My Life With Books: Blog Tour Interview: Contract for Marriage by Barbara DeLeo

Today My Life With Books brings you an exclusive interview with one of the characters of Contract for Marriage by Barbara DeLeo. *****
Okay...hang on, ladies....sit back in your chairs again and fan yourselves off a little.......It’s not the gorgeous hero, Christo Mantazis, or the feisty heroine Ruby Fleming that we’re chatting to. Today we meet Stella Mantazis, Christo’s mother as she sets some records straight, give us some unique insights and tells us what’s been happening in the world of our favorite tycoon. CeeCee magazine: Thank you so much for meeting with us today Mrs. Mantazis and taking part in our “Mothers of Famous Sons series”— Stella: A piece of lemon cake? Or a custard pie? I have cheese pies too (places a large serviette on reporter’s knee then produces two plates with a flourish) The custard pie is Christo’s favorite. CC: I...ah...umm. Oh, what the heck. Sure, I’ll take some custard pie. (Tucks serviette under chin and picks up fork) So, what do you believe made your son such a success in business, Mrs. Mantazis? Stella: Well of course it was the ladder. CeeCee: (frowns) The ladder? Stella: Christo always say there is a ladder to climb. Coming from where he did—the son of a single immigrant working class woman, the ladder he has to climb is longer than for many people. When he has to climb so far he becomes strong. CeeCee: Some have suggested he may have tried to save himself a few rungs on that ladder by connecting with Ruby Fleming as a young man. Stella: (leaning forward, frowning) Who say this? CeeCee: (sitting back a little in her chair) Well, nobody specifically, but it has been suggested that he’s always made connections that would benefit his financial position. Stella: (chuckling as she waves her hand to indicate the magnificent lounge room) You think my son needs more money? That he would make connections just for this? You do not understand the heart of my son, Mrs. Journalist. CeeCee: (stops chewing, a little in awe of Stella’s reprimand) Well, perhaps he doesn’t need to behave that way now, but maybe in the past? Stella: (cutting the lemon cake into enormous squares) When my son was a young man he fell in love with Ruby Fleming but he didn’t understand the actions that are required to follow the words of love. CeeCee: I don’t quite understand. Stella: That is because you will have low blood sugar if you only eat that much. Have a piece of the lemon cake. I made it fresh this morning. And take a cheese pie. CeeCee: (pushing the remaining crumbs aside to make room for the cake) Thank you. You were speaking about love and actions..... Stella: Ahh, yes. Neither Christo nor Ruby understood that it takes so much more than words to show how deep your feelings are for someone. You must show these things in what you do. CeeCee: You must have been very surprised and a little disappointed, then, when they announced their engagement so quickly. Wouldn’t they have needed longer to show their love after so many years apart? It doesn’t quite fit that they would marry so soon after meeting up again. Stella: (fixing the reporter with a firm stare) I was surprised, yes, disappointed, no. How can I be disappointed when this marriage is for the good of everyone who will live in this house? For Christo, Ruby, the beautiful baby, and me. CeeCee: (stops chewing) You mean this marriage wasn’t for love? That it was merely to assist the four of you to live in this house? Stella: (holding up a finger) You need to know their story Mrs. Journalist. Until you know the story of Christo Mantazis and Ruby Fleming, until you watch them day-by-day you can’t begin to understand the power of what goes on between them.
***** To find out exactly what has gone on between Christo and Ruby (and to read more about Stella and her food!) pick up a copy of Contract for Marriage.
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Barbara’s Bio

Barbara DeLeo’s first book, co-written with her best friend, was a story about beauty queens in space. She was eleven, and the sole, handwritten copy was lost years ago, much to everyone’s relief. It’s some small miracle that she kept the faith and is now living her dream of writing sparkling contemporary romance with unforgettable characters.

After completing degrees in Psychology and English then travelling the world, Barbara married her winemaker hero and had two sets of twins. She still loves telling stories about finding love in all the wrong places, with not a beauty queen or spaceship in sight.

***** Thank you Barbara DeLeo, CeeCee Magazine and Stella Mantazis for the wonderful magazine article. You can read my review of Contract for Marriage here.

Contract for Marriage Property tycoon Christo Mantazis wants the one thing his riches can’t buy—the villa where his mother has lived and worked as housekeeper for forty years. That it’s the same house he was banished from after being caught making love to the owner’s irresistible daughter stirs up old memories, and now he wants her more than ever.
Magazine editor Ruby Fleming’s not about to give up her home to Christo, the man who broke her heart—until she discovers her mother left half of the estate to him, and she realizes she’s trapped. When Christo offers a marriage of convenience, Ruby knows it’s the only way for them to get what they want. Ruby needs a link to her past, and Christo needs his mother to retain her home.
But it’s another need—to have Christo again—that Ruby must resist at all costs.