**GIVEAWAY** To Claim His Heir by Christmas Victoria Parker Interview/review

Today's Ho Ho Ho Harlequin Holiday Extravaganza features Harlequin Presents author Victoria Parker who's chatting to us from the UK about her exotically fabulous holiday tale To Claim His Heir by Christmas.  She's got a great holiday recipe (and I converted the measurement to US equivalents so may want to double check it) and she's also generously sponsoring a Giveaway open Internationally.
Giveaway details below!
Look at that great cover!
So Take it away Victoria!!!

• ISBN-13: 9780373133024
• Publisher: Harlequin
• Publication date: 11/18/2014
• Series: Harlequin Presents Series , #3296
• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Pages: 192

 

Overview

From heaven to hell…

Five years ago, Princess Luciana of Arunthia experienced heaven in the arms of a man whose every touch felt like paradise. But when Thane's true identity as the prince of Galancia was revealed, Luciana had no choice but to flee. Her lover was her kingdom's greatest enemy, and she was expecting his baby!

Giveaway includes one print copy of
To Claim His Heir By Christmas
+ some extra goodies from Victoria
OPEN INTERNATIONALLY
Use the Rafflecopter form below to enter
Thanks Victoria
Good Luck!!!

Read an Excerpt:

He was going to propose. Any minute now.

It was every little girl's dream. A handsome man, one of the most beautiful she'd ever seen, sat opposite her at an intimate table for two, with a velvet box nestled in his inside pocket. Aristocracy, no less. The suave Savile Row sophisticate who was Viscount Augustus. The man who'd set the scene so superbly.

Dimly lit chandeliers cast a seductive romantic ambience throughout the room of the critically acclaimed restaurant, where Michelin chefs were famous for creating masterpieces of haute cuisine. Open fires crackled and crystal tinkled as exorbitantly priced champagne flowed, poured into flutes in an amber rush of opulent effervescence. And beyond the wide plate-glass windows lay the majestic vista of the Taren-taise Valley—Savoie, bathing in the rose-pink wash of dusk, its white-capped mountains towering from the earth like watchful sentinels over the exclusive lavish ski resort of Pur Luxe.

Stunning. Awe-inspiring. The stage was set. All that was left were the words. And Princess Luciana Valentia Thyssen Verbault was paralysed with dread.

Please, God, please get me out of this somehow…

There is no way out, Luce. Not only do you have a duty to your people but a deal is a deal. And you made one with the devil himself.

Lord, she hated her father right now. 'Go to the Alps,' he'd said. 'Take a few days to think things over, get your head together.'

Luciana had taken in his seemingly sincere autocratic face, paler since she'd last seen him as his health continued to deteriorate, and thought, yes, a few days to ponder. After all, she'd thought, she had years before her coronation, plenty of room to breathe, to barter for more time. But, as the saying went: Men plan. Fates laugh.

King Henri of Arunthia was being pushed by his doctors to retire. So she'd come to inhale the invigorating crisp air, to infuse her mind with solace. Reassess. Come up with a strategy where matrimony wouldn't equate to losing the only person she lived for. What her father hadn't said was that he was dropping her smack-bang in the midst of her worst nightmare by sending Augustus to seal the deal.

She supposed she should have seen it coming. Avoiding the Viscount via any means possible since her return home from China three weeks ago obviously hadn't worked a jot. All she'd done was delay the inevitable.

You can run but you can't hide. Wasn't that what they said?

Truth was, for so long she'd been living on borrowed time, wishing with all her heart that time would miraculously stand still. But time, as she'd soon realised, waited for no man. Let alone a woman as desperate as she was to avoid the ticking clock.

Now she would pay the ultimate price for bartering with her father five too short years ago. Five years of living a normal existence, well hidden in her sanctuary near Hong Kong. Five years of latitude and liberty in exchange for total compliance—starting now.

'Luciana? Is the filet not to your liking, querida?''

