Christmas

Hi everyone.

So Yuletide is almost upon us and I wish you all the very best for Christmas and the holidays. It looks as if it’s shaping up to be another hot Christmas down under and I have to confess it’s got me wishing for cold air and snow.

With that in mind I thought I’d add a link to my medieval Christmas novella – Misrule’s Mistress, which has lashing of cold weather and snow. J

 

With a golden ring and a little cunning Lord Barric Cranley plans to catch his bride. She’s refused him once, but Barric wants Lady Ellette for his wife. He plans to show her just how suited they are. With luck and the Feast of Misrule on his side, he proceeds to awaken Ellette’s passion with his kisses and stoke her jealousy until she realizes just how much she loves him. He’s vowed that by the end of the Christmas festivities he shall have a bride by his side... hopefully it will be Ellette.

 Shortened Amazon link                     http://goo.gl/L1YJQC

 

In other news, Hartley’s Grange will be released in February. It’s a small town romance with an Aussie twist. Hope you’ll check it out and fall for Flynn just as badly as I did.

 

On the very same day Lily Beckett is betrayed by a colleague she's horrified to discover her long-term boyfriend is having an affair. Totally devastated, she quits her job in fashion and breaks off their relationship.

Fleeing the city, Lily heads for sanctuary with her big sister, Violet, who lives in the country with her daughter Holly. But bad luck comes in threes when Lily has a car accident on the way. Thankfully she's not badly injured and local grazier, Flynn Hartley, arrives on the scene and looks after her.

Life gradually picks up for Lily. She enjoys living with Violet and Holly, and decides to stay for a while, designing clothes while renovating the beautiful old shop she inherited.

In the months that follow Flynn showers Lily with attention and it's clear he's falling for her. But Lily's aware of Flynn's 'bad boy' reputation and doesn't want to risk further heartbreak...

From bestselling author Nicole Hurley-Moore, Hartley's Grange is an inspirational story about a woman pursuing her dreams and taking charge of her future.

 

Shortened Amazon Link   http://goo.gl/OqV7II

 

I’ve just started toying with another story. So far I have a working title (Dirt Roads) and a few thousand words. It’s a rural/small town story but it seems to be shaping up to be a bit darker than my others. Hopefully over January it will turn into something more tangible – well, at least that’s the plan.  It’s about a girl who is working so hard to keep her farm afloat and earn her father’s praise that she’s forgotten to live.

 

Thanks so much for stopping by.

 

I wish you love and laughter these holidays and an abundant New Year.

 

Nicóle  xx

Hartley's Grange & All The Fun At The Fair

Hi everyone!

 

Sorry, I’ve been missing for a few weeks but I’ve been busy polishing up Hartley’s Grange.

It will be released on the 27^th Jan, 2016 by Allen & Unwin – Yay!

Hartley’s Grange is the follow up to McKellan’s Run. It’s an Australian rural romance which is set in Central Victoria.

 

There’s a pivotal scene in the story which is set at the agricultural show in Violet Falls. I based part of the scene on the local agricultural show which I’ve been going to every year since I was a kid. Anyway, last night it rolled around again and this time I took my camera. So I thought I’d share with you some of the inspiration.

I have to admit, this is one of my favourite scenes. Please excuse some of the slightly fuzzy pictures as a great photographer I’m not.

I hope that you'll love Flynn and Lily’s story as much as I do.

 

The Ferris Wheel

 

 

The Creepy Clowns

 

 

The Wood Chop Contest

 

 

One of the rides

 

An Award Winning Fleece

 

 

 

Blurb

On the very same day Lily Beckett is betrayed by a colleague she's horrified to discover her long-term boyfriend is having an affair. Totally devastated, she quits her job in fashion and breaks off her relationship.

Fleeing the city, Lily heads for the sanctuary of her big sister, Violet, who lives in the country with her daughter Holly. But bad luck comes in threes when Lily has a car accident on the way. Thankfully she's not badly injured and local grazier, Flynn Hartley, arrives on the scene and looks after her.

