Hedgehog housing crisis

We knew we still had some of the Heck family around - the housing boxes were well used, the feeding bowls regularly emptied and there was plenty of - er - hedgie poo around once those bowls had been dealt with. 

 But then we spotted the baby Hecks and realised we might need extra Hog accommodation. When we discovered that there was at least one extra Heck trying to create a new nest further up the garden, we decided we had to take action.

 A bundle of dried grass under the rhubarb leaves was just not warm or safe enough for the winter. So we've now acquired two new hog houses and put them under a protection of leaves and branches, with lots of hay for the Hecks to pull into their new homes. 

This they did with alacrity - they have been happily nesting and settling in ever since. 

The babies are down at the bottom of the garden - presumably with mother - and the food supplies are even more appreciated.

 

The under the rhubarb leaves hog is now settled in his new den just a few feet away - if we moved it any further, he went back into the rhubarb patch which was getting less cosy by the day. Ruby is entranced by her new prickly friend and sits on the extra hay watching him eat when she can. She investigated the feeding bowls but peanuts and sunflower hearts are not to her liking

Enjoying escapism

Last trip to the post office - last bundle of prize books sent on their way to  the winners. Thank you to everyone who helped me celebrate my 65th published title.  Sharing celebrations with readers is something really special. Why do I love it so much ? Well - there's the reader who has recently lost both her sister and her brother  - and who is looking after her sister's 4 year old.  The  lady who is bed bound and loves  my books  because "reading is the only thing that takes me away." Or  the reader who is  longing for the time when her army husband comes back to her and her  sons. The lady who had just broken her wrist that afternoon.   And these are just 4 of the winners.  And people wonder why  I love to write and share 'escapism'.    It's an honour - and SUCH a compliment to think that my books can help people through difficult time and brighten a dark moment.  I know that feeling and it's wonderful to think my words have been able to  help others that way.  Here's to 'escapism'!

Now all I have to do is to tidy my desk and get back to more  writing words

And anyone who's waiting for a prize giveaway book - it's on its way! 

A little something Extra

I've had enquiries about some  of the titles of mine that are in the  great big Harlequin Sale at the moment - Until October 25th
.
These are titles that people are realising they missed  out on when they came out. They didn't see them on the shelves, they said?  Where were these books on sale?

And even more so  - what are Presents EXTRA???

Oh dear - this is something that I thought had gone away. It's an idea that was brought up  to get more Presents novels of the shelves back in 2009-2012.   That was when there were two issues of Presents titles each month - and the  4 other Presents Extra titles later in the month.

All  it did was confuse people.  Especially as some of the books were from the Riva/Modern Extra/  line  were included.  And some of the confusion went on to my titles issued then.

So it looks to me as if  some of my readers missed out on finding books they wanted to read.  These books are now in the big sale as ebooks - but they're nder the 'Presents Extra' label.

Still confusing people.

So I'm going to share the details of these titles in case you are one of the readers who want to catch up with the books I've written that they haven't read.

These are the titles I'm talking about:

KEPT FOR HER BABY

Wanted: wife and Mother...
Staring at the granite-handsome features of Italian billionaire Ricardo Emiliani, Lucy knows she's made a mistake coming back to their palatial Lake Garda home. But she'll do anything for her baby son—even return to the husband who never loved her...
Ricardo branded his wife a gold-digger, however, tiny Marco needs his mother so he will keep Lucy captive on his private island until she proves herself a worthy wife—in every sense...

 THE KONSTANTOS MARRIAGE DEMAND 

The Greek's ruthless reunion.
Sadie Carteret and Nikos Konstantos were once blissfully in love. They planned the wedding of the

year, and their union would create a powerful dynasty.
But business and pleasure should never be mixed. Nikos was accused of scheming for Sadie's money and title, and was systematically destroyed by her family. The wedding was cancelled, the relationship in tatters.
Now the ruthless billionaire has built himself back up from scratch. He will clear his name and demand what was rightfully his...
Sadie must love, honour and...obey....

The Konstantos Marriage Demand was a Romantic Times  March 2010 Top Pick  and awarded Romantic Times Best Presents Extra 2010!

THE GOOD GREEK WIFE 

The return of the proud Greek husband...
He was declared missing at sea — but now notorious Zarek Michaelis is back and ready to take control! First he'll see to his business, and then to his wayward wife...
For two years Penny has struggled to come to terms with Zarek's disappearance. But enough is enough. It's time to move on… Her proud Greek husband is still as darkly handsome as ever, and the attraction between them is just as potent. But Penny can't trust Zarek's motives — does he just want her body and the fortune he left behind…or to try again?




