All posts by carol

Angela Britnell joins my Christmas Countdown.

Guest Post, Writing & Reading, , , , , , , , , ,

Today, on my Christmas countdown, I am delighted to welcome author Angela Britnell whose novel, Christmas in Little Penhaven is definitely on my reading list this festive season.

Welcome to my blog Angela, I greatly enjoyed my last visit to Little Penhaven, in One Summer in Little Penhaven, and I would love to know how your characters will be celebrating Christmas…

It’s tricky to answer this without giving away too much of the story but ‘Christmas in Little Penhaven’ is set in a small Cornish village where most of the inhabitants celebrate in the time honoured English manner. But Samantha, my feisty American heroine from ‘One Summer in Little Penhaven’, wants to incorporate her own holiday traditions into her new life so there will be definite parallels with my own transatlantic celebrations.

Here’s the blurb, for a bit more of a hint 🙂

Have yourself a little Cornish Christmas …

Wannabe author Jane Solomon is expecting an uneventful Christmas in her Cornish village of Little Penhaven.

But then super fit American gym owner Hal Muir comes to town, and suddenly the holiday season looks set to be far more interesting. Hal is keen on embracing every British tradition on offer, from mince pies to Christmas pub quizzes – and perhaps some festive romance too …

Click to buy.

Please, tell us more about your own transatlantic celebrations and what you’ll be up to this Christmas:

By the time 25th December rolls around we’ll be getting ready to move house but plan to host the family anyway. At least two of our sons and their families will join us but the third could already have moved because they’re in the process of moving too. As far as the Christmas meal is concerned we always combine British and American favourites so as well as roast turkey we’ll have southern cornbread dressing (instead of stuffing), sweet potato casserole and an asparagus casserole plus roast potatoes and sprouts! Desserts will be a mixture too including southern boiled custard and snickerdoodle cookies alongside mince pies and Christmas pudding. We’ll have stockings for everyone old and young and I’ll definitely listen to the Queen’s speech.

Wow! Good luck with moving house at such a busy time of year. And I would love to know what snickerdoodle cookies are, they sound great. Before you go, please take a moment to answer five quick fire questions from my Christmas selection (I am loving everybody’s answers to these!):

Mince pie or Christmas pudding? I love both but if forced to choose it has to be mince pies – preferably homemade, warm and served with Cornish clotted cream.

Singing a Christmas carol or bopping along to a Christmas classic? I love hearing and singing traditional Christmas carols but seriously dislike canned seasonal music you hear played in shops for months leading up to the holidays. I particularly hate sappy Christmas songs – ‘I’ll be home for Christmas’ and ‘White Christmas’ make me gag! My own preferences have sneaked into the character of Jane in ‘Christmas in Little Penhaven.’

Worst Christmas gift? Definitely the sewing machine my husband gave me many years ago. To set the scene I hate sewing, I was suffering from the flu and everything was being captured on video to send to my parents in Cornwall. I had to plaster on a smile and pretend to be pleased while wanting to smash the offending object through the nearest window.

Multi-coloured decs or co-ordinated Christmas tree? IMHO colour-coordinated ones belong in hotel lobbies but everyone to their own! I love unwrapping our tree decorations every year because they bring back wonderful memories. Red hearts from Denmark, carved wooden decorations bought at German Christmas markets, exquisite hand painted glass balls from Italy and cross-stitch ornaments made by old friends no longer with us.

Sprouts or no sprouts? Sprouts – I love them now and my sons all enjoy them (the youngest would bizarrely eat them like sweets as a two year old!) but they’re definitely a taste I’ve acquired with age because as a child I hated them and thought them a plague on Christmas.

Oh goodness, I would be disappointed with a sewing machine too (well done on the fake smile), and I do love hearing a Christmas carol too, though I must confess to bopping along to all kinds of sappy Christmas songs from about October, hehe!

Thank you so much for joining my Christmas countdown and I wish you and your family a wonderful festive season! xx

About the author:

Angela Britnell grew up in Cornwall, England and returns frequently from her new home in Nashville, Tennessee to visit family and friends, drink tea and eat far too many Cornish pasties!