Life gradually picks up for Lily. She enjoys living with Violet and Holly, and decides to stay for a while, designing clothes while renovating the beautiful old shop she inherited.

In the months that follow Flynn showers Lily with attention and it's clear he's falling for her. But Lily's aware of Flynn's 'bad boy' reputation and doesn't want to risk further heartbreak.

 

Thanks so much for stopping by.

 Nicóle xx

Cover Reveal - Hartley's Grange

Hi everyone,

Here’s the wonderful cover of Hartley’s Grange. Isn't he yummy? Um... er... I mean isn't it lovely?  Love it! J

This is my second rural romance and once again we’re travelling back to the small town of Violet Falls. This story is about the sexy Flynn Hartley (and yes, I admit it – I have a bit of a crush on him) and Lily Beckett.

 

 

On the very same day Lily Beckett is betrayed by a colleague she's horrified to discover her long-term boyfriend is having an affair. Totally devastated, she quits her job in fashion and breaks off her relationship.

Fleeing the city, Lily heads for the sanctuary of her big sister, Violet, who lives in the country with her daughter Holly. But bad luck comes in threes when Lily has a car accident on the way. Thankfully she's not badly injured and local grazier, Flynn Hartley, arrives on the scene and looks after her.

Life gradually picks up for Lily. She enjoys living with Violet and Holly, and decides to stay for a while, designing clothes while renovating the beautiful old shop she inherited.

 

In the months that follow Flynn showers Lily with attention and it's clear he's falling for her. But Lily's aware of Flynn's 'bad boy' reputation and doesn't want to risk further heartbreak.

Hartley's Grange will be released by Allen & Unwin early next year.

 

Thanks for stopping by.

Nicóle xx

Conference Musings

 

Hi everyone!

So I’ve just returned from four fabulous days at the RWA Get Fresh Conference in Melbourne. I was blown away by the friendliness and openness of such a large group of authors. There were about 400 of us all packed into the beautiful Park Hyatt Melbourne.

 

There were some very interesting workshops and discussions such as characterization with the fabulous Angela Ackerman, scene diagnosis with Alison Goodman, Fact into Fiction with Valerie Parv and Not Another Sex Scene with the amazing Anne Gracie and Kelly Hunter.

 

But the one thing I loved above all else was being able to connect with people in person. It was lovely to meet people that you chat online with in the flesh. I also need to thank Delwyn Jenkins for looking after all of the newbies with grace and kindness. She had a hundred of us on her hands so it was a big job. J

 

I also did my very first book signing – thanks ARRA for organising the event (72 authors needed some wrangling).

 

Here’s the part of the historical writers group.

 

 

Photo by Cassandra Samuels

 

 

And then of course there was the fan girl moment when I met Mary-Jo Putney!

 

 

 http://www.maryjoputney.com/

 

Part of the historical group with Mary-Jo.

 

 

 

Photo thanks to Elizabeth Ellen Carter and her lovely hubby, Duncan.

 

 

Looking forward to the next conference.

 

Thanks for stopping by.

Nicóle xx

 

As you know, I’m not very comfortable about having my photo taken but I figured I’d regret not having a shot of my first signing, meeting the other historical ladies and of course Mary-Jo.

 

 

Australian Rural Romance

Hi everyone!

Sorry I haven't posted in an age. I've been hiding in my turret wrestling with the next lot of edits.

Today, I'm over that Australian Rural Romance with the lovely Rachael Johns. Hope you'll stop by and say hello. :)


http://australianruralromance.com/rural-romance-second-chances-plus-giveaway


And if you're in Melbourne next week, Sat 22nd in particular the Australian Romance Readers Association is hosting a multiple book signing.

Here are the details including the list of authors.


https://australianromancereaders.wordpress.com/2015/06/02/book-signing-event-in-melbourne/

If you're around I'd love to see you!


Thanks so much for stopping by.


Nicóle   xx

Nicole Hurley-Moore lives with her family in a rural town in the Victorian Central Highlands. She write full time and is a fan of happily ever afters.  

Cover Reveal - Masquerade

 
 


Hi everyone!