THE PROUD WIFE  

Her husband wants her back!
Marina thought her dreams had come true when her husband placed a wedding band on her finger. But their marriage was not the fairytale she'd hoped for, and eventually Marina walked away, her heart broken.
But two years on Pietro DInzeo no longer haunts Marina's dreams. She knows the time has come to move on, and even a summons to join him in Sicily won't deter her However, with his wife stand
ing before him, about to sign on the dotted line of their divorce papers, Pietro wonders why he ever let her go?





THE RETURN OF THE STRANGER 

Standing high on the windswept moors, the lone figure of Heath Montanha vows vengeance on the woman who destroyed the last fragments of his heart...
Lady Katherine Charlton has never forgotten the stablehand with dangerous fists and a troubled heart from her childhood. Now the rebel is back, his powerful anger concealed under a polished and commanding veneer.
When ten years of scandal and secrets are unleashed, with a passionate, furious kiss, Heath's deepest, darkest wish crystallises...
Revenge -- and Kat -- will be his!









THE DEVIL AND MISS JONES
Martha Jones has never taken a risk in her whole life. Until the day she runs out on her wedding and succumbs to the magnetism of a man she has only just met! A man she knows only as Diablo.
Lone wolf Carlos Ortega won't promise Miss Jones more than one searing-hot night. Yet Carlos is shocked by Martha's sweet innocence. This runaway bride is a virgin, and it seems the repercussions of their sizzling encounter could last forever . . .



OK - so those are the books - but as I'm celebrating my 65th title - Indebted to Moreno -   I'm going to run a flash giveaway of these 'missing' books -   I have one copy of each book to give away and when they're gone they're gone!

But you're going to have to be quick!

You have just 24 hours to enter . .. . but then if you don't win the books will still be in the $1.99 sale!

Details coming up  . . .

Huge Sale - get 42 titles in my backlist for only $1.99!!

·      

Harlequin is running a huge backlist sale - starting today.

They have 18.000 backlist ebooks on sale for $1.99 each - on Amazon.com. Kobo, Nook, Googleplay, Harlequin, ibooks

And they have - hang on . . . 42 - yes 42 of my backlist books available on this special offer.
So if you want to add to your collection - or if there are books you've missed in the past - grab a copy now, while they're still available.

The sale runs from today until October 25th - so grab them while they're still available at this great price.
I've found the full list of all my titles available so I'll  post them below  so you can see what you might be missing.

         

            DESTINED FOR THE DESERT KING

·         OLIVERO'S OUTRAGEOUS PROPOSAL

·         THE GOOD GREEK WIFE?

·         THE GREEK TYCOON'S UNWILLING WIFE

·         HIS MIRACLE BABY

·         THE UNEXPECTED CHILD

·         THE PROUD WIFE

·         CORDERO'S FORCED BRIDE

·         RAFAEL'S LOVE-CHILD

·         CONSTANTINE'S REVENGE

·         BEDDED BY THE GREEK BILLIONAIRE

·         A SICILIAN HUSBAND

·         THE MARRIED MISTRESS

·         A QUESTION OF HONOR

·         THE ITALIAN'S FORCED BRIDE

·         KEPT FOR HER BABY

·         DESERT AFFAIR

·         SICILIAN HUSBAND, BLACKMAILED BRIDE

·         THE GROOM'S REVENGE

·         THE RETURN OF THE STRANGER

·         FIANCEE BY MISTAKE

·         A THRONE FOR THE TAKING

·         THE HOSTAGE BRIDE

·         THE KONSTANTOS MARRIAGE DEMAND

·         NO HOLDING BACK

·         WIFE FOR A DAY

·         THE TWELVE-MONTH MISTRESS

·         SPANISH BILLIONAIRE, INNOCENT WIFE

·         THE SICILIAN'S RED-HOT REVENGE

·         THE SICILIAN'S WIFE

·         THE CHRISTMAS BABY'S GIFT

·         BOUND BY BLACKMAIL

·         THE DEVIL AND MISS JONES

·         THEIR SECRET BABY

·         HER SECRET BRIDEGROOM

·         THE HIRED HUSBAND

·         FLIRTING WITH DANGER

·         THE ANTONAKOS MARRIAGE

·         AT THE SHEIKH'S COMMAND

·         THE SPANIARD'S INCONVENIENT WIFE

·         SATURDAY'S BRIDE

·         HERS FOR A NIGHT

        

       Details of all these books  are available on my web site  - on the Kate's Backlist page

A special Australian By Request Collection - your chance to get your hands on some older Kate Walker titles!