A lifelong love of reading turned into a passion for writing contemporary romance and her novels are usually set in the many places she’s visited or lived on her extensive travels. Thanks to over three decades of marriage to her wonderful American husband she’s a huge fan of transatlantic romance and always makes sure her characters get their own happy-ever-after.

Angela is a member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association, the Romance Writers of America and the Music City Romance Writers.

If you’d like to find out more of what Angela gets up to (Advance warning: this may include references to wine, chocolate, Poldark and the hunky Aidan Turner) check out: Facebook | website | Twitter | Instagram

Don’t miss author Jane Cable sharing a Christmas read and some festive fun, on my blog on Monday 9th December. xx

Hannah Pearl joins my Christmas Countdown!

Guest Post, Writing & Reading, , , , , , , , , , ,

Today, I am delighted to have fellow Ruby Fiction author, Hannah Pearl, joining my Christmas countdown, with her fabulous, heartwarming festive read Daisy’s Christmas Gift Shop!

Welcome to my blog Hannah, I love your gorgeous cover and I am excited to know how your characters will be spending Christmas…

Evie will be spending the day with Jake. Her cousin Charmaine will cook. Charmaine will complain about having to do so on her day off as she’s a chef so she’ll have been busy making Christmas dinners for work parties for the last month, but she knows no one else could make anything as tasty. Jake certainly can’t be trusted to bake without setting fire to the kitchen. Jake’s dad, sister and niece will be there so the day will be full of love, laughter and Guinness.

Karen will be looking forward to Hogmanay, but will doubtless raise a glass of whisky on Christmas Day when she thinks about how her life has changed since her last birthday.

Daisy will be spending the day with her brother Ben, her dad, her best friend Lily and Ben’s best friend Eli. You’ll have to read my first ever Christmas book, Daisy’s Christmas Gift Shop, to find out whether she and Eli will be kissing or killing each other under the mistletoe!

OO what a tease and the blurb is not giving much away either:

Struggling to find the perfect Christmas gift? Step into Romantic Daze …

Daisy Kirk is a sucker for a love story, which is why she opened up her gift shop – because there’s nothing that makes Daisy happier than when she’s helped a customer achieve their own ‘happily ever after’ by finding the perfect Christmas gift for their loved one. And she absolutely does not just sell ‘soppy presents and frilly pants’ as her brother’s infuriating best friend, Eli, is so fond of suggesting.

The sad fact is that whilst Daisy is helping others with their love lives, hers is non-existent. But when unusual circumstances take Daisy and Eli on a road trip from London to rural Wales, will she finally get the happily ever after to her own Christmas love story?

Buying links: Amazon UK | Amazon.com | Ruby Fiction

I can’t wait to find out how Christmas turns out for Daisy and Eli, in the meantime why don’t you tell us how you will be spending this festive season?

Hopefully with a big family get together. I somehow ended up volunteering to coordinate a Secret Santa for about twenty relatives a few years ago. It went well and I’ve been organising them ever since so I assume a chunk of the day will also go on making sure that everyone has a gift to open!

 I’ll try to make sure I fit in a rest at some point, often when many of my family go out for a walk, to make sure that I can last for as much of the day as possible.

 There are usually too many of us to sit down for a formal traditional meal but we’ll make sure we fit in a roast dinner at some point during the holidays, albeit that I’ll have mine with veggie sausages instead of turkey!

 Well done on organising the Secret Santa, it sounds like you have Christmas all wrapped up (sorry I couldn’t resist). Before you go, I’d love you to answer five quick questions from my Christmas selection:

Christmas jumper or posh frock? Christmas jumper. I don’t think I could look smart if I tried any more so might as well embrace it and go with something fun.

 Real or artificial Christmas tree? Real. We had an artificial tree for about ten years and my daughter loves it so much she now puts it in her room, but I love a real tree. I always feel a bit sad when it’s time to get rid of it. It adds so much colour and cheer to the room.

 Mince pie or Christmas pudding? Both.