Her eyelashes fluttered as she fought the urge to squeeze them shut. Pretend she was anywhere but here. Querida… Lord, she wished he wouldn't call her that. Wished too that she could extinguish the heat banked in his blue eyes. Hadn't he had enough carnal relations for one afternoon? She almost asked him. If he'd enjoyed the brunette in his suite. The one who'd answered his door half naked and ravaged. But the truth was she couldn't care less. It was the endearments she loathed. They hinted at affection and love and there would be none in this marriage. On either side.

He was playing a part, though, wasn't he? She wondered, then, if he was going to get down on one knee. While she sincerely hoped not, he was a virtuoso at playing the press and they'd want the fairy story.

Fairy story. Yeah, right. A fool's dream. Like so many others that taunted her day and night.

'It's wonderful, thank you,' she said, attempting another small mouthful even as her stomach roiled.

It could be the best filet mignon in the world and it would still taste like black ash. Though no one would ever know it. Trained by the best, she was the perfect picture of elegant refinement. Graceful to a fault.

'Good. I want tonight to be perfect,' he said softly. Slick and skilful.

Luciana whipped out the serene smile she'd perfected since the cradle—not too bright or flashy, nor too dull. Just perfect, as her mother would say. Neglecting to add the tiny detail that it would strip her throat raw every time she faked it.

'I want tonight to be perfect.'

Guilt trickled through the turbulent maelstrom of emotions warring for dominance in her chest. He was trying, wasn't he?

Of course he is—he wants a throne of his own. Of course he's pulling out every weapon in his cultivated arsenal.

Still, it wasn't his fault that the 'arranged marriage' part of her conditioning hadn't quite taken root. It wasn't his fault that she dreamed of another. It wasn't his fault that she had a taste for dark and dangerous.

Yes, and look what trouble that landed you in. Surely you've learned your lesson by now?

And Augustus was good-looking. Very handsome, in fact. Sandy blond hair artfully shorn and midnight-blue eyes. He had women after him in their droves. Yet he was her duty—tall and fair. The man she'd been ordered to wed. And from there to his bed.

A phantom knife sliced through her stomach and instinctively she bowed forward to ease the lancing pain… Then she forced her poise to kick in, reached gingerly for her glass and poured the amber liquid down her throat. Maybe if she got tipsy enough she'd have enough anaesthetic on board to say yes without shattering into a million pieces.

Flute back to the table, Luciana picked up her fork to push the tenderised beef around her gold-rimmed plate on the off-chance that he'd reach for her hand again. Once this evening was more than enough.

Would she ever get used to his touch? It was nothing like when he' d touched her. Nothing like the wickedly high jolt of electricity that had surged through her veins, or the blaze of her blood creating a raging inferno inside her.

Stop! For the love of God, Luciana, stop.

Problem was, as always, she found it impossible to halt the flow. The fiery rush of memories. Memories of a man who'd given her a gift to last a lifetime.

Pain and secrecy thumped inside her ribs like a dark heart. Because no one could know. No one could ever, ever know.

Princesses of the realm, first in line to the throne, were not meant to disgrace themselves by breaking free of their dutiful chains. Not meant to alter their appearance beyond recognition to avoid the paparazzi and go to rock concerts in Zurich dressed like a hippy, doling out false names. Not meant to fall in love…no, lust at first sight and have wild, passionate love affairs. They especially weren't supposed to have them with Arunthia's enemy. Not that she'd known exactly who he was when they'd met.

Such an ironic twist of fate. One she would have reduced to a dream if she didn't hold and squeeze and hug and kiss the living proof of her reckless walk on the wild side every single day. Yet, despite it all—despite knowing she'd given her innocence to a treacherous, dangerous man—she could never, would never regret it. Because her first and only lover had given her a gift that was the single most brilliant, bright spark of joy in her world…her son.

Discreetly she sneaked a peek at the mobile phone hidden in her lap to see if Natanael's goodnight text had come through. Nothing. She stifled the melancholy of missing him by picturing him playing happily with her sister Claudia and baby Isabelle, while Lucas watched on adoringly, protectively. Possessively.