 Here’s the cover of my latest historical romance, Masquerade. It will be available very soon but for now we just have to bask in the beautiful cover. J

 

 

 

 

 

Masquerade

 

To the outside world she’s referred to as Lord Tressely’s child bride – but nothing could be further from the truth.

Sophia’s entire life is a lie. For her protection she has hidden within a sham of a marriage for years. In a desperate gamble to save all that she loves and repay a debt of kindness to her dying husband, Sophia must produce an heir. A night of passion is all she wants and the masquerade ball may be the opportunity she’s been looking for. An illicit tryst with the wickedly handsome Lord Mathias Eldridge appears to be the answer to her prayers. What she didn’t expect was for Mathias to spin her senses and make her wish for a different life. But Sophia discovers that the repercussions of her actions could threaten to destroy not only her entire world but also her heart.

 

Nicóle xx

 Cover by Have a Slice Productions

Sinful Liaisons - Samantha Holt

Hi everyone!

Today I have the luscious cover of Sinful Liaison from the lovely Samantha Holt. Sinful Liaisons is the third book in the Cynfell Brothers series.

The first two books in the series are -

Sinful Confessions

Sinful Deeds

And don't forget to enter the Rafflecopter to be in with a chance to win a reading journal or one of two copies of Sinful Confessions.

Sinful Liaisons Cover Reveal

Book 3 of the Cynfell Brothers Series

Lust, gluttony, greed, sloth, wrath, envy and pride. The Cynfell brothers are the very embodiment of a sinful existence. But could the right woman change that?

Greed

It’s not every day a duchess comes across a naked man on the roadside. It’s not every day a duchess takes said naked man home with her. But Evelyn Chesworth can hardly leave the poor man in nought but his skin on the dangerous road to London. Particularly when he’s so attractive...

Lord Pierce Cynfell is in a world of trouble. With his brother threatening to cut him off and his gambling debts increasing, his beautiful rescuer couldn’t have come at a better time. He can’t help but be attracted to the worldly, mature woman.

So he certainly isn’t going to say no when she offers to write off his debts in return for one thing—his body.

However, it soon becomes clear more than his body is becoming involved. While everyone else might think he’s only there for the money, the beautiful widow slowly draws him deeper until he wants to unlock every secret buried beneath those tight corsets.

Evelyn might let Pierce beneath her corsets but she’s determined it will be no more than that. She has loved and lost twice in her life and won’t let that happen again. Meanwhile, she has too many other things to worry about—like the preservation of her son’s land.

When Pierce begins to show himself as more than a skilled lover, Evelyn has a choice—let herself be vulnerable again or send away the man who lights a fire in her body, heart and soul.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sinful Confessions

Sinful Deeds

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Website

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2 copies of Sinful Confessions

a Rafflecopter giveaway



Thanks for stopping by.

Nicóle  xx

Tales from the Hearthfire

Hi everyone.

Yes, as you can see I’m finally back. I managed to finish my rural romance which is the second instalment in the Violet Falls series but then I was hit with the winter lurgy. Anyway, I’m better and feeling like I’m back on top of things (which is always a bonus).

As I’ve been quite slack lately, my writing list has grown but I haven’t managed to cross much off it. So it’s high time that I became a little more proactive and start writing ‘properly’ again.

I’m taking a tiny break before I begin my next Australian rural romance and finishing off a fairytale that I started last year. I’ve written over half of it and it would be a shame not to finish Mariella and Prince Navarre’s story. My Wolven Heart is the second book in the Tales from the Hearthfire series, the first being Black is the Colour.

Tales from the Hearthfire tells the stories of the three Rubana sisters, Ciana, Mariella and Elisabetta. In Black is the Colour, Ciana (the youngest) had to save her lover from the witch’s curse. It was a story about true love, magic and ravens.

My Wolven Heart is the eldest sister’s story. Mariella finds herself forcibly married to a man she loathes and separated from her beloved sisters.

