GUEST AUTHOR: Helen Lacey

HELEN LACEY grew up reading Black Beauty, Anne of Green Gables and Little House on The Prairie. These childhood classics inspired her to write her first book when she was seven years old, a story about a girl and her horse. Although, it wasn’t until the age of eleven when she read her first Mills & Boon, that she knew writing romances was what she wanted to do with her life. Her parents’ love of travel meant she saw much of the world in those early years and she feels fortunate to have had a diverse and interesting education over several continents.

She continued to write into her teens and twenties with the dream of one day being a published author. A few years and careers later, including motel operator, florist, strapper, dog washer, and retail manager, she got the call from Harlequin Special Edition. She loves writing about tortured heroes, both cowboys and CEO’s, and heroines who finally get the love of the man of their dreams. She now works part time in her sister’s bridal shop, where she gets to meet fascinating people, some of whom might one day end up being in one of her books.

From Welsh parents and a large family, she lives on the east coast of Australia in a small seaside town at the southern most point of The Great Barrier Reef, with her wonderfully supportive husband, many horses and three spoiled dogs.

About the book...

Title – MADE FOR MARRIAGE 

Setting – Queensland in a small seaside town at the southern most point of the Great Barrier Reef.

Hero – Noah Preston.

Heroine – Callie Jones.

Scene you would never cut – Where the heroine goes to the heroes home for dinner and spends time with him and  his children.

Something your hero or heroine would never do or say – That’s a tough one …. I think my hero would never say ‘it’s over’, because he fought so hard to get her.

What's one quirky thing about your hero/heroine? My hero hates green vegetables. And my heroine – well, she can’t hold a tune, but that didn’t make it past the final round of edits.

What do you think the readers will like about this book? I hope they like the sense of family and the small town setting. And the horses, of course.

MADE FOR MARRIAGE 

Equestrian Callie Jones was used to difficult parents at her riding school. But Noah Preston took the cake.

How dare he question her teaching abilities, after his headstrong daughter paid no heed to rules—her teacher's or her father's?

Single dad Noah was ready to apologize for overreacting. But he wasn't sorry for the way the stunning American riding instructor made him feel. And he soon learned that there was more to Callie than her smarts, sass and fire: a shattered heart that threatened to splinter even further. Could he make her see that he—and his family—were for keeps?

Buy Links

Amazon   Harlequin   Amazon UK   The Book Depository

What's next for you? I’m just about to submit book four and five to my editor, so am polishing up both at the moment. I’m also looking forward to the release of book two later this year and book three in early 2013. 

About you... 

Favorite movie of all time –  Rebecca, Man From Snowy River, Shawshank Redemption (I can’t pick only one!).

Favorite fairytale – Beauty and The Beast.

Favorite story to disappear into – Black Beauty.

Favorite TV program – At the moment, Big Bang Theory. Ever? Probably Deadwood and Star Trek Next Gen.

First book you remember reading – Black Beauty.

Dog or cat person (or other) – Horse (but I do have three dogs).

Author (living or dead) you'd most like to meet – Jane Austen, of course!

A romantic retreat for you would be...well, I live in an idyllic place by the sea, so for something different maybe a weekend in the country, in a cabin, cold weather, log fire . . . or a week in Tuscany would be good too.

What do you do to unwind or relax? I like to spend time with my horses and dogs. And I have a large family so it’s always great to catch up with them and close friends.

I’m also a bit of a sci-fi nut when it comes to movies, the more aliens and ray guns the better, so I like to watch DVD’s to unwind, and stories that are different to the romances I write every day. Although, I do like the sci-fi that has a little romance in it to.

What era would you like to time travel and visit? And why? I think I’d like to go to the future, maybe five hundred years and see what they’re up to. I’d love to be able to say, “beam me up” and actually have it happen.

What does love mean to you? Consideration and honesty. The one thing I love about my husband is his innate integrity, and I think that’s an important part of a good relationship.

For more information on Helen's MADE FOR MARRIAGE Blog Tour, check out this link.

You can also find out more about Helen on her website, blog, Facebook page, her RomanceWiki page and on Twitter.