At times it physically hurt to look at them. The perfect family. So deeply, devotedly in love. Their beautiful marriage was eons away from the unions she was used to. Luciana hadn't known such a thing existed. She would do anything for that. Pay any price.

Envy, thick and poignant, pierced her chest with a sweet, sharp ache and she cursed herself for feeling that way. Wanting what she couldn't have. Plunging lower than the black trench of despair she'd dug beneath her own feet. On the verge of letting loose the scream that was irrevocably bottled up inside her.

Come on, Luce. You know happiness isn't written in the cards for a royal firstborn. Only duty.

Luciana tried to swallow and block the lash of repercussions her trip down the aisle would provoke before anguish swept her mind away on a tide of insanity.

Stop this! You're protecting him—just as you've always done.

But how was she ever going to leave her heart? The person she needed in order to breathe, as if he were the very air itself? Her gorgeous little boy.

Claudia had sworn she'd save him from the oppressive walls of Arunthe Palace, love him as Luciana did until she could figure out a way for them to be together always. As Queen she'd have more power. She would think of something. She had to.

In the meantime Luciana would always be near—but what about his tub time, and the way he liked to be tucked tight and snug into bed? Luciana wanted to run his bath with his favourite bubbles that made his tender skin smell sweet. And what about when he called for her in the night when he was having bad dreams? She wanted to hold him when he was scared.

The thought of him asking for her and her not being there… It tormented her mind. How she was going to explain it all to him she had no idea. And how was she going to leave Natanael behind if this man dragged her to his family estate in Northern Arunthia?

So tell him. Tell him. He might understand. Support you. Help you.

This man? No. No, she didn't trust him not to betray her confidence. Didn't trust anyone.

You made a deal, Luciana. Now you pay.

Ah, yes, a deal made in naive, youthful folly. In desperation such as she'd never known. A pact etched in her mind like an effigy on a tombstone. A shiver ghosted over her as she was haunted by the past.

'Please…please, Father. I can't do it. I can't get rid of him.' She knew he was small, so small inside her, but she couldn't take him away, she couldn't give him up. She couldn't.

'Luciana, you are not married. You will bring disgrace on us all. You are the heiress to the throne and the father of the child you carry is an enemy of this nation. Do you forget his assassination attempt? On me? He is a traitor to the crown.'

'Yes, but I didn't know who he was. I—'

'If this man ever discovered your child's existence he could use him as a pawn to gain power over us. He could take Arunthia. And do you honestly want his Satan of an uncle getting his hands on your son? We have avoided war for sixty years—do you want your people to live in tyranny as those in Galancia do?'

'No, no. But…no one need ever know. I could go away for a while. Please, I'm begging you. Pleading with you… Let me keep him.'

The King's deep sigh filled the oppressive air stifling his office and she teetered on the precipice of throwing her pride to the gale and plunging to her knees.

Then he said, 'Five years, Luciana. Five years of freedom. That is all I will give you. But the world must never know he is yours because Thane must never, ever find him. You will never be able to claim him as your son and heir. Do you understand me?'

'Yes. Yes, I understand,' she said—wild, frenzied, frantic. Unthinking of the consequences of what she was agreeing to. So desperate she would have sold her soul in that moment.

'You will be hidden well in the Far East, and in five years you will return to take the throne and do your duty. You will marry, Luciana, am I clear?'

'Yes—yes, I swear it. I'll do whatever you want. Just let me have him.'

His steely eyes were clouded with disappointment and grief and sorrow. That gaze was telling her she would rue this day, this bargain.

Luciana ignored it. As long as her son got to take his first breath, got to walk upon the earth and live life to the full, without the constraints of duty like a noose around his neck, she would make a deal with the devil himself. And so she did.

*
• *

Augustus's voice shattered her bleak reflection and she tuned back in to the chatter that fluttered around them in a hushed din.

All she had to do was remember that her happiness came second to Natanael's safety. And shewould keep him safe if it was the last thing she did.

