Spotlight & Giveaway: Waking Up Married to the Billionaire by Michelle Douglas

Today it is my pleasure to Welcome author Michelle Douglas to HJ!

Hi Michelle and welcome to HJ! We’re so excited to chat with you about your new release, Waking Up Married to the Billionaire!

 
Hi HJ, thanks so much for having me!
 

Please summarize the book for the readers here:

When Ruby and Luis wake up married in Vegas, they decide to help each other out for the holidays. Luis will help Ruby get the promotion she’s worked so hard for, while she’ll help him find out why his mother suddenly so desperately wants to see him married. Luis is hoping that if he brings home the wife from hell, it will give his much-loved mother such a shock he’ll break through her barriers to discover the real reasons behind her inexplicable obsession. But things don’t go exactly to plan. And the longer Ruby and Luis maintain the charade, the more they never want this magical month to end.
 

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

There are a lot of lines I love in this story. One of my favorite moments is when they wake up married and realise what they’ve done:

They saw the ring at the exact same moment—a huge fake-diamond dime-store ring. Her mouth formed a perfect O. So did his. Ooh, she’d forgotten about that. ‘We had a lot to drink.’
His eyes danced. ‘And you were determined to prove your leadership skills.’
She clapped a hand to her mouth. ‘I ordered you to marry me.’
‘And respecting your leadership skills as any sensible person should, I did.’
They stared at each other for a moment before dissolving into hiccupping fits of laughter.

Please share a few Fun facts about this book…

• It took us a long time to settle on a title for this one. I suggested a few—From Vegas Wedding to White Christmas, White Christmas with her Temporary Husband, Married for Christmas—but wasn’t happy with any of them. The editorial team suggested Waking Up Married in Vegas, but we worried it might be misleading as the story quickly moves to the Swiss Alps. Waking Up Married was suggested, but I thought it sounded a bit abrupt. Accidentally Waking Up Married was the next suggestion, but that sounded like my characters were accidentally waking up rather than finding themselves accidentally married, LOL. I was having drinks with a couple of writer friends and someone said, “What about Waking Up Married to the Billionaire”? It rolled off the tongue nicely, so I suggested it to the editorial team and they ran with it.
• I had a real Police and Sting binge while I was writing this book, and Every Little Thing She Does is Magic became my theme song for the book. Which (if you read the book) is reflected in the silly nickname Luis gives to Ruby. That makes me smile every time I read it.
• Christmas in Australia is hot and associated with the beach, prawns and cricket. And don’t get me wrong, I love all of that summer fun. But a white Christmas is fantasy material which meant the research was oodles of fun and I fully indulged. There’s snow and sledding, not to mention Christmas markets and the most enormous Christmas tree. And the food! Gluhwein, spiced honey cake, and hot chocolate all get a mention. My mouth watered while I wrote this book, LOL.

What first attracts your Hero to the Heroine and vice versa?

Ruby and Luis just click from the first moment they meet. They’re both in Vegas for (separate) business reasons, staying in the same hotel, and form a pretty immediate friendship—they like the same things, make each other laugh and share the same values. While they’re attracted to each other, though, they’re only in Vegas for a week and never meant for their relationship to become physical. But after Ruby’s hopes come crashing down so spectacularly and Luis applies himself to cheering her up… Well, things take an unexpected turn. Though, really, they’re just not ready to say goodbye to one another.

Did any scene have you blushing, crying or laughing while writing it? And Why?

