If I had to choose though, I’d say French. But that’s because it’s the country outside England which I know best, having spent most time there and speaking the language pretty well.

As a writer, you have to really understand the culture, I think, to write a particular nationality well. But some writers do seem to have a gift for capturing a nationality very quickly and assuredly on the page. So it must just be my particular weakness!

Never done a Frenchman myself but some of Abby Green’s are super sexy. That said, Jackie, i don’t think you need to worry too much about his nationality (and aristocratic bearing) making him too Modern for Modern Heat. At the end it’s all in the execution, right, and I think from reading your blog and your Feel the Heat chapter you definitely have a Modern Heat voice.

Funnily enough, one of my heroes felt very Modern to me – Luke Devereaux from Pleasure Pregnancy and a Proposition – but I think I got away with him in Modern Heat cos the heroine was so feisty and basically didn’t let him get away with it. I think the heroes can still be very alpha, as long as the heroines are more than a match for them – which gives the story that essential Modern Heat spin. It also sounds like your heroine is going to have quite a job on her hands getting under this guy’s guard – which is fab, more juicy conflict there then.

So go for it. Sounds like you’ve got the conflicts really well worked out which is great… Wish I did that more often frankly!

Lacey – I am aren’t I? The glass is half full… 😉