Australian born KELLY HUNTER writes short contemporary romance for Harlequin Mills &Boon and even shorter contemporary romance for herself.
First published in 2007, Kelly's books have finalled once in the Romance Writers of Australia's RUBY award, six times in the Australian Romance Readers Awards, twice in the Romantic Times Readers Choice Awards and have been nominated three times for a RITA®. Thus inspired, Kelly keeps writing them.
Why short category romance and not a bigger wordcount? Aside from a deep and abiding admiration for the shorter form, Kelly has a three-month book-writing attention span. If she ever learns to write faster or pay attention longer she may write longer books.
Title: TROUBLE IN A PINSTRIPE SUIT (otherwise known as SLEEPING PARTNER).
Publisher: Harlequin Mills & Boon.
Release Date: March 2012 in North America.
Setting - Penang, Malaysia.
Hero bio - Ethan Hamilton: Dangerously sexy hotelier who doesn't take no for an answer.
Heroine bio - Mia Fletcher - searching for clues about a mother she's never known.
Interesting feature/s of this book: I set this story in Penang - one of my favourite places on the planet - and gave my heroine a dilapidated colonial hotel to restore. I so wanted to be her!
In 2008, TROUBLE IN A PINSTRIPE SUIT was nominated for a Romance Writers of America RITA® for contemporary series romance, but was never released into the North American market. Until now.
‘Miss Fletcher?’ asked the wizened old doorman, resplendent in a bone coloured tunic and turban.
Mia nodded and turned to stare up at the dilapidated hotel before her. The majestic marble columns and crumbling portico plasterwork. The magnificent marble entrance stairs, dulled by age and the passing of many feet…
The tangled mess of overgrown garden…
‘Welcome to Penang, Pearl of the Orient,’ he said grandly. ‘And the Cornwallis Hotel, lustrous heart of colonial Georgetown.’
The hotel was situated in the heart of the island’s colonial district true enough, and had a certain frayed, yesteryear kind of appeal, but lustrous? Mia slid the doorman a bemused glance.
‘I know what you’re thinking,’ he said. ‘That the hotel is old and much in need of repair, but sixty years ago, when I first started working here, it was indeed a glory to behold.’
‘I believe you.’
Rajah, according to his discreetly placed nametag, beamed. ‘It could be so again,’ he said. ‘Love could make it so.’
Love and vast chunks of money.
‘Just as soon as the curse is broken.’
‘There’s a curse?’
‘But of course. How else would the hotel come to be in such disrepair?’
‘Years and years of neglect?’
‘That too,’ he said. ‘I’ll inform Mr Ethan of your arrival. He’s been waiting for you. We all have.’ Rajah swept open the door for her. ‘Miss Fletcher.’
‘Mia,’ she said, belatedly wondering how he’d known who she was.
‘Miss Mia,’ he said, his old eyes shining. ‘Welcome home.'
You can find out more about Kelly & her books on her website, blog, Goodreads, or follow her on Facebook & Twitter.
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Sounds like a great read, and an unusual setting. I'll look out for it!
ReplyDeleteMy secret passion is 'Presents'. I'm going to pop off to eHarlequin and shout myself some "Trouble". Washing? What washing? Nup. No ironing either.
ReplyDeleteIt's a great setting and your love for it really comes through. You (Kelly) and Nikki Logan (off the top of my head) are two category authors who incorporate setting really well and it's something that really adds to the appeal of the story for me. Thanks for hosting, Kylie!
ReplyDeleteSo glad you ladies may have found another book to add to your TBR piles! :-)
ReplyDeleteAnd I'm so glad you chose that particular story to pull from your bookshelf. I've a very soft spot for Penang, where that story is set. Need to go back there one day. The hotel was real!
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