Category Archives: Guest Post

Location, Location, Location: The French Cookery School.

Guest Post, Location!, Review, Writing & Reading, , , , , , , ,
Today, I am delighted to welcome Caroline to my blog as she shares the inspiration for the location of her latest novel, The French Cookery School. Over to you, Caroline …

In what feels like another life, I was a media agent running a business representing celebrity chefs. It was a fascinating job; all days were different, and I worked closely with various talented chefs who wanted to enhance their careers within the media. My job was to help them develop and find work that would project them via TV, magazines, events, festivals, etc. It took me to some fascinating places. One day, I might work with a five-star hotel that wanted a chef to gain Michelin stars for their restaurant. Next, I would fly to Florida, where I had placed a client at the Orlando Food Festival. It was hard work and challenging at times, but as you can imagine – I loved my job.

My new novel is called The French Cookery School.

The story was inspired by a week I spent in France many years ago on a press trip to a gorgeous old farmhouse on the edge of the Charente. The host, Chef Valentina Harris, invited me to attend alongside notable journalists and experience the cookery course that Valentina and her helpers were running. It was a magical time, and I fell in love with the house named Le Touvent, which had been the former boyhood home of the late President Mitterrand.

The journalists would experience the cookery course and then write about it in their publications, filling the places with bookings for the summer. In the mornings, we would work in the kitchen and learn various techniques, such as how to prepare an octopus or make fresh pasta. We were taken to local attractions – perhaps a porcelain factory or a picnic by the river in the afternoons. In the evening, we would dine around a large table in a courtyard under a canopy of trailing plants, pretty lanterns and a starry sky. Friendships were formed, and confidences exchanged as we all came together in this magical place.

I knew that one day, I would set a novel in a fictional setting using Le Touvant as my guide, so on a return visit to France, I visited the Vienne district. My research proved fruitful, as I found many interesting places to take my characters to, and The French Cookery School was born.

As a writer, there is nothing quite like immersing yourself in the location that will become home for your characters, and I thank Valentina Harris for inspiring this story.

Carol, I hope you enjoy The French Cookery School and wish you and your visitors many happy reading hours. Warmest wishes, Caroline xx

Thank you for the wonderful post, Caroline. I have read and immensely enjoyed The French Cookery School, and I am happy to share my review …

In this fast-paced, fun-packed novel, I loved being transported to La Maison du Paradis, where the cast of mature characters came together to create tantalising culinary delights that were as sumptuous as the beautiful French setting.

The new and recurring characters were likeable and created a good mix. I enjoyed watching them develop through the novel as their reasons for attending the cookery school were revealed, and they faced their personal difficulties.

With a perfect blend of humour, heart, and realism, The French Cookery School was my favourite Caroline James novel to date (and I have greatly enjoyed many of her previous novels). Proving that it’s never too late to find joy, fulfilment, and a sense of purpose, the story left me with a big smile and a sense of warmth.

About the book:

The recipe for a perfect summer…

Step 1: Mix together a group of mature students
Step 2: Add in a handsome host
Step 3: Season with a celebrity chef
Step 4: Bring to the boil at a luxurious cookery school in France!

Waltho Williams has no idea what he’s letting himself in for when he opens the doors to his beautiful French home, La Maison du Paradis. But with dwindling funds, a cookery school seems like the perfect business plan…

Divorcée caterer Caroline needs to be able stand on her own two feet. While warm-hearted Fran hopes to help her beloved husband fulfil his lifelong dream. And for food journalist Sally, it’s a PR opportunity – until a certain celebrity chef gets under her skin…

But will the eclectic group be a recipe for success, or will the mismatched relationships sink like a souffle?

Whip out an apron, grab a wooden spoon and take a culinary trip to La Maison du Paradis…

Discover more about books by Caroline James: The French Cookery School | The Cruise | The Spa Break | Hattie Goes to Hollywood | Boomerville at Ballymegille | The Best Boomerville Hotel | Coffee Tea the Gypsy & Me | Coffee Tea the Chef & Me | Coffee Tea the Caribbean & Me | Jungle Rock

About the author:

Caroline James always wanted to write, but instead of taking a literary route, followed a career in the hospitality industry, which included owning a pub and a beautiful country house hotel. She was also a media agent representing celebrity chefs. When she finally glued her rear to a chair and began to write, the words flowed, and several novels later, she has gained many bestseller badges for her books.

