It's 2016 already?

Happy New Year to you all from possibly the world's worst blogger! You have my best wishes for health and happiness and I hope there will be much achieving of goals/sticking to resolutions/reaching for dreams over the twelve months to come. Go get 'em.

As my last post was back in March (hanging my head in shame here) I'm aware that it's past time to dust the cobwebs off the blog and offer a quick update on where I'm at.

Having been fortunate enough to have worked with the mighty HarperCollins over the past couple of years on my debut Frost novels, I'm now free of contract and excited to forge ahead into the next stage of my career. Currently, I'm being kept busy with offers to consider and decisions to make, and I hope to have news to share in the not too distant future.

Writing wise, I'm putting the final polish on the first book of a planned series of contemporary, humorous love stories featuring some of the secondary characters from the Frost books. Damien Harcourt's story kicks off the Rock With You series with the millionaire playboy discovering something his money can't buy ... and between you and me, witnessing the uber smooth and assured Damien become more ruffled and uncertain with each passing chapter has been immense fun (yes, romance writers are totally evil!). Next up is bad boy rockstar Balthazar Hunt's tale and I cannot wait to start wrestling that handful-and-a-half of man onto the page and into the path of pint-sized force of nature, Nell Foxton. The third book in the series will feature Damien's sister, Anarchy Harcourt, and a very special hero in Jake Carver - a man of two worlds. 

Also, if you like the sound of short, sweet, holiday flings -- summer in Italy, Christmas in Scotland, that sort of thing -- keep an eye out for a number of stand alone seasonal novellas that I'll be releasing in ebook.

So, lots to come from me this year. I'd better get back down the word mines.

Kat x

St Patrick's Day Giveaway

In celebration of St Patrick's Day, and in honour of Aidan Flynn, the Irish hero of both my recent steamy novels, Melting Ms Frost and Playing With Fire, I'm delighted to offer you all a chance to win one of two lovely Irish themed prize packages.

Entering couldn't be easier ... or more of a treat in itself! Those of you already acquainted with Aidan Flynn will know that one of his most irresistible attributes is his soft, lilting accent -- which makes him as easy on the ear as he is on the eye. For your listening pleasure, I've employed the help of a selection of Ireland's finest gents to try and charm you with their array of lyrical tones. To be in with a chance of winning a prize, all you have to do is listen to the short video monologues below and then let us know your favourite in the comments.

The competition is open internationally and will run from today through to midnight Friday (17-20 March), so sit back, get listening, get swooning, and get voting!

Ádh mór ort!  Good Luck! 

Which one of these Irish charmers would you most like to have whispering sweet nothings into your ear?

Cillian Murphy

Liam Neeson

Jamie Dornan

Colin Farrell

Aidan Turner

Michael Fassbender

Gabriel Byrne

Amazon UK http://www.amazon.co.uk/Playing-With-Fire-Kat-Black-ebook

/dp/B00Q28GZ0I/ref=pd_rhf_gw_p_img_2

Amazon US http://www.amazon.com/Playing-With-Fire-Kat-Black-ebook/dp/B00Q28GZ0I/ref=pd_rhf_gw_p_img_1

Also available from iTunes, Kobo, Google Books and all good ebook retailers

Publication Day!!

That's right - today's the day that more of my romantic ramblings get unleashed upon the world. This time in the form of Playing With Fire.

If you read my debut novel, Melting Ms Frost, and found yourself wondering what more was in store for Annabel Frost and Aidan Flynn - the answer is 'plenty!', as you'll find out in this continuation of their tempestuous love story.

There's still an almighty battle of wills being fought by these two characters, as well as plenty of drama, romance, glamour and humour. And the physical attraction between hot-blooded Aidan and his ice-queen Annabel is as white hot as ever.

I loved spending more time with this complex couple as they stumble down the rock path to love, and hope you'll enjoy the joining them on the journey, too. Do drop me a line and let me know what you think!

Available to download now from:

Amazon UK

Amazon USA

iTunes, Kobo and all good online bookstores

DEAL ALERT: If you missed out on Melting Ms Frost, you can currently get both books for less than £3 on Kindle in the UK!

Playing With Fire

At last! Here are the details of the sequel to Melting Ms Frost - out in ebook on 26th Feburary.

The steamy story of Annabel Frost and Aidan Flynn continues … Can you handle the heat?

Before Aidan Flynn had swept into her life with the destructive force of a wildfire, Annabel Frost had thought she'd had all she needed from her life. A successful career, financial independence, emotional restraint. Things that were safe, secure, steady. Everything her childhood hadn't been.

Aidan represented none of that. Reckless and risky he'd been the red hot flame that melted the icy layers of her long-frozen heart. Having run from him once, Annabel should have learned to leave trouble well enough alone.

But now Aidan is back, turning up the heat. And regardless of the danger of getting herself badly burned, Annabel can't seem to resist the temptation to play with this particular fire. 

It's up for pre-order now from:

Amazon UK
Amazon US

Also available from iTunes, Kobo, Google Books and all good ebook retailers

Get loved up!