Oh, there’s one that definitely had me sniffing and blinking hard, but it’s too spoilery to share. It happens on Christmas Day and you’ll definitely know which one I mean if you read the book. But every scene with Ruby and Luis’s parents is an odd mix of hilarious and cringe-inducing. There are so many to choose from, but this scene always makes me laugh:

They made a lot noise as they drunkenly let themselves into the villa, via the front door this time because Luis had insisted she get the full effect of that grand foyer, and because he’d wanted to make noise. A lot of noise. Apparently this would demonstrate a lack of respect for anyone else in the house, further illustrating Ruby’s bad influence on him.
Ruby wasn’t drunk, but she might be a tiny bit tipsy, and as the full grandeur of the villa once again slammed into her, her disbelief had her giggles practically becoming belly laughs. Oh, that staircase…the vaulted ceiling…the—
Oops. Both of Luis’s parents stood on the first-floor landing. She tapped his arm and pointed. Even from this distance, she could see the way Claudia’s eyes narrowed.
‘Do you know what time it is, Luis?’ Walter demanded.
Yes, they did, thank you very much. Mission accomplished! It wouldn’t hurt to drive that particular nail home again and again, though. Clutching Luis’s arm, Ruby peered up into his face, swaying slightly. ‘Switzerland is known for its clocks and watches, isn’t it? It’s like the timepiece capital of the world.’ She curled into his side, hopefully seductively, and waved her left wrist under his nose. ‘Sweetie pie, I don’t have a watch. Will you buy me a Rolex? I’ve always wanted one.’
His arm went around her. ‘First thing tomorrow, meine kleine Zaubermaus.’
She choked back a laugh at what sounded like a truly ridiculous endearment. ‘Your parents look outraged,’ she stage-whispered. ‘Haven’t you ever stumbled home in the wee small hours before?’
She really needed to make Claudia and Walter loathe her.
She ground her teeth together. What she wasn’t going to do was drop to her knees and beg them to forgive her appalling behaviour.
‘I usually stay at my apartment in Zurich when I have a night on the town. Especially if I’m with a girl.’
Not that they’d had a ‘night on the town’. Not really. She’d had a couple of drinks and they’d danced their excess energy away at a ski lodge further up the mountain. Being wrapped so close to him now, though, reminded her why they’d both had so much excess energy to begin with.
The dancing, while a distraction, had done nothing to ease her body’s burn for Luis. The blood in her veins ran with a constant heat, as if she had a fever. She couldn’t very well unwrap herself from around him now, though, not without ruining the impression she was trying to make.
She made herself giggle. ‘But I’m not just any girl.’ She made her eyes comically wide. ‘I’m your wife.’
Luis’s eyes filled with mirth and he started to laugh as if he couldn’t help it. And then she started laughing. And then neither of them could stop. They had to hold onto each other to remain upright. The release in tension was glorious, so she had no idea why she wanted to cry.
‘Luis,’ his mother said in a long-suffering tone. ‘Please tell me you didn’t drive home.’
‘I was fine to drive,’ he said. ‘Ruby was cold. Couldn’t keep her waiting.’
In the sudden silence, he belched, and rubbed his stomach. ‘I’m not sure that bratwurst agreed with me.’
Ruby rubbed his back. ‘Are you going to be sick, babe?’
When she glanced back up, both of his parents had gone.

Readers should read this book….

If they love gorgeous characters, lots of emotion, and hijinks that will have them laughing and wincing in equal measure. Oh, and there’s the most delicious white Christmas too.

What are you currently working on? What other releases do you have in the works?

I’m currently working on a romance titled Tempted By Her Greek Island Bodyguard, which is a July 2024 release. And I’m very happily wallowing in Greek island goodness at the moment.

And in May, Claiming His Billion-Dollar Bride releases, which is part of the One Year To Wed series with authors Ally Blake, Rachael Steward and Kandy Shepherd. The four of us had So Much Fun writing this series. I can’t wait to share it with readers.
 

Thanks for blogging at HJ!

Giveaway: Two lucky winners will receive and ebook copy of WAKING UP MARRIED TO THE BILLIONAIRE.

To enter Giveaway: Please complete the Rafflecopter form and Post a comment to this Q: Do you and yours have a favourite Christmas tradition? Somehow my family see me as the dessert queen, LOL. If there’s not trifle on the day, then it’s just not Christmas. It gives me the warm and fuzzies to see them enjoying it so much.