 Favourite Christmas film? Die Hard. (Now you’re being controversial – I’ve heard arguments over whether this is a Christmas film.)

 Cracker hat or no cracker hat? No hat, they barely fit over my hair!

 Favourite Christmas song? Slade. Merry Christmas Everybody.  It doesn’t feel like Christmas until I’ve heard Noddy Holder belt out Merry Christmas!

 Must watch Christmas TV? Doctor Who and Strictly.

Thank you so much for joining my Christmas countdown, and I love the fact you got carried away and answered seven of my Christmas selection questions. I wish you and your family a fabulous festive season! xx

About the author:

Hannah Pearl was born in East London. She is married with two children and now lives in Cambridge.

She has previously worked as a Criminology researcher, as a Development Worker with various charities and even pulled a few pints in her time.

In 2015 she was struck down by Labrynthitis, which left her feeling dizzy and virtually housebound. She has since been diagnosed with ME. Reading has allowed Hannah to escape from the reality of feeling ill. She read upwards of three hundred books during the first year of her illness. When her burgeoning eReader addiction grew to be too expensive, she decided to have a go at writing. In 2017 she won Simon and Schuster’s Books and the City #heatseeker short story competition, in partnership with Heat magazine, for her short story The Last Good Day.

Hannah is a member of the Romantic Novelists Association.

Discover more about Hannah Pearl here: Twitter |  Blog | Ruby Fiction

Also by Hannah Pearl:

Evie’s Little Black Book

Is hunting down every man you’ve kissed the answer to finding Mr Right?

When Evie is invited to the wedding of the guy she’d fancied throughout her teens, it’s the final straw. What’s wrong with her and why can’t she keep a man?

In between consoling herself with ice cream and chocolate, and sobbing her heart out to her cousin Chamaine, Evie has a brainwave – and it all centres around her ‘little black book’ (well, more floral patterned notebook really) – which contains the details of every man she’s ever kissed or dated. Perhaps the cure for her disastrous love life has been nestled within its pages all along …

Does Evie’s little black book really hold the answers, or will she learn that exes are exes for a reason?

Publisher: Ruby Fiction
Genre: Romantic Comedy
Buy the book Amazon UK | Amazon.com

It’s My Birthday

Oh boy, another birthday…

Karen could be excused for crying on her birthday, especially as it’s the first one since her husband got on a plane to the States and never came back. Then there’s the fact that her workmates were practically bribed to attend her birthday meal. But when a restaurant double booking leads to her sharing a table with single dad Elliot and his daughter, things start looking up.

As Karen gets to know Elliot she experiences feelings she thought she’d never have again. But is it enough? Or will the thing that destroyed Karen’s previous relationship also ruin things with Elliot?

Publisher: Ruby Fiction
Genre: Romantic Comedy
Buy the book Amazon UK | Amazon.com| Ruby Fiction

Don’t miss author Angela Britnell joining my Christmas Countdown, on Thursday 5th December! xx

Review of Rachael Stewart’s Naughty or Nice!

Blog Tour Review, Book Review, Publication Day Push, , , , , , , ,

Happy publication day to Rachael Stewart, on the release of Naughty or Nice! And to join in the celebrations, I am delighted to share my review.


The Blurb:

She’s setting the terms… In business and pleasure!

Lucas Waring was my brother’s best friend—before he broke my heart and betrayed my family. Yet one glance from those dark, intense eyes, and that bolt of aching need returns. Now Lucas wants my business. But the nice Eva he knew is gone forever and naughty Eva wants her cake, and a taste of deliciously hot Lucas, too. Only my heart’s about to pull the biggest betrayal of all…

Genre: Erotic Romance
Published by: Mills & Boon Dare

My review:

I am a fan of Rachael Stewart’s books and I was drawn in by this fab title. The characters are great, I liked Lucas Waring – a lot – and the feisty Eva. I really liked the premise of the story and willed Eva and Lucas to be happy. I didn’t like Nate, Eva’s brother, and found it hard to accept he might change.