'Luciana? Would you like coffee and dessert or…?'

Or… ? Lord, not now. Not when she was falling apart at the seams. She wasn't ready to hear those words. Not yet. Not ever.

She felt powerless. Completely out of control. Like a puppet on a string.

The room began to spin.

'Yes, thank you, that would be wonderful,' she said, her voice thankfully calm and emotion-free as she plastered a cringe-worthy beatific smile on her face.

Coffee. Crème brulée. That would buy her another twenty minutes, surely.

Panic fisted her heart as the tick of the clock pounded in her ears. Tick-tock. Tick-tock.

The walls loomed, closing in around her, crushing her lungs.

Calm down, Luce. What are you going to do—hyperventilate and pass out? Make a total fool of yourself?

She needed air. She couldn't breathe.

'I'm sorry—please excuse me. I think I need…' To go out on the balcony? No, no, no, he'd follow her and drop to one knee, she knew. 'To visit the restroom. I'll only be a few minutes.'

After all that she realised he wasn't listening. Someone on the other side of the room had caught his eye, and Luciana frowned as his lightly tanned face stained a ghastly shade of grey.

'Augustus? Are you all right? Did you hear what I said?' Slowly he shook his head. 'I do not believe it. Luciana, you will never guess who is dining in this very room. I had no idea. Your father will be most displeased. I am so sorry…'

He was sorry? Ah, wonderful. One of his women, no doubt. The buxom brunette from earlier, come to ruin his perfect proposal? She didn't want to know. It was her parents' marriage all over again. No doubt she'd be faced with his mistresses most mornings too.

Well, that's better than you warming his bed, isn't it?

Anything was better than that.

'Don't worry about it, Augustus. Your secret is safe with me.' Her father wouldn't care less who the man whored with. There was more likelihood of mutual backslapping. 'I'll be back soon.'

Ignoring her, on he went. 'Of all the places in all the world.'

Luciana bit into her bottom lip, stifling the impulse to run like a world class sprinter. Praying for this evening to be over. Praying someone would rescue her from this nightmare. Before the truth escaped on the scream that was building gradually, inexorably, and she single-handedly destroyed the very life she was trying to protect.

'Of all the places in all the world… What an unpleasant surprise.'

His cousin, Seve, who was seated to his right at the oval dining table, leaned his upper body sideways in an effort to be discreet.

'I can see the sweat beading on his upper lip from here. It's your old pal from that exclusive rich joint you were sent to in Zurich. Viscount Augustus.'

Hi Victoria. I’m so happy to have you on my blog!

Tell us just a bit about To Claim His Heir by Christmas.

Hi Debbie, it’s fantastic to be here. Thank you for having me!

To Claim his Heir by Christmas is my second Arunthian royal tale, from the trilogy of the three Verbault girls; Claudine, Luciana and Andalina. Claudia was the star of my debut, Princess In The Iron Mask, and after so many lovely letters from readers asking for the next story, I caved and wrote Luciana’s book. And I’m so glad I did!

I had been biding my time waiting for the chance to write a serendipitous, ‘One and Only’ love story with two virgins. Yes, that’s right, two virgins! I mean let’s face it, in this day and age an untouched hero is seriously unrealistic and therefore not a easy trope to pull off. But if there’s one thing I love it’s a darn good challenge. So when I first started tinkering with ideas for this book, Thane Guerrero popped into my head and I knew this was my chance.

I remember writing a scene from his childhood – something I tend to do to get into characters heads – and I kept thinking, ‘wow he kinda reminds me of Tarzan.’  Lol. Dangerously wild. Dark and untamed. Brooding and gorgeous while scarred. And highly dominating. Oooh I knew this guy would be seriously alpha, mainly due to his harrowing upbringing, being born in a dictatorship, bred to fight for his king and country. And the cherry on top was just a delicious a hint of sweetness because naturally, with no women in his life, he’s utterly clueless about the opposite sex.

At this point I was so smitten I desperately wanted to write him.

Question was; who on earth could tame such a beast?