Her Amazon Top Five Bestseller, The Cruise, is described as: ‘Girl power for the over sixties!’ Caroline’s hilarious novels include The Spa Break and The Best Boomerville Hotel, depicted as ‘Britain’s answer to the Best Marigold Hotel’.

The French Cookery School is set in the magical environment of La Maison du Paradis, where an eclectic group of guests get more than they bargained for when they come together for an unforgettable week.

Caroline likes to write in Venus, her holiday home on wheels and in her spare time, walks with Fred, her Westie, or swims in a local lake. Caroline is a member of the Romantic Novelists Association, the SoA, ARRA and the Society of Women’s Writers & Journalists. She is also a speaker with many amusing talks heard by a variety of audiences, including cruise ship guests.

Follow Caroline and keep up to date with her new releases here: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Blog | Amazon Author Page | Newsletter sign up | BookBub Profile

Writing Wednesday with Emma Bennet: Utilising YouTube.

Guest Post, Writing & Reading, Writing Wednesday, , , , , , , , , , , ,
I am very happy to welcome author Emma Bennet to my blog for an interesting #WritingWednesday post about utilising YouTube as a writer. Over to you, Emma …

I discovered YouTube years ago for tutorials on how to fix stuff and productivity videos (my slightly weird obsession), but it was only after watching for quite a while that I stumbled upon the little corner of YouTube known as Authortube. About six months after that, I started my own channel and haven’t looked back!

Authortube is home to videos made by writers for writers and is the most amazing free resource. It costs absolutely nothing to subscribe to any of the many channels on YouTube and yet there are many benefits to checking out at least some of them.

The most obvious sort of video that will help you as a writer is how-to videos. These can really be divided into how-to videos concerning writing craft, and how-to videos about actually publishing your book.

In terms of writing craft, Brandon Sanderson’s lecture series is probably the most famous video available on YouTube, but you’ll also find writing advice from best-selling authors on hundreds of channels. YouTube University at its finest!

How to publish your book videos are possibly the most useful resource on YouTube for aspiring authors. Authors who have been there, done that, and got the t-shirt share their wealth of knowledge in both traditional and self-publishing, with both general advice and step-by-step tutorials, helping you to avoid the many pitfalls in the industry.

The next form of videos for writers are vlogs, where other writers share their experiences, either with their actual writing or with writing-related activities like author signings for example. Writing can sometimes feel like a lonely old business, and these vlogs show you that others are going through the same things and maybe offer some ideas of stuff you can try. I particularly enjoy a good writing challenge vlog!

Finally, we have live writing sprints. These are usually scheduled so you can plan which to join, but replays can also be enjoyed. There’s generally some chat from the host and cohosts, if there are any, and then timed writing sprints take place. You can comment on live chat, and it’s a great way to get accountable for your writing.

What I love most about Authortube is the community. The support I have found there since starting my own channel, particularly during live writing streams, is unparalleled and I have made writing friends for life from all over the World. We cheer each other on and help one another out and I don’t know what I’d do without them now.

My own YouTube channel, which is a mixture of tips and tricks for writers, book recommendations, author life vlogs and live writing streams, can be found here.

About Emma’s latest book:

Sometimes life doesn’t go exactly to plan . . .

London accountant Sophie unexpectedly becomes the stand-in mum for her estranged sister’s eight-month-old baby, Alana. She didn’t even know she had a niece! She’s wildly out of her depth.

Then her life is turned upside down all over again by the appearance of a Thor lookalike on her doorstep. Apparently, six-foot surfer Samson is Alana’s father. And he also just discovered the existence of this adorable baby.

Sophie is not prepared to hand over her niece to an equally clueless stranger, so they come up with a plan: Sophie and Alana will move into Samson’s spare bedroom in Brighton until they work out what to do.

As they settle into changing nappies and nighttime feeds, Sophie finds it hard to ignore the way her heart somersaults whenever Samson looks at her. But he already has a girlfriend, who’s made it very clear that Sophie and Alana are in the way.

The more Samson and Sophie bond with little Alana, they can’t ignore the obvious attraction between them. But can they put their feelings aside and stick to the plan?

Discover more and purchase here.

About the author:

Emma grew up and lived in London, before falling in love and moving to Wales to marry her own hero. Emma now lives with her husband, four children, and many animals a few miles outside of a small Welsh market town. She can often be found in rivers attempting to control two overexcited chocolate labradors.