Here’s a bit of a blurb –

Forced into a marriage she never wanted. Mariella finds herself in a dark and mysterious world. The village of Darcel Holt is hidden in the heart of a deep wood. It is steeped in misery, slavery and fur. As Mariella unravels the secrets of the village she must ask herself, who is truly the monster - Mariella’s new husband or the enigmatic stranger in the forest?

Prince Navarre Trevoré must fight to free his people from their bound slavery. He has no time to dally with a mortal – particularly the wife of his sworn enemy. But Mariella’s kindness touches his heart and her soulful eyes haunt his dreams and cause him to entertain thoughts that he never should have.

 

So this is what I’m spending the next couple of weeks on. As much as I love the contemporary rural romances (and I really do love them), it’s nice to dip back into a fantasy medieval world which is filled with enchantment and in this particular case, werewolves. J

 

 

If you’d like to check out the first book, Black is the Colour here’s a link –

Shortened Amazon link - http://goo.gl/f3juDg

 

Blurb

Ciana has loved Oran all her life and nothing, not even her father will prevent them from being together. But the Mayor of Stonemark has higher aspirations for his daughter than the village blacksmith. He engages the help of a witch and dark magic to bend Ciana to his will.

Oran knows that he doesn’t deserve Ciana. But their love is stronger than the metal he forges and welds. She has his heart and he will never turn from her no matter the cost.

Separated, Ciana will need all her strength to journey through the deep forest and save Oran from the witch’s curse. Alone and with only a trail of black feathers to follow, Ciana will fight against the odds and attempt to bring her lover home.

 

Round double, double you go,

Until black feathers upon you grow.

Beak and claw, talon and wing,

Now with raven’s voice you will sing.

To the heavens you shall fly,

It is my will –

So say I.

 

Thanks so much for stopping by.

 

Nicóle xx

Pictures from Fotolia

Cover – Have a Slice Productions

Eeek!

 

Hi everyone!

So, I promised my lovely editor that I’d have the next book in McKellan’s Run series to her in two weeks. No probs, it’s pretty much finished – it just needs a bit of a polish and I need to revise chapter five, oh and I have to add a scene at the end of chapter seven and eight... and thirteen. Oh dear!

Um... okay... I’ll catch with you guys after the deadline.

Thanks for dropping by.

Nicóle xx

Spotlight - Tess Woods

Hi everyone.

The lovely Tess Woods is with us today to answer a few questions and tell us a bit about her novel, Love at First Flight. Tess lives in Perth, Australia with one husband, two children, one dog and one cat who rules over all of them. Love at First Flight is her first novel for HarperCollins.

Welcome Tess!

 

What inspired you to write this story?

I've always been inspired by the tragic love story, the story of great love that just can't be. My favourite book The Bridges of Madison County stayed with me years after reading it and played on my mind. Then I read Twilight and out of nowhere I had to write my own book. Before this I had never entertained the idea of writing. But the longing in Twilight and the knowing that the one you love is the one that is dangerous for you resonated with me and I just had to write about that. So with the themes of desire and danger, I wrote a book about a married mother, because I wanted to write of what I know. I wanted to bring the great love story into the world of the typical suburban mum who is chasing after kids, working and running a home. I wanted her to have that Romeo and Juliet moment. So I wrote 'Love at First Flight'.

 

Are you working on anything at the present?

I’m writing my second book and I’m very excited! I am writing a contemporary romance called Flat White With One which is about my main character Mel’s son as an adult (he is a teenager in Love at First Flight). Nick is Australia’s most popular football player, a real playboy who falls for a young, conservative Egyptian girl named Anna with a tragic past who is anything but the typical footballer’s girlfriend. Flat White With One is their love story. Nick and Anna are tested by her family, Nick’s football community and the Australian public as nobody seems to approve of them being together.

 

How do you come up with the titles to your books?

I actually didn’t come up with the title for my book! I came up with Flight. But I got a memo from my editor, Anna, that Flight could be about birds or kites and she wanted something that sold the story more. I received that email while I was having lunch with my friend Emma on her birthday. I complained and moaned about needing to change the title. Emma came up with Love at First Flight. I emailed Anna. She thought I was a genius. I happily took the credit! I’ve been told by my literary agent that she is letting me keep the title of my next book Flat White With One for now so we’ll have to wait and see if I don’t end up naming that one either, hey!