Only one woman. Princess Luciana of Arunthia. The perfect picture of elegant refinement. The graceful to a fault lioness who would undoubtedly shatter his iron control and capture his heart. Which is exactly what happened five years ago in an ironic twist of fate – when these two enemies met on neutral territory with no idea as to whom the other was.

The kicker in this modern-day Romeo and Juliet is that after a torrid affair Luciana discovered Thane’s true identity and fled into the night, carrying a secret she could never disclose.

Five years on, Luciana has returned to do her duty by marrying and taking the throne while facing the terrifying prospect of losing her son. That was the deal she made with her devil of a father. She could have her secret son, for five years only. Luciana has no other choice but to comply, to protect her son and keep him safe from Thane’s fearful clutches.

She’s praying for a miracle when the man himself bursts back into her life with all the delicacy of a ten ton truck! Because this time, regardless of the unpalatable realization of who she truly is, regardless of the centuries of war that has passed between their houses, Thane will take back what is rightfully his and claim Luciana as his own once and for all. And no one would dare to stand in his way :)

Whew that cover shot is sure steamy.

Have you ever been to a Presents Photo Shoot?

I see Harlequin has a blog post devoted to it and your novel is featured- HERE

Totally agree, steamy is definitely the word. I love it! During my last visit to the Richmond office where my editor is based, I actually saw a few versions of the cover and one in particular was even saucier. They both looked naked as the day they were born! And while it certainly was delicious we decided it wasn’t such a good idea to give readers the impression they were about to open an erotica :)

As to your question, Debbie, I haven’t had the pleasure of watching a photo shoot but I would love to. I’ll have to drop a few not-so-subtle hints to my editor. Meanwhile it was great to read the ihearts blog-post on the topic. Fascinating how they start with a sexy dress and Christmassy lights, toss in a hunky naked torso and create such a vivid picture that could’ve easily jumped from the pages of the book. The contrast between Thane’s wildness and Luciana’s sophistication is captured beautifully. It’s not often you see hero’s with longer hair on Presents book covers either and I imagine it was risky as it’s not everyone’s cup of tea but I’m very happy with the end result. They did an amazing job. Would be interesting to hear what readers think of it…

Victoria, my friends all know that I pretty much think Harlequin makes the world go round.

What’s your favorite part of writing for Harlequin?

Oooh where to start…

Well, I have always been a huge Presents fan, mainly thanks to the awesome Penny Jordan who was ‘my first’ J But why the immediate obsession? I think it was the hero’s that snagged my hard-to-gain attention and lured me in. At that time – we’re talking twenty odd years ago now (eek!) – Presents were generally in the heroines point of view only and it left the hero’s far more mysterious. Without any hint as to their inner feelings they came over super arrogant. Aloof. Truly alpha. Scorchingly hot! I wanted a man just like that. I wanted to be the heroine who achieved the impossible and stole his billion-dollar icy heart. I yearned for the power to tame the ultimate bad boy. Not that I was picky, you realize. Bad boy, iceman, boss, Prince, Armani-clad sinful Italians, seductive Greek Gods, the list goes on. In short, we are talking about men we consider out of our league (at least I do!) those who’ve vowed to never marry or ever love. The unobtainable. These fabulous writers were making dreams come true and I was hooked. I simply had to create my own dark alphas and the women who could beat them into submission. And so I did! Eventually.

Of course these days most readers prefer both points of view and while the mystery has lessened I'd like to think that has given us the room to make our hero’s stronger than ever before. We can make them harder as long as we explain why. We can create devils but ensure they have the motivation for that devilry. Then, when these strong multi-dimensional characters are thrown in at the deep end to face their foe – whether emotional demons or flesh and blood – the glut of emotions that can be drawn to bleed on the page can be deeply moving. I haven’t written a Presents that I haven’t cried through in parts yet. Or laughed my head off because I do love a dash of humour too. It’s all powerful stuff. Addictive to conjure and write.