Discover more about Emma Bennet and her books here: website | Instagram | TikTok | Facebook | Twitter 

Thank you so much for introducing me to Authortube, Emma. I am sure other writers will benefit from your great post, too. (Oh, and I also adore Labradors; next time you stop by, I would love to hear about yours.) xx

Location, Location, Location: The Sicilian Secret.

Book Review, Guest Post, Location!, , , , , , , , , ,
Today, I am delighted to welcome the lovely Angela Petch to my blog as she discusses the location of her latest novel, The Sicilian Secret. Over to you, Angela …

I always feel readier to write if I know where exactly I am setting my characters. My latest book, published April 23rd, has Sicily as an important location. Luckily, I lived on this beautiful island in my 20s. Quite some time ago. So, a reminder was needed. In May last year my husband and I visited the south-eastern corner, to research where the allied landings had taken place on the night of July 9th to 10th 1943 in Operation Husky.


What a coincidence that fifty years ago I had lived only a stone’s throw from this beach when I was working for a construction company. Little did I realise that one day I would revisit this coastline, not to swim and waterski as in the past, but to gain a better picture of where my characters would land and do battle.


I had read about this event but I hadn’t understood how hard the terrain had been for troops to negotiate and some of my descriptions were altered afterwards. The cliffs were higher, the sea pounding onto tufa rock, sharp and treacherous underfoot. A very hostile environment. I took video footage for publicity but it was impossible to hear my words over the raging wind. James Holland in his excellent book, Sicily ’43, describes the “heavy swell” and choppy seas, how “vomit filled the flooded bottoms of the LCA.” (Landing craft). There was confusion in the darkness and standing on the cliffs in that buffeting wind made it so much easier for me to later revise my chapter.


Fortune smiled on this author when I had started to speak to a young Sicilian. Like us, he had been turned away from the footpath leading to the cliffs by an officious security guard. We chatted. I told him how disappointed I was; how I was writing a book partly set in World War Two and to my delight he opened the boot of his FIAT and produced several history books. He was passionate about the events of war along this particular corner of coastline. His grandfather had fought on that very night and his accounts had sparked a deep interest ever since.

‘We’ll wait a little until the guard has gone off duty and then I’ll take you to see the remains of the barracks and guns.”

Gold dust. He guided us down steps into bunkers, the walls still relatively clean after eighty years, some bearing lines of propaganda written by Mussolini’s men. There were bullet and shrapnel holes in the walls and all of a sudden my head was filled with the sounds and scenes of battle. Giovanni was invaluable to me that windy afternoon and we have remained friends.


Reading through my words for Carol’s blog, it sounds as if I have written a history book. Yes, there are real events woven into The Sicilian Secret, but the story is fictitious. It features the oldest story: of love. There is intrigue, loss and a mystery to solve. My characters may not have really existed but I hope they feel real to readers. They do to me and that is partly because I have set them in real locations.

Thank you so much for the wonderful post, Angela. Your characters certainly felt real to me and I am happy to share my review below. xx
About the book:


Italy, 1943. With war raging across the rugged cliffs and turquoise waters of his beloved Sicily, Savio’s pen scrawls desperately across the page. His letter must be sent in secret – or his life will be in terrible danger…

England, present day. Paige is devastated when her reclusive but beloved Aunt Florence dies – the only family she’s ever known. Inheriting her crumbling cottage, Paige finds an unfinished note. ‘I am sorry, Paige. It’s time to tell you everything. It all began in Sicily…’

Beside the note is a faded envelope – addressed to a woman called Joy – with an Italian postage stamp from 1943. The letter inside is made up of Roman numerals and snippets of sentences written in Italian. But who is Joy? Was someone sending a coded message? Paige is desperate to piece together the truth. But she soon discovers it will change everything she’s ever believed about her aunt, and her family history.

1943. Lady Joy Harrison may have grown up in a manor house, but she’s determined to fight for what’s right and use her fluent Italian to help the Allies. Breaking code on a long night shift, Joy reads a secret message that makes her wholebody shake. A dark-eyed young man she once loved is in terrible danger on the shores of Sicily. Was the message sent by him? And will she ever see him again – or will the war tear them apart for good?

An absolutely heartbreaking and stunning timesplit historical novel about how wartime secrets can stretch across the generations, and the incredible bravery of ordinary people in the darkest of times. Fans of The Nightingale, Fiona Valpy and Lucinda Riley will be captivated.