 

 

What is your favourite book?

The Bridges of Madison County by Robert James Waller captured my heart like no other love story could. I read it in one sitting, I simply couldn’t put it down. That such a passionate love story could take place between two quite outwardly plain, middle-aged people in sleepy Iowa, where not much ever happens, was amazing to me. The connection between Francesca and Robert and their tragic Romeo and Juliet ‘not meant to be’ love pulled at my heartstrings. They made me believe in love at first sight and I went on to write my own book inspired by their intense love. I thought Robert Kincaid was the most romantic male character I have ever come across.

“But, I am, after all, a man. And all the philosophic rationalizations I can conjure up do not keep me from wanting you, every day, every moment, the merciless wail of time, of time I can never spend with you, deep within my head. I love you, profoundly and completely. And I always will.”

 

What made you want to be a writer?

I’ve always been a hopeless bookaholic. I was inspired by other writers and other stories. Books like Tully, The Bridges of Madison County and The Horse Whisperer stayed with me and inspired me. But when Stephenie Meyer wrote Twilight, something shifted inside me when I read it and I just had to write a book myself!

 

Love at First Flight – Blurb

A family is threatened by an irresistible attraction in this compelling debut that will appeal to fans of Liane Moriarty and Anita Shreve.

 

Looking back on it now, I can see it was instant. The second we locked eyes. Boom. Just like that. The me I had spent a lifetime perfecting began its disintegration from that moment. And despite the carnage it brought to all our lives, I still don’t regret it. 

 

What would you risk to be with the love of your life? And what if your soul mate is the one who will destroy you? 

 

Mel is living the dream. She’s a successful GP, married to a charming anaesthetist and raising a beautiful family in their plush home in Perth. But when she boards a flight to Melbourne, she meets Matt and her picture perfect Stepford life unravels as she falls in love for the first time ever. 

 

What begins as a flirty conversation between strangers quickly develops into a hot and obsessive affair with disastrous consequences neither Mel nor Matt could have ever seen coming. Mel’s dream life turns into her worst nightmare. 

 

Love at First Flight will take everything you believe about what true love is and spin it on its head.

 

 

Here’s a snippet –

‘Alright, love, have a good night.’

‘You too, hey? Be safe. Don’t talk to strangers. See you tomorrow. Love you.’

His voice was warm. No suspicion there whatsoever. Of course there wasn’t, Adam trusted me. I’d never given him reason to be suspicious before.

‘Love you too, Adam. See you tomorrow, darling,’ I croaked.

I dropped the phone into my bag and walked back into the bathroom, with a sudden sharp headache behind my left eye.

‘How’s Hercules?’ Sarah looked up from painting her toenails.

‘He’s fine,’ I said flatly. ‘He says hi. He’s having an early night.’

‘God bless him, like he needs the beauty sleep,’ she laughed.

I regarded myself coolly in the bathroom mirror. ‘You are a stupid, stupid woman,’ I hissed at the reflection.

 I vigorously shook Matt from my head, wiped off the red lipstick, replaced it with a clear gloss, and sent a mental kiss to my unsuspecting husband who was missing me back at home.

No more nonsense.

Finished.

 

If you would like to find out more about Tess, here are her links. J

 Website:

http://www.tesswoods.com.au/

 Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/Tesswoods.harpercollins?ref=hl

Goodreads:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25058078-love-at-first-flight?from_search=true

Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/Love-First-Flight-Tess-Woods-ebook/dp/B00S47T1AG/ref=sr_1_sc_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1429057388&sr=8-1-spell&keywords=tess+woodsds

iBooks:

https://itunes.apple.com/au/book/love-at-first-flight/id972723972?mt=11

Kobo:

https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/love-at-first-flight-6

Barnes and Noble:

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/love-at-first-flight-woods-tess/1121030099?ean=9781460705414

 

Thanks for stopping by.

Nicóle  xx