Rachael Stewart does steamy scenes very well, and there were ooooodles of them in this book. I would have liked a little more Christmas thrown in, but the ending of Eva’s story certainly didn’t disappoint and left me with a smile.

Click to buy the book: Amazon

Giveaway to Win an e-copy of Naughty or Nice by Rachael Stewart (Open INT)

*Terms and Conditions –Worldwide entries welcome.  Please enter using the Rafflecopter box below.  The winner will be selected at random via Rafflecopter from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. If no response is received within 7 days then I reserve the right to select an alternative winner. Open to all entrants aged 18 or over.  Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. This will passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for fulfilment of the prize, after which time I will delete the data.  I am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize.

ENTER HERE

About the author:

Rachael Stewart adores conjuring up stories for the readers of Harlequin Mills & Boon and Deep Desires Press, with tales varying from the heart-warmingly romantic to the wildly erotic.

Despite a degree in Business Studies and spending many years in the corporate world, the desire to become an author never waned and it’s now her full-time pleasure, a dream come true.

A Welsh lass at heart, she now lives in Yorkshire with her husband and three children, and if she’s not glued to her laptop, she’s wrapped up in them or enjoying the great outdoors seeking out inspiration.

Discover more about Rachael Stewart via her website | Twitter | Facebook

Many thanks to Rachael Stewart for the great read, and thanks to Rachel Gilbey of Rachel’s Random Resources for enabling me to be part of this blog tour. My reviews are added to Amazon UK and Goodreads. x

Marie Laval joins my Christmas Countdown!

Guest Post, Writing & Reading, , , , , , , , ,

Next up on my Christmas countdown is Choc Lit author, Marie Laval, with her festive read, Bluebell’s Christmas Magic…

Welcome to my blog, Marie. I love the cover and have your book on my to-be-read list, as I can’t wait to read it, perhaps you could tell me how your characters will be spending Christmas?

Thank you very much, Carol, for welcoming me on your blog for this special Christmas countdown! My heroine Cassie Bell loves Christmas. She loves it so much her grandfather often says she must be an elf in disguise and he even bought her a silly green hat with red pompoms. In Red Moss, Cassie’s little Cumbrian village, Christmas is taken very seriously indeed. There is a Christmas Fair, a grotto with a different Santa every year, and a standup comedy competition at the local pub that Cassie’s granddad has won for the past fifteen years. Unfortunately Stefan Lambert, the grumpy Frenchman Cassie has been hired to look after during his stay at the local manor house, has completely different ideas about Christmas. In fact, he has travelled all the way to the Lake District to forget all about Christmas… Will Cassie change his mind, and his heart?

OO I love the sound of this, and for a bit more of a teaser for those who are tempted, here’s the blurb: 

A gorgeous new Christmas story from the author of best selling novel Little Pink Taxi
A flick of a feather duster and a sprinkle of Christmas magic …
Cassie Bell is used to mess. Her cleaning business, Bluebell Cleaning, is well known in the Cumbrian village of Red Moss. However, now it’s almost Christmas and Cassie has a slightly messier situation to deal with than she’s used to.

She’s been hired to help Stefan Lambert, an injured army helicopter pilot who’s staying at the local Belthorn Manor whilst he recovers. Stefan resents Cassie’s interference and is definitely not looking for Christmas cheer. But Cassie prides herself on sparkling surfaces – so, can she bring some festive sparkle to Stefan’s life too?

Click to buy the book.

So with your character’s divided over how to spend Christmas, I am intrigued to know how you will be spending this festive season… 

This year, I am hoping to spend the Christmas holidays at home in Lancashire with my family. On Christmas day, we usually have a lovely lunch, followed by ice-cream (Poires Belle-Hélène are my favourite!) before having a good laugh at the crackers my daughter makes herself, and which include jokes, Christmas compliments and New Year improvement tips! After the meal, we usually collapse on the sofa and watch a comedy or two.

That sounds a lot of fun and makes me wonder what my children would include if they were left in charge of the Christmas crackers!

Before you go, Marie, I have five quick questions for you from my Christmas selection:

Christmas jumper or posh frock? Christmas jumper, and very loose and comfortable leggings!