My review:

Angela Petch’s latest novel, The Sicilian Secret, intertwines the gripping narratives of a World War II romance and a family mystery discovered in the 1970s. I liked and became invested in the characters and felt compelled to read on as they navigated love, loss, and intrigue as the story unfolded.

The author’s meticulous research shines through, enriching the narrative with immersive historical detail. The writing vividly captures the essence of war and the alluring charm of 1970s Sicily. The plot kept me engrossed from start to finish, though I wanted a little more insight into how things developed for the characters after the final chapter. (Perhaps I did not want to let the story go.)

The Sicilian Secret is a compelling dual-timeline novel with an engaging blend of romance and mystery. I greatly enjoyed it.

Discover more and purchase here | audio link.

About the author:

Published by Bookouture, Angela Petch is an award-winning writer of fiction – and the occasional poem.

Every summer she moves to Tuscany for six months where she and her husband own a renovated watermill which they let out. When not exploring their unspoilt corner of the Apennines, she disappears to her writing desk at the top of a converted stable. In her Italian handbag or hiking rucksack she always makes sure to store notebook and pen to jot down ideas.

The winter months are spent in Sussex where most of her family live. When Angela’s not helping out with grandchildren, she catches up with writer friends.

Angela’s gripping WWII novels set in Italy are published by Bookouture. While her novel, Mavis and Dot, was self-published and tells of the frolics and foibles of two best-friends who live by the seaside. Angela also writes short stories published in Prima and People’s Friend.

Discover more about Angela Petch and her writing here: Facebook | Twitter | website | Amazon | Instagram

Want a free romance read for the weekend? Download The Purrfect Pet Sitter free on Kindle today (26/4/24) available here.

Paws and Prose with Eva Glyn.

Guest Post, Paws and Prose, , , , , , , , , , ,

Today, I am very happy to welcome Eva Glyn to my blog. Eva and I have known each other for almost a decade. She is a dear writing friend and author of many wonderful books, the latest of which, The Dubrovnik Book Club, is a moving story with a feline character who will steal your heart as much as the lead characters.

Please welcome Eva as she shares more about how that cat found its way into The Dubrovnik Book Club …

The first time I saw the draft cover for The Dubrovnik Book Club, the chair next to the table was empty. The next time there was a really cute little ginger and white cat on it.

“I hope you don’t mind,” my editor (a dyed-in-the-wool dog lover) told me, “but I asked the art department to pop one in.”

Not any cat, though; I recognised it straight away from one of the many pictures of Dubrovnik’s cats I’d shared on Instagram. This one was particularly gorgeous, photographed at ground level outside Sveti Vlaho church and taking more than a passing interest in the camera.

Dubrovnik’s cats are famous. The old town is full of them, many of no fixed abode, but others no doubt simply availing themselves of an extra meal from the various feeding stations which dot the narrow streets. Tourists who know about the cats arrive with bags of treats in their luggage, and I have no doubt at all that Dubrovnik is one of the best places in the world to be a cat about town.

There was a small problem with the cat on the cover of The Dubrovnik Book Club though – there was no cat in the story. Now, authors are (in)famous for taking their covers too literally, but I wouldn’t want to disappoint a reader who hoped to meet one, and I suppose I always knew that one of my main characters, Claire, was definitely a fan.

      The Orthodox church was set back a little from the street, allowing the pale sunlight to bathe its creamy frontage. Behind the elaborate railings that protected its terrace were half a dozen or so of the old town’s stray cats. A huge ginger beast wrapped around the terracotta support of a potted palm, watched from a safe distance by an equally impressive white one with black and tan splodges. Several more stretched out on the paving, making the most of what little warmth there was in the rays of the sun.

      Claire adored cats. They’d always had one at home when she was growing up; ever since a stray tortoiseshell had turned up at the back door, just as they were settling into their house in Chiswick. A movement behind the palm caught her eye, and two kittens emerged, eyes wide and tiny tails upright, before starting to tumble together, a mass of ginger and white fur.

      Their innocent play was infectiously joyful and Claire could not help but laugh. She had to recapture that joy in life for herself and the only way to do it was by losing her fear.

