Lee Radcliffe got the scoops that no one else did, the interviews nobody could score. Like bestselling horror writer—and notorious recluse—Hunter Brown. But she never expected that when she met the rugged, intense author, she'd be the one getting all the hard questions…and revealing more of herself than she'd ever dared. Or that he would show her a different way to live, and ultimately, to love.
Lessons Learned
Carlo Franconi embodied everything that Juliet Trent avoided in a client—he was arrogant, seductive, passionate and entirely too charming. But Juliet prided herself on being the consummate professional. Surely she could resist the famous chef, even if they were going to be spending every waking minute together. Even if Carlo was looking at her like a fine dish he just couldn't wait to taste…
About the Author
Nora Roberts is a bestselling author of more than 209 romance novels. She was the first author to be inducted into the Romance Writers of America Hall of Fame. As of 2011, her novels had spent a combined 861 weeks on the New York Times Bestseller List, including 176 weeks in the number-one spot. Over 280 million copies of her books are in print, including 12 million copies sold in 2005 alone.
The week a magazine like Celebrity went to bed was utter chaos. Every department head was in a frenzy. Desks were littered, phones were tied up and lunches were skipped. The air was tinged with a sense of panic that built with every hour. Tempers grew short, demands outrageous. In most offices the lights burned late into the night. The rich scent of coffee and the sting of tobacco smoke were never absent. Rolls of antacids were consumed and bottles of eye drops constantly changed hands. After five years on staff, Lee took the monthly panic as a matter of course.
Celebrity was a slick, respected publication whose sales generated millions of dollars a year. In addition to stories on the rich and famous, it ran articles by eminent psychologists and journalists, interviews with both statesmen and rock stars. Its photography was first-class, just as its text was thoroughly researched and concisely written. Some of its detractors might have termed it quality gossip, but the word quality wasn't forgotten.
An ad in Celebrity was a sure bet for generating sales and interest and was priced accordingly. Celebrity was, in a tough, competitive business, one of the leading monthly publications in the country. Lee Radcliffe wouldn't have settled for less.
"How'd the piece on the sculptures turn out?"
Lee glanced up at Bryan Mitchell, one of the top photographers on the West Coast. Grateful, she accepted the cup of coffee Bryan passed her. In the past four days, she'd had a total of twenty hours' sleep. "Good," she said simply.
"I've seen better art scrawled in alleys."
Though she privately agreed, Lee only shrugged. "Some people like the clunky and obscure."
With a laugh, Bryan shook her head. "When they told me to photograph that red and black tangle of wire to its best advantage, I nearly asked them to shut off the lights."
"You made it look almost mystical."
"I can make a junkyard look mystical with the right lighting." She shot Lee a grin. "The same way you can make it sound fascinating."
A smile touched Lee's mouth but her mind was veering off in a dozen other directions. "All in a day's work, right?"
"Speaking of which—" Bryan rested one slim jean-clad hip on Lee's organized desk, drinking her own coffee black. "Still trying to dig something up on Hunter Brown?"
A frown drew Lee's elegant brows together. Hunter Brown was becoming her personal quest and almost an obsession. Perhaps because he was so completely inaccessible, she'd become determined to be the first to break through the cloud of mystery. It had taken her nearly five years to earn her title as staff reporter, and she had a reputation for being tenacious, thorough and cool. Lee knew she'd earned those adjectives. Three months of hitting blank walls in researching Hunter Brown didn't deter her. One way or the other, she was going to get the story.
For Celebrity magazine reporter Lee Radcliffe, tracking down the world-famous, notoriously private, horror-story writer Hunter Brown had become a personal quest.
Her carefully planned ambush finally paid off at a small writer's conference in Flagstaff, Arizona. But when the master of the supernatural turned out to be a dark0eyed master of seduction, Lee knew that it would take more than just good interviewing skills to get her an exclusive. Digging into private lives was her business, but now Hunter Brown had turned the tables. With one smoldering kiss he had exacted his price.
For Celebrity magazine reporter Lee Radcliffe, tracking down the world-famous, notoriously private, horror-story writer Hunter Brown had become a personal quest.
Her carefully planned ambush finally paid off at a small writer's conference in Flagstaff. Arizona. But when the master of the supernatural turned out to be a dark-eyed master of seduction. Lee knew that it would take more than just good interviewing skills to bet her an exclusive. Digging into private lives was her business, but now Hunter Brown had turned the tables. With one smoldering kiss he had exacted his price.
New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author Nora Roberts presents two classic stories of love that arrives like a storm and changes everything…
Second Nature
Lee Radcliffe got the scoops that no one else did, the interviews nobody could score. Like bestselling horror writer—and notorious recluse—Hunter Brown. But she never expected that when she met the rugged, intense author, she'd be the one getting all the hard questions…and revealing more of herself than she'd ever dared. Or that he would show her a different way to live, and ultimately, to love.
