Lily reached behind her and held up a Ziploc bag. “I put these aside specially for you.” “Score!” Fist-pumping, Noah jumped off the stool and plucked the bag from her fingers. He then grabbed her waist and started twirling her around the kitchen. “You totally rock!” “Put me down, you idiot, before you injure yourself or me,” Lily laughed breathlessly. “Is this a private party, or can anyone join?” Dante’s tone was mild, but the brittle edge cut through the light-hearted atmosphere like a warm knife through cold butter. He stood in the doorway, his expression unreadable. Lily disentangled herself from Noah and stepped back to the counter, although she had no reason to feel guilty. Dante had no claim on her. Besides, there wasn’t the slightest spark between her and Noah. The man who made her pulse race wasn’t the one whose arms she’d just been in, but the one watching her with a muscle twitching in his jaw. She picked up the squeeze bottle and began icing again. Her hand shook a little, making the white lines of the ‘M’ a little wobbly. Unwilling to show how rattled she was, Lily gritted her teeth and continued with the…

I’m so excited! We’re less than a month away from the launch of the second book in my New Jersey Ice Cats series. Yes, the wait is nearly over. On July 1st, you’ll be able to read A PERFECT TRADE – which, for those of you following the series, is Tru and Jenny’s story. In A PERFECT DISTRACTION, readers met Tru Jelinek and Jenny Martin. Tru is a defenceman for the Ice Cats, who — along with his three brothers — grew up with Jake ‘Bad Boy’ Badoletti. Jenny went to school with the boys and played hockey with them, until she gave it up to become Queen of the Puck Bunnies. Jenny and Tru clearly have a past together; one that has created a bitter rift between them. In A PERFECT TRADE, you’ll finally find out what happened. Here is the blurb: A win-win negotiation?  Truman “Tru” Jelinek’s life is pretty much off the rails. With his professional hockey career on thin ice, and his personal life falling apart, he’s ready to implement some serious changes. Helping Jenny Martin—the only girl he’s ever loved—make her dreams a reality is a good place to start.  There’s just one problem: Jenny…

My name is Anna Sugden and I need lots and lots of sleep! Eight hours is the absolute minimum; ten is better. I wish sometimes that I only needed four hours. Think of all the things you could get done with those extra four, even six hours in your day! I could write books in half the time. Read more books. Finish more craft projects. The list is endless. What’s more, I wouldn’t feel guilty for frittering away time on computer games or losing myself down a research rabbit hole or shopping for shoes! But, I don’t have that extra time. Instead, I find myself trying to sneak those additional minutes of snoozing! It would be great too if I was good at naps, but I’m not. I love hearing about those people who can ‘power nap’ for ten or twenty minutes and be refreshed. Me … I’d wake up groggy and (yes, you’ve guessed it) find away to get ten, twenty or even thirty more. I also wish I was one of those people who wake up bright and breezy and raring to go (like Doc Cambridge). I’m a slow starter in the morning and like to ease myself…

Recently, we were at the house of a friend of a friend. Beautiful building, gorgeous gardens, even a stream running through the bottom of the garden. Inside, they had lovely furniture and interesting stuff in their bookcases, on their shelves and hanging on their walls. But their décor was all white. And I do mean all white. Walls, carpets, sofas, lamps, curtains. Every main room and bedroom was white. White on white. Strangely, their bathrooms were all black and white. Now, it was effective and stunning. I’m sure it photographs beautifully. But, to us, it was cold. We won’t mention that we thought it wasn’t really the place for pets or kids or clumsy adults (yes, I was nervous that I’d spill something or make a mark somewhere!) So, for all that we liked their house, we didn’t feel at home in it because of the lack of colour. We love colour! All the rooms we’ve decorated so far have coloured walls. I will admit that they’re plain colour – no wallpaper – because we have a lot of art and memorabilia hanging on our walls and it would be too busy otherwise. And we haven’t gone nuts – like…

I admit it … I’m not a tidy person. It’s not in my nature. I don’t have a tidy mind. I certainly don’t have a tidy office. I find an empty desk and a neat office scary! Honestly, my brain freezes if there is too much tidiness! I like stuff and I like it around me. I like things on the wall, things on the shelves, my working tools on my desk and a cat or two lazing in the sun to top things off (although preferably not on my work!). I like photos and books and trinkets and my collections of penguins, Moomins, hockey memorabilia and autographs. I like cards I’ve been sent, my book covers and writing awards, gifts my family or friends have made me or that the kids I used to teach gave me. Everything in my office makes me smile and I’m sure it gives me some kind of positive energy for my work. People think that because I’m not tidy, I’m also disorganised. I like to say that I’m untidily organised. There is a method to the clutter and I know where things are. A place for everything and everything in its place –…