Have you heard of the fab Romance Festival taking place online this weekend? Organised by HarperCollins, it promises to be a two day international Love In, with author interviews, industry chats, giveaways and more.

You can meet all the authors at Romancefestival.wordpress.com and join in the all the fun on Twitter @RomanceFestival #Romance14 and the Romance Festival page on facebook.

Come and feel the love!

On reviews, revisions and free reads

Okay, firstly - the freebies. Did you know that HarperCollins had agreed to put an exclusive excerpt of Melting Ms Frost up on wattpad? It's been getting a great reception and has had nearly a quarter of a million reads so far! 

You can read the first eight chapters for free here!

I have to say that I've been absolutely bowled over by the reader response to Melting Ms Frost - and not only on wattpad. I cannot adequately express the feeling I get when coming across such fab reviews as these:

5* Goodreads review from Christine

 “Just fantastic!!! I saw people raving about this on twitter a while back and am so glad I took the plunge!!! Aidan, our cute Irish hero falls for scary Ms Frost, his boss. A lovely romantic read, that hits all the right spots and totally stands out from the crowd.”

5* Amazon review from Ms Sharon Elliott

 “I loved this! Hot, sexy, smart, even funny at times, Melting Ms Frost was so much fun to read. Ice-maiden Annabel Frost meets Aidan Flynn when he starts working at the restaurant she manages. There is an instant attraction between them which she tries to fight leading to plenty of sexual tension! The whole book is a game of sexy cat and mouse, the chemistry between Annabel and Aidan really well-written and Kat Black teases the reader along brilliantly. Highly recommended!!”

5* review from She Loves to Read book blog

 “I don't know how to start this review! All I know is that this book is one of the best I have read this year in the 'erotic romance' genre. Bloody hell. If you want a book that knocks 50 Shades well and truly out of the park then this is it…”

5* Amazon review from Fabulous Book Fiend

 “wow! I was hooked into this book right from the word go because it dumps you right in the action, right into the sexual tension that exists between Annabel (Ms Frost) and Aiden, the barman at the restaurant she manages. The build up of this sexual tension continues all the way through the novel and is the key element holding this together, but don't be fooled into thinking that this book is void of any other storyline, oh no. This is an action packed novel full of drama, intrigue, and yes, some very very steamy sex scenes. I would go as far as to say. Some of the best sex scenes I've read this year!”

I've also been getting a LOT of queries about the possibility of a sequel, and I'm excited to confirm that Annabel and Aidan will return sometime soon. I'm currently working to complete revisions on the provisionally titled "Playing With Fire" and will let you have more news on this when I can.

For now, it's back to work.

Free coffee, cake and books!

Melting Ms Frost hit the shelves nationwide yesterday - and, wow, what a day it was! I'm truly grateful for all the support and good wishes I received.

Inspired by messages and photos of sighting of the paperback out in the wilds, I thought it would be fun to run a little game of 'I Spy'. If you'd like to play, all you have to do is take a snap of Melting Ms Frost should you happen to spot her whilst out and about on your travels - she could be sitting on a supermarket shelf, being read on the daily commute, at the station or airport, even lying on your bedside table. Send the photo and location to me on twitter or facebook and I'll enter your name into the draw to win an ideal booklover's prize of a £20 Amazon voucher and a £10 Costa card so you can treat yourself to free books, coffee and cake!

Entries close at midnight on the 7th February 2014. Prizes valid for GB only. One winner will be chosen at random. Good luck!

UPDATE: This giveaway is now closed. Thanks to all who entered. Rachel Lyndhurst won the draw and is now the happy recipient of the prize.

What a start to 2014!

I can't believe that we were only three days into this new year when I found myself living a lifelong dream. Through the kindness of my publisher, HarperCollins, and the printing firm, Clays, I actually got to see my debut novel brought to life!

Clays' Suffolk set-up is impressively vast and the people there were amazingly generous, sharing their time and knowledge, and walking me through the many parts of the process.

The patient and lovely Peter and Vicky

And while hearing about each step was fascinating, I found myself being constantly distracted by the quite unbelievable sight of 20,000 copies of MY book flying around on conveyor belts everywhere I looked. 

Yes, I did say 20,000 copies!

Days later, my feet still haven't touched the ground. Everyone worked hard to make the experience a truly memorable one (and were all kind enough not to poke fun at my stunned gibberish and uncontrolled weeping.) 

My glassy-eyed 'Lost It' look

My heartfelt thanks go to all involved. I can't believe how fortunate I was to be able to experience this. It's a day I'll never, ever, forget.

Merry Christmas!

Hope you all have a fabulous festive season

and a happy, healthy new year!

Festive freebies

Only three weeks until Christmas and in the spirit of giving, here's a list of giveaways in which Melting Ms Frost is currently involved:

A free e-book copy of Melting Ms Frost up for grabs at Shaz's Book Blog

Win a free e-book copy of Melting Ms Frost in the Mistletoe Madness Event

Win a $50 gift voucher to the e-book retailer of your choice over at Scorching Christmas Fantasies

Subscribe to the Smexy Books and Fiction Vixen Twelve Days of Christmas newsletter to win e-book copies of Melting Ms Frost at How Many Licks