 
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Excerpt from Waking Up Married to the Billionaire:

She peeled open an eyelid. Luis still slept in the bed beside her. She closed her eye, a dreamy lassitude making her boneless. The lovemaking had blown her mind, and while they’d both had a lot to drink, it hadn’t seemed to affect their, uh…stamina.
He stirred. She opened that eye again, watched as he opened both of his. A lazy smile flitted across his face when he saw her. ‘Morning, sweet Ruby.’
She couldn’t help smiling back. The smile became a grin. Apparently, the worst afternoon of her life had been followed by the most extraordinary night.
Grinning like an idiot, she rubbed a hand across her eyes, dying for a glass of water—dying to repeat the events of the night before. Flinching, she pulled her hand away as something scratched her eyebrow. ‘Ow.’
Luis intercepted her hand as she reached up to touch a spot that smarted. ‘Careful, you’ll do yourself an injury.’
They saw the ring at the exact same moment—a huge fake-diamond dime-store ring. Her mouth formed a perfect O. So did his. Ooh, she’d forgotten about that. ‘We had a lot to drink.’
His eyes danced. ‘And you were determined to prove your leadership skills.’
She clapped a hand to her mouth. ‘I ordered you to marry me.’
‘And respecting your leadership skills as any sensible person should, I did.’
They stared at each other for a moment before dissolving into hiccupping fits of laughter.
It hadn’t been a real wedding ceremony of course—just a fake one to give them the full Vegas experience. Grinning, she pulled the silly, glitzy ring from her finger. ‘Tell me I can keep the ring.’
‘You can keep the ring.’
She’d treasure it for ever, but it seemed silly to keep wearing it now. ‘Luis, last night was wonderful. Such an adventure.’ Sitting up against the pillows, and bringing the sheet with her in the interests of modesty, she stared at the ring. ‘I don’t have very many of those.’
Maybe her firm had a point about the work-life balance thing.
She wasn’t going to keep working herself into the ground for nothing, though. If they didn’t value her contribution enough to promote her, then…
Then what? an inner voice mocked. You told your family you were going to be made partner this week.
Oh, God! She had, and—
She slammed a lid on those thoughts. She wasn’t ruining this moment with Luis thinking about her parents, Horrid Cousin Christa, or the fact that she was a failure.
Luis sat up too, took the ring and twirled it in those rather magical fingers of his. ‘Maybe it’s time to start making time for some adventures, sweet Ruby.’
Oh, the way he said her name! It had her swooning.
One eyebrow hooked up. ‘We both have another full day in Vegas…’
Another day to make memories that would lighten her life forever? Yes, please! ‘What did you have in mind? I—’
She suddenly frowned.
He leaned towards her. ‘What’s the matter?’
The fingers of her right hand had found another ring—on the third finger of her left hand. She held it up for them both to see. ‘I don’t remember this.’
He stared at it, frowned.
She tugged at it. Oh, Lord, she couldn’t get it off. She’d need soap and water for that, or hand cream. ‘It feels real.’
He took her hand to survey the ring more closely. ‘White gold,’ he said with a nod.
‘Are they…?’
‘Diamonds,’ he confirmed.
Set around the band were three flawless diamonds that sparkled in the morning light. ‘Oh, God, Luis, please tell me I didn’t rob a jewellery store. This is the most beautiful ring I’ve ever seen, but there’s no way on God’s green I could afford it.’
Fine nostrils flared. ‘I seem to recall buying it for you. You thought it lovely and I…’
Oh, no, no, no.
‘I keep the fake engagement ring, but you’re getting this one back.’
‘But I bought it for you.’
But even as he said the words, he threw the covers back to surge out of bed, his frown deepening.
The entire surface of Ruby’s skin tightened, and logical thought fled. Her hand inched up to her throat as she stared at all the tanned, muscled flesh suddenly on display. Her breath jammed and she gave a funny little hiccup. Luis was quite simply the most beautiful man she’d ever seen—tall and lean with broad shoulders tapering to narrow hips and taut buttocks. Oh, God, she remembered digging her fingers into those in the throes of passion and—