Real or artificial Christmas tree? Definitely a real tree. We have had the same three for the past four years. It lives in a tub in the garden, and comes back inside for the festive season! We use the same decorations, but buy a new one every year.

Mince pie or Christmas pudding? Neither! Being French, I had never eaten either mince pies or Christmas puddings before coming to live in England, and they’re still not my favourite treats. Instead, I bake shortbread or chocolate biscuits, or my mother’s almond macaroons, and chocolate Yule log, of course.

Best cracker joke? The jokes my daughter makes up when she does her own Christmas crackers. I used some of them in Bluebell’s Christmas Magic. Here is one of them: ‘What did the policeman say to the naughty Christmas pudding? I’m taking you into custardy.’

Favourite Christmas song? For me, nothing can beat ‘Last Christmas I gave you my heart’ by Wham.

What a great idea with your tree, and I have a liking for macaroons too 😉

Thank you so much for joining in with my Christmas countdown and I wish you and your family a very happy Christmas. And here’s a joke for your daughter: Why was the snowman staring at the carrots? Because he was picking his nose! xx

About the author:

Originally from Lyon in France, Marie Laval now lives in Lancashire with her family. She works full-time as a modern languages teacher and in her spare time she loves writing romance and dreaming about romantic heroes. She writes both historical and contemporary romance and best-selling Little Pink Taxi was her debut romantic comedy novel with Choc Lit.

She belongs to Authors on the Edge and writes short stories for the best selling Miss Moonshine’s anthologies. She is a member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association and the Society of Authors. Her native France, as well as her passion for history and research, very much influences her writing, and all her novels have what she likes to call ‘a French twist’!

You can find out more about Marie here:  Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest 

Don’t miss author Hannah Pearl on my blog on Monday 2nd December, for more festive fun. xx

Lexi Rees joins my Christmas Countdown!

Guest Post, Writing & Reading, , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

I am delighted to welcome the Chindi Authors’ Author of the Week, Lexi Rees, to my Christmas Countdown! Lexi writes for children and is celebrating her forthcoming release, Wild Sky.

Welcome to my blog, Lexi. My children and I have read your first book, Eternal Seas, and greatly enjoyed it. Can you tell us a little about Wild Sky, the second in the Relic Hunters series? 

Thank you, to give you a taster of Wild Sky, here are some early reviews:

‘This action-packed blend of magical fantasy with classic kids adventuring is a swashbuckling read for 8+ year-olds, peppered with soft line-drawings and propelled by a strong sense of urgency.’ – LoveReading4Kids

‘Non-stop adventure with an exciting blend of magic and dystopia. Sinister villains, strange magic and thrilling adventure. I loved it!’ – Claire Fayers, author of The Accidental Pirates series, Mirror Magic and Storm Hound

‘Raging seas, snowy lands, fortresses and monasteries – the quest for the relics continues at an exhilarating pace. You won’t put it down!’ – Jude Lennon, author of the Hal series and other books

And the blurb:

After delivering the pearl, Finn and Aria thought life would return to normal.
But with the survival of the clans still in peril, they must continue their quest.
Can they find the next relic before the forces of evil?
Not everyone is who they appear to be
And time is running out …

Wow! That sounds great, and as my blog is full of festive cheer at the moment, I must ask, does any of the action takes place over Christmas?

Wild Sky (published on 28thNovember) starts with my characters finding a riddle about the Cold Moon – the last full moon of the year. Unfortunately, this means they’re going to be sailing off on an impossible quest over Christmas itself. The world is effectively a child-friendly introduction to dystopia (no nuclear holocausts or anything distressing) and there is no reference to Christmas (or any other festivals) in it.

So a great all-year-round read, and I am sure a wonderful addition to the Christmas stocking list of all adventure loving, middle grade, readers.

Find Wild Sky on Amazon.

