Click the link to read about the fabulous new eight-book mini series from Harlequin Romance and Silhouette Romance, charting the loves and lives of the Valentine family and the luxurious restaurant group founded by William Valentine.

My own contribution THE VALENTINE BRIDE, brings the series to an emotional conclusion next February, but you won't want to miss a single book.

On the Bella Brides site you'll find notes from the authors, pictures and excerpts and covers, so come back for more as the series unfolds.

BELLA LUCIA AUTHORS

Ally Blake

Raye Morgan

Teresa Southwick

Patricia Thayer

Rebecca Winters

REVIEWS

"...Max and Louise not only came to some pertinent realizations about themselves, but their eyes were opened to the other, causing them to gradually see each other in a different light, more clearly, with greater understanding.

RESEARCH

Liz recently travelled to Italy all in the name of research for a book set at the Bella Maria restaurant as mentioned in her online read,

THE CINDERELLA VALENTINE.

Family loyalty wins, but she extorts a high price from Max for her co-operation and sparks fly from the start. Will the past stand in the way of this special Valentine wedding?

‘Aren’t you missing something, Max?’

‘A PR consultant?’ he offered.

She shook her head. ‘I was referring to your usual accessory blonde. I imagine they have names, but it’s so hard to keep up.’

She gained a certain amount of pleasure in seeing him clamp down hard, forced for once to hold his tongue, keep his temper in check. Taking unfair advantage of his predicament, she looked up and down the nearly empty street as if his latest airhead might have wandered off to do some window shopping.

‘Maybe it’s a little cold for such delicate creatures to be out,’ she added, even as she mentally slapped her wrist for goading him when he couldn’t retaliate. But she owed him for that toy boy/sugar daddy remark. ‘No, I’ve just remembered. At the Christmas party you were flirting with Maddy, but she left with Jack, didn’t she? The brother who inherited your father’s good manners.’

‘According to Jack,’ he said, ‘the only blonde I need at the moment is you.’

‘Really?’ She tutted. ‘Then you’re really going to have to try harder, aren’t you?’

And, having done with Max, she raised her hand to summon a cruising taxi. He beat her to the door, opened it, climbed in after her.

‘Excuse me but this is my taxi. You have a car,’ she reminded him.

‘We have to talk.’

‘You have to talk. I don’t have to listen.’

He didn’t wait for an answer but gave the driver her address.

‘Hijacking my taxi isn’t going to get you what you want,’ she said.

‘What will?’ he asked, sitting back in the far corner of the cab, as far from her as he could get.

That didn’t please her either.

‘Nothing. I have a thriving business, more clients than I can handle. Why would I be interested in leaving that to work for Bella Lucia? More to the point, why would I spare one minute of my time to listen to you?’

‘You’re family, Lou. That should be enough.’

‘Family? Haven’t you been paying attention, Max? That was all just a pretty fiction invented by the Valentines. Your parents, the people who pretended to my parents. If you’re looking for a family connection you’ve come to the wrong person.’

‘Don’t be ridiculous. Of course you’re family --’

She arched a brow. ‘If you’ve come to demand my loyalty, you’re going to have to try a little harder.’

‘Not demand --’

She cut him off before he could perjure himself.

‘As I recall, being “family”…’ – she made those irritating little quote marks with her fingers; irritating Max when she had the upper hand was so satisfying – ‘… wasn’t enough the last time I was on the payroll. It certainly didn’t save me from the humiliation of being sacked in front of an entire restaurant full of diners. I’m sorry, Max, but I don’t see the attraction of working for you. I may be blonde, but I’m not dumb.’

‘That was a long time ago, Lou.’

‘Yes, it was, but what’s changed, hmm? You’re still treating me like some stupid girl who doesn’t know her left from her right. Insulting me in front of an important client. Ignoring my wishes. Well, I’ve got news for you, I’m not a girl, I’m a fully grown woman and I’ve built up a successful business from nothing, just the way William Valentine did. You should try it sometime, then you might have a little more respect.’

She swallowed. Wished she hadn’t said that. Bella Lucia was Max’s life. He worked harder than anyone to make it a success. If it had gone down in the recent financial crisis, no one would have been hit harder, or deserved it less.

It was always the same. The minute she was with him, she lost her head, stopped behaving like a rational woman.

She leaned forward, rapped sharply on the drivers window. ‘Pull over, please.’

The cabbie pulled into the kerb, but Max didn’t move. ‘This won’t go away, Lou.’

Probably not, but she was tired, she had another long day ahead of her tomorrow and while a row with Max was always exhilarating, she discovered that she wasn’t enjoying this one.

‘You want me to get down on my knees and beg, is that it?’ he pressed.

That was almost too tempting, but Max, on his knees, would not be a supplicant. He would simply be demonstrating – at least in his own eyes -- that he was bigger than she was. That he could forgive and forget. That in clinging to her grudge, she hadn’t been able to move on. Kneeling at her feet, his eyes would still be telling her that he was the winner.

 ‘All I want,’ she said, carefully, slowly, ‘is for you to listen to what I’m saying. I’m saying goodnight, Max.’

For a moment she thought he was going to protest, force the issue, but then, without another word he opened the door and stepped out of the cab, handing the driver a note to cover her fare home – still trying to keep control -- and shrugging his collar up against the rain, he began to walk back to his car.

From "THE VALENTINE BRIDE" by Liz Fielding
Harlequin Romance February  2007
ISBN: 978-0373039326   Copyright: © 2006 Liz Fielding
® and ™ are trademarks of the publisher. The edition published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A. For more romance information surf to: http://www.eHarlequin.com