Anything they can do . . .

Hey, Theo here.

We've got it sorted.

I talked to Max and Domenico (he gets all bent out of shape if you call him Dom. It's some pet name only Alice can call him, apparently. Max thinks that's just a little precious and I think it's more than a little weird, but he seems a nice enough guy. . . if a little intense).

Anyway, we decided that if our respective brides were going off and having a contest instead of planning weddings (like they promised to do!) we could have a little contest, too.

Or maybe even a BIGGER contest.

Since our brides seem to expect us to hunt them down -- and have even dropped a few clues as to where they might be -- we decided that if we have to hunt, in order to win our contest, you could do some hunting too.

So, here's the deal -- our GROOM'S CONTEST has same rules as the brides' contest.

You get three chances to win -- one on each of the blogs: mine (well, Anne's), Max's (Liz's), and Do-menico's (Kate's).

You have to answer the following nine questions (some of them are two parters, so pay attention). We're guys, we aren't making this easy. But we figure you're smart and you can do this.

My questions:
1) Which book, also being published in February has a hero called Theo Savakis (who is NOT ME because I am Theo Savas. He is going to marry Miranda Weston and I am going to marry MARTHA!) and who is the author of that book?

2) Anne wrote a book about my sister and a guy named Elias last year. What's the name of the book -- and the full name of my sister?

3) Anne says there is "another hero" in The Santorini Bride (which isn't true, by the way). There is a D.O.G. in it. A smart D.O.G. A clever D.O.G. But still a D.O.G -- so what breed of D.O.G. is Ted?

Max's questions:

1. St Valentine’s Day is a worldwide phenomenon, but Liz (my author) lives in Wales and they have their own special day for lovers in January. What’s the date? And what is the name of the saint involved?

2. The Valentine Bride (the book that Louise and I share), is the last one in a mini series. What was the series called? Name another author who wrote a book in that series.

3. Liz wrote a special online story, The Cinderella Valentine, to set up the series. What are the full names of the two characters who met and fell in love in my Chelsea restaurant?

Domenico's questions:

1 Where did Kate celebrate a book launch party this month and which famous novelist did she meet there?

2. What award did Kate's February release - The Italian's Forced Bride win?

3. If the winner of The Brides Contest has already read The Italian's Forced Bride, Kate will give away a copy of her March M&B Modern release which also had Bride in the title. What is the name of this book – and what is the name of its hero?

So, there you are: NINE QUESTIONS (some with two parts). All the answers can be found in our blogs (well, Anne's, Liz's and Kate's blogs if you want to get technical about ownership) or by using the links on the sidebars of the blogs. You can do this!

And if you do -- send the answers to each of our authors (you can contact them through their websites). Put GROOMS CONTEST in the subject or, in the case of Anne's you can just click on the "Contact Anne" tab and then send the email from there (don't click on the "contest" tab because it only has to do with the Brides Contest.

So, go for it. You have three chances to WIN a great bunch of books. Not as great as ours, of course but pretty damn good. Anne, Kate and Liz know how to tell a story.

What do you get if you're a winner?

Well, from Anne each winner gets:

A three-in-one book containing three complete novels: The Cowboy's Code, containing Cowboys Don't Quit, Cowboys Don't Stay and The Cowboy and the Kid (Romantic Times's Best Series Novel of the Year) PLUS a copy of Theo Savakis's book by the author whose name you have to figure out.

From Kate each winner gets:
Her best-selling wonderful Alcolar Family trilogy: The Twelve-Month Mistress, The Spaniard's Inconvenient Wife and Bound by Blackmail.

And From Liz each winner gets:
Copies of her terrific book all about GROOMS: The Corporate Bridegroom, A Suitable Groom and Her Wish-List Bridegroom

Heck of a deal.

The contest starts now and ends February 10th, 2007 so we can send off prizes before the weddings (and so Anne and Kate can go to Ireland "to research" without leaving stuff for us to do on our honeymoons. Like it would get done.)

Oh yeah, there was some talk of throwing my brother George into the contest -- making him a prize. (as if).

Can't do it. There were problems:
1. no one would want him
2. no one would take him
3. he'd be hard to post
4. the minute he heard about it, he bolted himself in his physics lab and he still won't come out.

Even my mother (A Force when it comes to trying to marry off her kids) has washed her hands of him. I actually heard her use the word "Hopeless" and for once she wasn't talking about me.

Anyway, enter! Let's show those brides how smart you are!