Heat flared across her face when she realised she was gazing at him with the kind of hunger dieting women reserved for a plate of chocolate-glazed doughnuts. She tried to drag her gaze away but before she could, Luis turned back, holding aloft a folder.
His soft chuckle filled her ears when she covered her eyes. Through a gap in her fingers, though, she watched as he turned back around to pull on a pair of briefs before coming to sit on her side of the bed. ‘Sweet Ruby, my nakedness embarrasses you?’
‘Oh, I…’ Heat flared in her face. ‘I don’t have a lot of experience with this kind of…’
‘I know.’
Oh, God. Had her inexperience been so obvious? Had she disappointed—?
He bent down until their eyes were level and their breath mingled. ‘Last night was wonderful. Don’t think otherwise for even a second. But you told me you do not indulge in brief affairs. I was honoured you made an exception for me.’
Swallowing, she nodded, ordered herself not to touch him. One hand lifted to touch his cheek, completely disobeying her. ‘You’re an exceptional man, Luis. And last night was also truly exceptional.’
Firm, warm lips claimed hers, moving over them with an expert sensuality that had every sleepy nerve firing to life. Last night should’ve assuaged her greedy hunger, but she craved him again now with a bold need that would’ve mortified her if she’d been with anyone other than Luis. She kissed him back with a wild passion of her own.
[…]
Her eyes flew open when he gripped her fingers to halt their sensual journey. Breathing hard, he stared into her face, kissed her once more, with a fierceness that stole her breath, before retreating several feet away.
She swallowed. ‘Luis?’
‘I burn to make love with you again, but I need to tell you something first.’
A horrible thought shook her. They’d spent the last five days talking and sharing and enjoying each other’s company, but… She backed up until she’d jammed herself against the bedhead. ‘You’re not married, are you?’ She’d never once thought to ask.
He dragged a hand down his face.
Oh, God, he was! ‘Turn around,’ she choked out.
He did as she bid, and she dragged on a T-shirt and her sleep-shorts—the nearest items of clothing to hand. She’d slept with a married man! How could she be so stupid? Her family were right. She’d never amount to anything. She was a screw-up, a failure, a disappointment.
‘May I yet turn around?’
She tried to compose her features. ‘Yes.’
He turned back slowly, as if afraid any sudden movement might send her scurrying for cover. He held the folder out to her. ‘This is what you need to see.’
She was super careful not to touch him as she took it. She’d slept with another woman’s husband. She’d never be able to meet her own eyes in a mirror again. She was the lowest of the low, the—
You didn’t know.
What difference did that make? She should’ve checked, asked.
Pushing the thoughts away to deal with later, she opened the folder and read the single sheet inside. The breath punched from her body. Blinking hard, she read it again. ‘Oh, God.’
Luis was married.
Luis was married to her!

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
 
 

Book Info:

Vegas vows—to wedded bliss?

During a conference, Ruby’s devastated she’s passed over for a promotion. Confiding in fellow hotel guest Luis turns her pity party into a wild night she’ll never forget… Especially when she wakes up married! Her new (billionaire!) husband proposes a deal: he’ll help her with work if she’ll spend Christmas with his meddling parents. But can Ruby pretend to be in love with a stranger when she’s in danger of actually falling for him?
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Meet the Author:

Michelle is an award-winning author who has been writing for romance publisher Harlequin Mills & Boon since 2007. “Truly funny and moving”, “Poignant and absolutely impossible to put down,” and “Sparkling with warmth, humour and charm” is just a small sample of what the critics have had to say about her romances. In 2019 she graduated with her PhD (her topic area was Contemporary Romance and Feminism). She’s a sucker for happy endings, heroines who have a secret stash of chocolate, and heroes who know how to laugh. She lives in Newcastle on Australia’s east coast with her own romantic hero, a house full of dust and books, and an eclectic collection of 60s and 70s vinyl.
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