So - a few days ago, I promised my lovely Australian readers that there was some special news about my books coming up - well, here it is!

This month, as well as the Sexy edition of Indebted to Moreno, there is a special 'By Request - Popular Bestsellers ' 3 in 1 collection of 3 of my past titles on sale as well. This collection is called Resisting All Temptation - and the books in this collection are: A Question of Honour, The Konstantos Marriage Demand and Saturday's Bride.


Obviously, these are all reprints - A Question of Honour (which originally had the same cover as this collection) came out in 2014, The Konstantos Marriage Demand won the Romantic Times Best  Presents Extra in 2010 and Saturday's Bride goes right back to 1999!

So it's great to see these older titles get a new edition. If there are books you missed the first time around - or if you had a copy but lost it, then now's your chance to grab a copy in this special new Australian edition! If you want any more details on these titles  here they are:

A Question Of Honour

A runaway princess...
It should have been easy. Karim al Khalifa, crown prince of Mazarkhad, had one task—retrieve rebellious princess Clementina Saveneski from her hideout in England and return her home to be wed...to another man.
His to find, or his to keep?
It is not for Karim to notice her alluring scent, those seductive curves, the enticing glances she sends his way. No, his family's honor, and his own, require Clementina to be delivered—pure and untouched—to her unwanted bridegroom. And he must resist all temptation to keep her for himself!



The Konstantos Marriage Demand


The Greek's ruthless reunion.
Sadie Carteret and Nikos Konstantos were once blissfully in love. They planned the wedding of the year, and their union would create a powerful dynasty.
But business and pleasure should never be mixed. Nikos was accused of scheming for Sadie's money and title, and was systematically destroyed by her family. The wedding was cancelled, the relationship in tatters.

Now the ruthless billionaire has built himself back up from scratch. He will clear his name and demand what was rightfully his...

Sadie must love, honour and...obey....



Saturday's Bride

A most determined seduction . . .
Connor Harding was outraged to come back home and discover that Jenna Kenyon was getting married - to the wrong man! But he knew that Jenna was determined to prove him wrong, despite the passion still smouldering between them.
Connor decided that all was fair in love and war. Only five days remained before Jenna became Saturday's bride, but that was more than long enough for him to persuade her to change her mind. . .




Oh - and these are not the only reprints! Look out for the Surrender to The Sheikh collection coming in December - with At The Sheikh's Command, Desert Affair and Destined for the Desert King (which of course is the second part of the Rhastaan Royals duo - the first being A Question of Honour.)

   I don't have a cover for this collection yet but I'll share as soon as I do. This a real collection for everyone who loves a sheikh story

Celebrating my 65th title - with a great interview

Today is the official publication date of  Indebted to Moreno . It seems to be out in a lot of places already, and the USA edition has been  on sale for a week or more.

But today is the official publication date.

So to mark today - and the fact that this is my 65th title for Harlequin Mills and Boon -  I've been sharing some posts all over the internet.  If you missed the earlier ones - try:

Revisions and Editions - a post on filling in the backstory of your characters

Kelly Steel's web site  - a special 'interview' with the hero and heroine of  Indebted to Moreno


Amended to include this other post that Nas Dean reminded me of over at  Romance Book Paradise  - thanks Nas!

And today there is a special publication day interview over

 with lovely Rachel  Dove on her blog   One Word At A Time.

  

I hope this will keep you occupied while I finish this current book (fingers crossed that the rest of the week isn't like the way it's been in the beginning -   and then I can offer some more celebrations for this  special 65th title!

The great thing about the fact that the Babe Magnet and I write different sorts of books is that the research/meetings/publicity for those books take us to very different places. So he was in London with me and then this week he had to visit parts of the Norfolk coast for his upcoming book on villages that have been 'Lost To The Sea'. It's great how sometimes research can be done unexpectedly - as in one fascinating long conversation with a crab fisherman over coffee in Sheringham. 

 We also found time to visit the wonderful animal sanctuary at Hillside near Cromer where I lost my heart to one of the tallest horses I have ever seen - Bluebell is a black shire horse mare who stands 18.2 hands high - that's about 74 inches - and with her long neck and head on top that's a lot of horse! She was just gorgeous.

It was wonderful to be able to help the sanctuary with something as simple as a donation of a bale (or 3 ) of hay - and a bag full of carrots for suppertime treats. Now if only I'd known they could also use our windfall apples - we could have loaded up the car before we went.

PS The Goodreads giveaway for Indebted to Moreno  is now closed and books are going out to the winners on Monday - but  official publication day is next week - and this is a rather special book for me - so watch this space for a chance to win one of my backlist books.