I also adore the opulent over-the-top glamour. The fabulous international locations. The heart-pounding, bloody-rushing lust. I want the desire to be knee buckling and the sex to be earth shattering. I need my characters to feel a love so deep it ruins them. Brings big, bad alphas to their knees. This might not be everyone’s idea of real life but it is pure escapism that many readers crave. And there is no better feeling than delivering that promise. I’m extremely lucky to be given the chance J

Victoria I love the holidays there are always special things in the oven.

Do you have a special holiday treat that you make for your family and friends?

I have such a sweet tooth (just ask my thighs) so naturally I love puddings. Over the years I’ve begged and bartered with older family members for several of my favorites and here is my top pick!

Tipsy Tart

Ingredients you’ll need…

250g chopped dates – (8 oz – 1 cup)

250mls boiling water (1 cup)

1 tsp bicarbonate of soda

200g light brown sugar (1/5 lb- 1 cup)

65g margarine (2 oz)

1 egg

180g plain flour (6oz)

half tsp baking powder

half tsp salt

100 chopped pecans

Sprinkle the bicarb over your dates and pour boiling water over the top. Then leave to cool

Cream the butter & sugar

Add one egg and beat well, then add the date mixture

Sift in the dry ingredients

Add chopped nuts and turn into a rectangular tin approx 10” x 8”

Bake for 30-40 minutes in your oven at 180 degrees centigrade 350 fareinheit

Syrup

Ingredients you’ll need…

150g sugar (5oz -.5 cup)

5mls brandy (1tsp)

125mls water (1/5 cup)

1 tablespoon of margarine

5 mls vanilla essence (1tsp)

pinch of salt

Boil the sugar, water, margarine and salt for 5 minutes

Remove from the heat and add the vanilla and brandy

Skewer the tart all over to create small holes and pour the syrup slowly over the hot tart when it comes out of the oven

Cut into equal squares and serve with thickened cream

When cold, wrap any leftovers in foil individually and you can keep them in the fridge for up to 6 weeks. They warm through in the microwave beautifully.

Then sit back and enjoy!

**note I have converted the measurements by an app I found on the internet but you might want to recheck my figures J

How about a special holiday tradition?

We have quite a few traditions, from dusting the driveway with sparkly reindeer dust on Christmas Eve to light up the way for Santa’s sleigh, to making special pancakes for breakfast on Christmas morning. But let me tell you about Boxing Day because it’s such fun…

   

Generally we travel south to see my family and this year is no exception. So once again we’ll be heading down to the beach on Boxing day to watch The Boxing Day Dip. In short, it’s a charity event where most people don a fancy dress outfit – I’ve seen everything from hooker get-ups on men, to women in Victorian bloomers! – and they all take a dip in the freezing North Sea! Baring in mind temperatures on land are generally minus this time of year, you can imagine how cold the water is. Brrrr. I shiver just thinking about it!

However, it’s for very good causes and such fun to watch. Various members of my family have taken part over the years and my ten year old son is taking the plunge this time. He’s such a daredevil already (another grey hair sprouts at my temple) but I’ll be at the shoreline with warm blankets and a mug of hot chocolate, cheering him on :)

Victoria thank you so much for participating in my Ho Ho Ho Harlequin Holiday Extravaganza.

Here’s wishing you and yours the best of holidays this year and always!!

Same to you, Debbie! And Happy holidays one and all!

Connect with Victoria - Twitter - Goodreads - Pinterest 

MEET THE AUTHOR:
After years of stifling her writers muse and acquiring various uninspiring job-titles, Victoria Parker finally surrended to that persistant voice and penned her first M&B romance. Turns out, creating havoc for feisty heroines and devilish heroes truly is the best job in the world. In her spare time she dabbles in interior design, loves discovering far flung destinations and getting into mischief with her rather wonderful family.

Mills & Boon Harlequin's UK name introduces Victoria Parker

  

My Review of To Claim his Heir by Christmas courtesy of RT Magazine

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Today's Gonereading item is a
collection of new and notable items
Click HERE  for the buy page