Lessons Learned
Carlo Franconi embodied everything that Juliet Trent avoided in a client—he was arrogant, seductive, passionate and entirely too charming. But Juliet prided herself on being the consummate professional. Surely she could resist the famous chef, even if they were going to be spending every waking minute together. Even if Carlo was looking at her like a fine dish he just couldn't wait to taste…
Description:
Second Nature
Lee Radcliffe got the scoops that no one else did, the interviews nobody could score. Like bestselling horror writer—and notorious recluse—Hunter Brown. But she never expected that when she met the rugged, intense author, she'd be the one getting all the hard questions…and revealing more of herself than she'd ever dared. Or that he would show her a different way to live, and ultimately, to love.
Lessons Learned
Carlo Franconi embodied everything that Juliet Trent avoided in a client—he was arrogant, seductive, passionate and entirely too charming. But Juliet prided herself on being the consummate professional. Surely she could resist the famous chef, even if they were going to be spending every waking minute together. Even if Carlo was looking at her like a fine dish he just couldn't wait to taste…
About the Author
Nora Roberts is a bestselling author of more than 209 romance novels. She was the first author to be inducted into the Romance Writers of America Hall of Fame. As of 2011, her novels had spent a combined 861 weeks on the New York Times Bestseller List, including 176 weeks in the number-one spot. Over 280 million copies of her books are in print, including 12 million copies sold in 2005 alone.
Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
The week a magazine like Celebrity went to bed was utter chaos. Every department head was in a frenzy. Desks were littered, phones were tied up and lunches were skipped. The air was tinged with a sense of panic that built with every hour. Tempers grew short, demands outrageous. In most offices the lights burned late into the night. The rich scent of coffee and the sting of tobacco smoke were never absent. Rolls of antacids were consumed and bottles of eye drops constantly changed hands. After five years on staff, Lee took the monthly panic as a matter of course.
Celebrity was a slick, respected publication whose sales generated millions of dollars a year. In addition to stories on the rich and famous, it ran articles by eminent psychologists and journalists, interviews with both statesmen and rock stars. Its photography was first-class, just as its text was thoroughly researched and concisely written. Some of its detractors might have termed it quality gossip, but the word quality wasn't forgotten.
An ad in Celebrity was a sure bet for generating sales and interest and was priced accordingly. Celebrity was, in a tough, competitive business, one of the leading monthly publications in the country. Lee Radcliffe wouldn't have settled for less.
"How'd the piece on the sculptures turn out?"
Lee glanced up at Bryan Mitchell, one of the top photographers on the West Coast. Grateful, she accepted the cup of coffee Bryan passed her. In the past four days, she'd had a total of twenty hours' sleep. "Good," she said simply.
"I've seen better art scrawled in alleys."
Though she privately agreed, Lee only shrugged. "Some people like the clunky and obscure."
With a laugh, Bryan shook her head. "When they told me to photograph that red and black tangle of wire to its best advantage, I nearly asked them to shut off the lights."
"You made it look almost mystical."
"I can make a junkyard look mystical with the right lighting." She shot Lee a grin. "The same way you can make it sound fascinating."
A smile touched Lee's mouth but her mind was veering off in a dozen other directions. "All in a day's work, right?"
"Speaking of which—" Bryan rested one slim jean-clad hip on Lee's organized desk, drinking her own coffee black. "Still trying to dig something up on Hunter Brown?"
A frown drew Lee's elegant brows together. Hunter Brown was becoming her personal quest and almost an obsession. Perhaps because he was so completely inaccessible, she'd become determined to be the first to break through the cloud of mystery. It had taken her nearly five years to earn her title as staff reporter, and she had a reputation for being tenacious, thorough and cool. Lee knew she'd earned those adjectives. Three months of hitting blank walls in researching Hunter Brown didn't deter her. One way or the other, she was going to get the story.
For Celebrity magazine reporter Lee Radcliffe, tracking down the world-famous, notoriously private, horror-story writer Hunter Brown had become a personal quest.
Her carefully planned ambush finally paid off at a small writer's conference in Flagstaff, Arizona. But when the master of the supernatural turned out to be a dark0eyed master of seduction, Lee knew that it would take more than just good interviewing skills to get her an exclusive. Digging into private lives was her business, but now Hunter Brown had turned the tables. With one smoldering kiss he had exacted his price.
For Celebrity magazine reporter Lee Radcliffe, tracking down the world-famous, notoriously private, horror-story writer Hunter Brown had become a personal quest.
Her carefully planned ambush finally paid off at a small writer's conference in Flagstaff. Arizona. But when the master of the supernatural turned out to be a dark-eyed master of seduction. Lee knew that it would take more than just good interviewing skills to bet her an exclusive. Digging into private lives was her business, but now Hunter Brown had turned the tables. With one smoldering kiss he had exacted his price.
Second Nature
Lee Radcliffe got the scoops that no one else did, the interviews nobody could score. Like bestselling horror writer—and notorious recluse—Hunter Brown. But she never expected that when she met the rugged, intense author, she'd be the one getting all the hard questions…and revealing more of herself than she'd ever dared. Or that he would show her a different way to live, and ultimately, to love.
Lessons Learned
Carlo Franconi embodied everything that Juliet Trent avoided in a client—he was arrogant, seductive, passionate and entirely too charming. But Juliet prided herself on being the consummate professional. Surely she could resist the famous chef, even if they were going to be spending every waking minute together. Even if Carlo was looking at her like a fine dish he just couldn't wait to taste…
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