Spotlight & Giveaway: Rumours Behind the Greek’s Wedding by Pippa Roscoe

Today it is my pleasure to Welcome author Pippa Roscoe to HJ!

Hi Pippa and welcome to HJ! We’re so excited to chat with you about your new release, Rumours Behind the Greek’s Wedding!

 
Hi! Thank you for having me, it’s always a delight to be here! I hope everyone is well.
 

To start off, can you please tell us a little bit about this book?:

Greek billionaire Loukis Liordis needs some good publicity fast, but no matter how hard he tries, he can’t escape his bad boy reputation. He has one last chance and Célia D’Argent is it. But when they are caught in what seem to be compromising pictures under headlines that are as painfully attention grabbing as they are inaccurate, there’s only one option left. Célia must become his fiancé.
 

Please share your favorite lines or quote(s) from this book:

I really love the opening to this book. If it were me, I’d absolutely die at being caught using the kind of outrageous tone and demand Loukis makes, but not him! And it was wonderful to be able to have Célia come back instantly with her response.

‘Bonsoir, Chariton Endeavours.’
‘I will speak with Célia d’Argent.’
‘May I ask who’s calling?’
‘You can warn her that it’s Loukis Liordis.’
‘Consider her warned. What can I do for you this time, Mr Liordis?’
Only a brief pause hinted at any semblance of recognition from her client. And Célia d’Argent meant recognition. For Liordis would never lower himself to feel as human an emotion as contrition.

The undercurrent to this exchange makes my skin tingle, but I also love the chivalry here – that Loukis feels Célia is his responsibility and therefore must himself ensure that she is seen safely home.

He didn’t look happy. He looked more determined and more than a little…triumphant? It was an odd expression. It was…utterly devastating. Her heart began to pound in her chest and she wanted to run. To get away from him as fast as possible.
‘Where are you going?’ he demanded.
‘Back to my hotel. I have an early morning flight back to Paris.’
‘I’ll take you.’
‘I can find my own—’
‘I’ll take you, Célia.’

What inspired this book?

• Loukis’s arrogance in Taming the Big Bad Billionaire.
• Célia’s determination to hide from the spotlight in Taming the Big Bad Billionaire.
• Wine tasting in Australia with Annie West in 2019 before the RWAus.
• Holiday’s in Greece with my best-friend before her wedding.

How did you ‘get to know’ your main characters? Did they ever surprise you?

I spend quite a lot of time writing in my notebook, asking and answering questions about my characters before I start to even plan the story. They range from the big questions like ‘where do they live?’, ‘what do they do’, to much smaller ones like ‘why does Célia like Australian wine over French?’ So, I tend to know a lot about who they are and what they do before I start writing. But I find they surprise me when they interact with secondary characters because they aren’t trying so hard to disguise how they feel so I always enjoy seeing what happens there.

What was your favorite scene to write?

‘This is so that we can get to know each other a little more.’
‘Is that necessary?’ she asked, still unable to meet his gaze.
He reached across the table and placed his hand on her neck to cup her jaw. As expected she almost jumped right off the chair. But he kept his hand in place, feeling the flickering of her pulse, smoothing it slightly with a swipe of his thumb that caused a sensation within him that he had to fight to temper.
‘It is if you’re going to stop jumping every time I touch you. We’re supposed to be…we are engaged. And we’re going to have to start acting like it. So,’ he said, finally removing his hand, ‘I have a game of sorts for us to play.’ He waited for her to take this in. ‘You will ask a question, and for each one I answer, I will touch you.’
The look of fear that crossed her face bit him hard. ‘Not like that, not…’ He shook his head, trying to find the words. Where was his usual charm? Where was the man reported to have seduced women in their hundreds? ‘We’re in public, Célia, it’s not as if I’m going to ravish you. Consider it the opposite of aversion therapy. For every question of mine that you answer, you will touch me.’

I loved writing this scene. It was fun to play with the emotional levels as the questions started out easily enough and became more revealing as the game continued – not to mention the tension! And then the way the scene ends… (which I don’t want to give away!) It comes as such a shock to poor Célia!

What was the most difficult scene to write?

Without giving too much away, it was the point at which they both feel that there’s nothing that can be done other than to walk away from each other. Not because they don’t love each other, but because they do. Clearly, we know that they will find their way back to each other (!) but to have Loukis struggle so hard to protect his sister and to have the woman that he loves put that at risk… it was ALL the emotions.

Would you say this book showcases your writing style or is it a departure for you?

