(*sorry, a brain is required to participate)

So the plotting of my “Dynasties:  The Kincaids” continuity book for Harlequin Desire is underway.  And it’s going very well, I’m happy to say. :thumbsup

But here’s the deal—I need a title.  Or titles, really.

This time around, the Desire editors have provided a working title for each of the continuity’s stories, but have asked the authors to also come up with a handful of other ideas to turn in along with our outlines.

And while I am, admittedly, the Queen of All Titles, I’m having a little trouble this time around.  I think because my storyline is so specific & some of the hooks I’d like to use don’t really fit the characters or plotline.

So here’s a quick rundown…  Ooh, rundown…The Rundown…my Darling Dwayne…

Sorry, I got a little distracted there for a minute. :eeee

Here’s a quick recap of my basic storyline…

Event coordinator Kara Kincaid is helping to plan her sister’s wedding to hotel/resort owner Eli Houghton. (Don’t you  just love those names? I do! :Bigthumbs )  The only problem is, Laurel has been dragging her feet for months, & Kara has a wee crush on Eli herself.  So when Laurel calls off the wedding, Eli actually isn’t the least surprised…nor is he disappointed, since he’s been harboring an attraction lately to the other Kincaid sister.  (Oh, yeah—can’t you just feel the sexual tension that will be sizzling on these pages? :love )  Skip ahead a bit, & Kara & Eli actually begin a passionate affair.  (But, of course! :itsabouttime )

I won’t say anything more than that because I don’t want to ruin the story.  That’s also more than enough hint to get the creative juices flowing for title brainstorming.

The working title for this story is The Right Woman for the Wrong Groom, which isn’t bad, but I don’t love it.  I do, however, love the idea behind it.  So here are some of the titles I’ve thought of that might be suitable (& sexy enough :winkwink ) for this story:

The Wrong Mrs. Right
The Wrong Mr. Right
Her Wrong Mr. Right
The Wrong Kincaid Bride/Woman
Right Groom…Wrong Bride
His Favorite Bride
The Billionaire’s Chosen Bride
Jilted Groom, Substitute Bride
Accidentally in Love
From Business to Matrimony
For Business…or Pleasure?
Marrying for Business…or Pleasure?
A Question of Marriage
The Millionaire’s Forbidden Affair
Do You Take This Woman?
The Billionaire’s Bartered Bride
The Billionaire’s Bridal Swap
Seducing the CEO
Left at the Altar

Okay, so some of them I really like & some of them… :crazy not so much.

But can you think of any others that might work?  I’m taking suggestions.  Just please keep in mind that they need to be Desire-worthy titles.  Maybe even think of the kind you see on books from the Harlequin Presents line.  Titles that convey a strong Alpha hero, dramatic & glamorous storyline, etc.

And if one of your titles ideas—over one of mine or the Desire editors’–ends up on the book, I’ll treat you to a free autographed copy when it finally comes out in April 2012.

That’s a long way off, I know, & you’re pretty much going to have to trust me to come back & follow up, because it will probably be months yet before titles for this continuity series are actually finalzed.  So do you…trust me? :dracuulla

Happy Valentine’s Day, everyone!

To celebrate the (supposedly :tpspspspt ) most romantic holiday of the year, I’ve put together a little Dungeon-worthy giveaway.  So welcome to the…(drum roll, please)…

“Man + Candy = Man Candy” Giveaway

PRIZE INCLUDES:

black “Man Candy” t-shirt

Grow Your Own Boyfriend doll

can of SIN vitality drink (Embrace the Night…Drink in SIN)

red foil-wrapped dark chocolate Hershey’s Kisses

all together inside an adorable heart-covered plastic tote

RULES:

Contest is open to U.S. residents only, please.

To enter, you need to be signed up for my Newsletter Mailing List*.

*If you’re already subscribed, there’s no need to sign up again.

*If you’re not subscribed yet, please do so now by using the sign-up form in the sidebar or on the Newsletter page.

*But either way, please also comment here to let me know you want to be included in the giveaway.  I’ll then compare comments to the Mailing List & draw a name from all eligible entries.

Winner will be announced on Sunday, February 20th during our regular Happy Sunday post.

Winner is responsible for contacting me with her mailing information—i.e. I will not be contacting you—so be sure to check back on Sunday or you might not even know you won! :whhhat   (If prize isn’t claimed within 7 days, another name will be drawn.)

Good luck & once again…

Happy Sunday!  And Happy Valentine’s Eve!

Since this is a holiday weekend (sort of), we’re going to do something a little different today.  We’re still going to make a gratitude list, but we’re going phrase everything with love. :blowkiss

For instance…

I LOVE that I’ve finally got my father’s family Bible back.  This thing is probably a hundred years old—or more!—& there’s a really long story connected to why it wasn’t in his possession when he died.  But after a wee bit of ugliness with another family member, followed by (thankfully) a meeting of the minds, I’ve got the Bible back.  And not only do I love once again having something that meant so much to my dad, but I know he would be delighted & relieved that his children have it, too.  (Thank you, Aunt Carolyn!)

I LOVE that my Top Secret project is done. Well, it’s completed, but I won’t claim it’s perfect.  It still needs a little polishing, & I also need to discuss it with Editor B to make sure he thinks it’s as great an idea as I do.  Otherwise, I may have wasted my time working on it at all. :crazy

I LOVE that I finished the AAs (Author Alterations/line edits) for HER LITTLE SECRET, HIS HIDDEN HEIR.  They were actually fun, & quite clean to begin with, so they didn’t take me very long at all.  They are also turned in, currently sitting on Editor C’s desk, which means the ball is in his court now instead of mine. (Gotta love that! :tpspspspt )

I LOVE that the bible for my new “Dynasties:  The Kincaids” continuity project for Harlequin Desire arrived right on time.  It is so much fun to get something like that & be able to sit down, see what the series is going to be about, see who my characters are going to be, start mulling over everything I could do with their story, etc.  Yay!

Last but not least, I LOVE that after not being in touch with a friend for nearly a year, we got on the phone & had a lovely, long conversation.

So that’s my list of Valentine’s love & gratitude this week.  How about you? :cupid

And while we’re at it…what are your plans for Valentine’s Day, if anything? :kisses

Now to announce the winners of this week’s giveaways…

First, an autographed book from guest author Jill Shalvis‘s backlist—winner’s choice:

:congrats   Leni!!! :congrats

Congratulations, Leni!  Please contact me with your full name & mailing address, as well as your choice of title from Jill’s backlist.  I’ll forward your information to Jill, & she’ll get your book out to you as soon as she can.

Next up, our Free Book Friday giveaway…

:congrats Jennifer Mathis!!! :congrats

Congratulations, Jennifer!  Please contact me with your full name & mailing address, & I’ll get your copy of BOUGHT BY A  MILLIONAIRE out to you as soon as I can.