***To celebrate the publication of Wild Sky, Lexi also has a great giveaway running ENTER HERE!***

With your characters off on a quest, I am intrigued to know what you will be up to this festive season…

We have a pretty traditional family Christmas although now the kids are older it can start at a far more leisurely time than it used to! My brother is a doctor at Great Ormand Street Children’s Hospital so we don’t always get to do the family celebration on Christmas Day itself, but when we get together it always feels like it, even if it’s actually a few days later than everyone else!

I’m completely addicted to mince pies and start doing essential “research” into the best brand as soon as they first make an appearance in the shops, so my Christmas breakfast is coffee and mince pies.

Then we all gather at someone’s house. I’m lucky that my side of the family all live reasonably nearby – my husband’s side of the family are scattered across the globe. We take turns – I’m off the hook this year as I hosted last year. My catering responsibilities include the cranberry jelly, sprouts with pancetta and chestnuts, and bread sauce which hardly anyone eats but it reminds me of my granny so is compulsory.

Your Christmas sounds lovely, and I completely agree that good mince pie research is essential 😉 Before you go, I’d love you to answer some quick questions from my festive selection:

Mince pie or Christmas pudding? Both. Have you tried left-over Christmas pudding stir fried in butter? Yummy!

Favourite Christmas film? Them all! One a day in the run up, more if I can get away with it. It’s a Wonderful life is still a treat. Die Hard, Home Alone, Love Actually, Bad Santa, Rise of the Guardians. And don’t forget the panto! Oh yes we do. Even though the kids are far too old!

Multi-coloured decs or co-ordinated Christmas tree? Red, gold, bronze, green, white, sparkly errr I think that’s pretty matchy-matchy actually, although I suspect it’s classified as multi-coloured by most people.

Must read Christmas book? Narnia, of course!

Best Christmas gift? An AGA.

Worst Christmas gift? A set of pans. You can take the “she likes cooking” thing too far!

First Quality Street flavour to disappear from your tub? We don’t fight over our favourites but, as with the characters in my short story in the Chindi Christmas anthology the strawberry fondants are always left.

Sprouts or no sprouts? What do you mean no sprouts? Unthinkable! And not just for Christmas. As long as they’re not boiled to death they’re delicious. So many great sprout recipes – do you want one?

Haha, I love the fact that an AGA was acceptable but a set of pans wasn’t!

Thank you so much for joining my Christmas countdown and I wish you and your family a very happy Christmas. xx

About the author:

Lexi Rees was born in Scotland but now lives down south. She writes action-packed adventures and workbooks for children.

She’s passionate about developing a love of reading and writing in children and, as well as her Creative Writing Skillsworkbook, she has an active programme of school visits and other events, is a Book PenPal for three primary schools, and runs a free online #kidsclub and newsletter which includes book recommendations and creative writing activities.

In her spare time, she’s a keen crafter and spends a considerable amount of time trying not to fall off horses or boats.

Books by Lexi Rees:

The Relic Hunters #1, Eternal Seas, was awarded a “loved by” badge from LoveReading4Kids and is currently long-listed for a Chanticleer award.

And in case you missed it, here’s my review:

My children and I loved this tale of adventurers, Finn and Aria. Both characters capture the imagination as the quest and their unique role within it unfolds. Pippin – the small girl with a big personality – was a great addition to the cast of characters too.

Their world is brought to life through descriptive language that is aptly used to hold the focus of middle-grade readers. Finn and Aria’s abilities (and Aria’s bow and arrow) hooked my children in as they willed them to fulfil their potential within the story.

Having short chapters it is an ideal read for younger confident readers, and as a story to share.

Eternal Seas is a brilliant introduction to the fantasy genre and stepping stone for future readers of books like Harry Potter and The Hunger Games. I loved the fact it had a futuristic setting but also harked back to an earlier time of magic and the reemergence of these powers.

As a parent, I thought it was a great read for my children – it has all the potential to become a classic, and as a teacher, I could see how I could use this book to discuss and inspire writing about imaginary worlds. I look forward to the next book.

The sequel, Wild Sky, is available for pre-order now.

Discover more about Lexi and her work here: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Google+ | Instagram |

Don’t miss Choc Lit author, Marie Laval, joining my Christmas Countdown on Thursday 28th November!