I would say that this book is full of the things I love writing. A Greek hero so determined to put his family first that it will cost him personally and a heroine who has been misunderstood and mistreated. Not to mention a fake relationship turned to true love… But I brought a little more humour to this story I think than there has been in my last few books and I’d love to think that it showcased my writing style!

What do you want people to take away from reading this book?

A huge amount of gooey warmth, a tear or two, plenty of smiles, maybe even a bit of laughter and a huge amount of satisfaction! ALL the feels!

What are you currently working on? What other releases do you have planned?

My next release is my favourite book so far (if I’m allowed to say that?!). And not that it detracts from Célia and Loukis’s story either!! But Playing the Billionaire’s Game felt a bit different to me and I genuinely loved every minute of working on it. You got a quick glimpse of Sia Keating in Rumours behind the Greek’s Wedding, but she has so much more to give in in Playing the Billionaire’s Game out in October. Don’t miss it!

Thanks for blogging at HJ!

Giveaway: I have a copy of my book to give away to three international readers.

To enter Giveaway: Please complete the Rafflecopter form and Post a comment to this Q: If you were to play Loukis’ game in the restaurant and you got to ask him a question, what would it be?

 
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Excerpt from Rumours Behind the Greek’s Wedding:

‘What does it actually entail? I mean, how do you see this playing out?’ Célia asked, her quick mind leap frogging ahead of his own. He’d been so focused on actually getting her to agree, that he didn’t have all his plans in place. But Loukis was used to thinking on his feet. He wasn’t in charge of one of the world’s top ten leading companies for nothing.
‘A very public engagement for at least the next four months. After that, I’m sure we can manage a press announcement that outlines how we have decided to amicably separate.’
‘Yes, but what does it actually mean? I have a business in Paris, a life there. I have up coming events.’
Loukis bit back the scoff or derision. She had only one event, he very much knew that to be the case, but if it gave her the semblance of security to exaggerate her schedule, he would allow her that.
‘You would need to relocate to Greece for the duration. We would need to be seen in public as much as possible. There would be an engagement party at least, but I would also be willing to accompany you to the… events you have in your diary.’
‘How very generous of you,’ she said with as much disdain as womanly possible. ‘Just like that, you expect me to move to Greece?’
‘We will, of course, have been keeping our relationship a secret for the past few months. Not only to protect our privacy, but also your business interests. You were deeply concerned about the affect that this would have on the many fabulous charities you already work with.’
‘Was I now?’
‘Are you not?’
‘Yes, of course—’
‘Then we are simply backdating a few things.’
Her pretty amber eyes flashed ominously.
‘It is for your benefit as much as mine, I assure you.’ His statement did nothing to dampen the narrowing of her gaze, or the warning it contained. He sighed, resisting the urge to place his head in his hands. ‘I will obviously support financially any expenditure generated by this.’
‘Oh, that’s okay then. Because of course my first concern was being out of pocket. Not the fact that you want me to lie to the press, a court of law and your little sister.’
‘She is the reason I’m doing this. The only reason. Her happiness and security is my primary concern. I will find you six new clients. I will ensure that your time in this will not be detrimental to you or your business. I will do everything in my power to make this as seamless and painless as possible. Do you agree?’
‘Do I have a choice?’
‘Of course you do. If you make the right one, you’ll be fine.’
The unspoken threat hung in the air between them. Loukis could honestly say that this was an all new low, even for him, but he’d not been left with much of the same choice that Célia seemed to desperately want for herself. He held his breath until he saw her head bow and caught her gently muttered agreement.
‘Great. I’ll have the paperwork drawn up first thing tomorrow morning.’
No ring, no words of love, no undying declaration. Paperwork. A signature. What on earth had she got herself into?

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
 
 

Book Info:

Rumours Behind the Greek’s Wedding

The engagement was a lie.

But their connection was all too true.

She’d been hired to repair Loukis Liordis’s public reputation, not become involved in his private affairs. Yet spiralling rumours have Loukis demanding Célia play the role of his fiancée. To deny the Greek would be the end of her career, but to agree…?

For years, Loukis focused on one goal. Now he has the gorgeous Célia to consider. She is tempting beyond reason, and perhaps just the woman he needs. They may have already indulged in their wedding night…but will they make it to the altar?

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Meet the Author:

Pippa Roscoe lives in Norfolk near her family and makes daily promises that this is the day she will leave the computer and take a long walk in the countryside. She can’t remember a time when she wasn’t dreaming of gorgeous alpha males and misunderstood heroines. Totally her mother’s fault of course – she gave Pippa her first romance at the age of seven! She is inconceivably happy that she gets to share those day dreams with you! @PippaRoscoe www.pipparoscoe.com
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