIKH'S PLEASURE - Annie West

TEMPTING (BUCHANAN'S)- Susan Mallery

TAKE ME TONIGHT (BULLET CATCHERS) AND THUNDERSTRUCK (NASCAR) - Roxanne St. Claire

There are so many incredible authors up for this award. Here is the link and I encourage you to check it out. LINK: http://www.okrwa.com/nrca.htm

KISS AND TELL - Harlequin and Carly Phillips

Sorry this is late but I just saw it this evening..........

Kiss and tell, win $1,000

Sunday, September 30, 2007
PRNEWSWIRE

Remember your best kiss? The one that gave you butterflies and made you feel like this was the one guy you'd want to go on kissing forever? Tell HQN Books and author Carly Phillips about that kiss in 25 words or fewer and you might win $1,000.


It's all in celebration of the author's new novel, "Sealed With a Kiss" (HQN Books, October 2007, $7.99). The book focuses on the emotional issues of some of the characters from her 2006 bestseller "Cross My Heart," bringing them together to solve a crime. When Molly Gifford's father is charged with murder, Molly is determined to get the best criminal lawyer available -- even though the best is Daniel Hunter, the ex-boyfriend she dumped a year earlier. Though time has yet to heal his wounds, he agrees to help -- and they seal their pact to free her father with a soul-searing kiss. This is one lawyer who's determined to win -- in love and in law.

Readers can enter the contest by telling Phillips about their best, most life-changing kiss in 25 words or fewer. The winner can use the money to recreate that special moment, go on a romantic getaway -- or any way she pleases to make her life a little better.

To enter online, visit www.eHarlequin.com/kisscontest, follow the onscreen entry instructions and send a brief description (25 words or less) of your best kiss. To enter via mail, hand-print (or type) on an 8-1/2-by-11-inch plain piece of paper your full name, mailing address and telephone number and send along with a brief description of your best kiss in 25 words or less to: The Carly Phillips' Sealed with a Kiss Contest 20705, 3010 Walden Ave., P.O. Box 9069, Buffalo, NY 14269-9069. For eligibility, all online entries must be received through 11:59 p.m. on Nov. 15. All mail-in entries must be postmarked by Nov. 15 and received by Nov. 22.

To obtain a copy of these official rules, send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to: The Carly Phillips' Sealed with a Kiss Contest 20705 Rules, 225 Duncan Mill Road, Don Mills, ON M3B 3K9. Limit one submission per person or e-mail address. If more than one entry is received from one person or e-mail address, only the first entry submitted will be considered valid. Entries received from persons residing in geographic areas in which entry is not permissible will be disqualified

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