So, of course, when one of the strays, a ‘wobbly kitten’ incapable of looking after herself properly, turns up in the courtyard behind the bookshop Claire and Luna take her in and christen her Mis, which is Croatian for mouse, because she squeaks rather than mews. Little do any of them realise that their kindness could actually put Mis’s future well-being in jeopardy…

Aw, thank you for sharing how Mis came to find her way into The Dubrovnik Book Club. I loved meeting her in the story, too. xx

About the book:

In a tiny bookshop in Dubrovnik’s historic Old Town, a book club begins…

Newly arrived on the sun-drenched shores of Croatia, Claire Thomson’s life is about to change forever when she starts working at a local bookshop. With her cousin Vedran, employee Luna and Karmela, a professor, they form an unlikely book club.

But when their first book club pick – an engrossing cosy crime – inspires them to embark upon an investigation that is close to the group’s heart, they quickly learn the value of keeping their new-found friends close as lives and stories begin to entwine…

Buy links for all formats and retailers can be found here.

My review: 

I enjoy Eva Glyn’s writing, and the setting of The Dubrovnik Book Club comes to life brilliantly through her detailed depiction of the ancient city in which it is located. I greatly enjoyed seeing the city through the eyes of Karmela (perhaps my favourite character), a history professor with a passion for her subject and tenacity to uncover those hidden from history.

When I read a book by this author, I expect some characters to bring with them a dose of realism. The cast of The Dubrovnik Book Club are all such characters. They each carry their own battle scars – some from the literal battles they have fought defending their country and others born from their life experiences.

The main characters, the supporting cast, and even the stray cat they befriend have a personal struggle that forms part of their story. It draws them together and ultimately makes them the ideal support for each other. As they work together to save the book shop (and related book club), mysteries are solved, friendships are formed, and personal growth and freedoms are found. To that extent, despite the scars of war, fear of Covid, homophobia, abuse and Cancer (all of which are sensitively raised within the pages of the novel), there is a good balance of warmth, hope, love and friendship.

It is an enjoyable and engaging read that will undoubtedly leave you wanting to visit Dubrovnik.

About the Author:

Eva Glyn writes escapist relationship-driven fiction with a kernel of truth at its heart. She loves to travel and finds inspiration in beautiful places and the stories they hide.

Her love affair with Croatia began in 2019, and since then the country’s haunting histories and gorgeous scenery have proved fertile ground for her books, driven by her friendship with a tour guide she met there. His wartime story provided the inspiration for The Olive Grove and his help in creating a realistic portrayal of Croatian life has proved invaluable. Her second novel set in the country, An Island of Secrets is a dual timeline looking back to World War 2, and although her third is a contemporary romance featuring mature main characters, The Collaborator’s Daughter, has its roots in that conflict too.

Inspired by authors she loves such as Libby Page and Faith Hogan, Eva has wanted to write books about unlikely friendships for a long time. March 2024 saw her dream realised, when The Dubrovnik Book Club was published.

Eva lives in Cornwall, although she considers herself Welsh, and is lucky enough to be married to the love of her life, who she’s been with for almost thirty years. She also writes as Jane Cable.

Discover more about Eva Glyn: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Newsletter sign up | Book Bub

Morton S. Gray: Writing Romance.

Guest Post, Writing & Reading, , , , , , , , ,
This week, I am delighted to be joined by my good friend Morton S. Gray as she talks about writing romance. Over to you, Morton…

Thank you for having me on your blog, Carol. My seventh romantic novel, A New Arrival in Borteen Bay, was published on 23 January 2024 with Choc Lit Publishing, an imprint of Joffe Books.

I sometimes find it quite funny that I’m listed as a romance author. Very often, when I’m writing, I get so carried away with the mystery or the plot of a book that when it comes to the editing stage, I’m often asked to make it much more romantic. I guess it’s the other relationships that make up the story that interest me most.

It’s also a source of fascination to me that we only see people as they appear in front of us, as they are right now and not their history or backstory. We all have our own path through life that makes us who we are, and I think that’s what intrigues writers.

For example, someone looking at me will see a happily married woman with an older son with a lovely partner who has just made me a grandma and a younger son at university. The fourteen years as a solo parent working full time after my divorce from my first husband isn’t visible on the surface at all, and yet those years have had such a huge influence on who I am as a person. But then, taking that a step further, my second marriage is why I believe romance is possible and second chances do come along. I personally have probably lived the plot of many a romance novel!

To give a bit more insight into my take on romance, I thought I would share my favourite romance film, novel, and song. However, it’s tough to choose just one for each of these, so I will give you a selection for each.

Film: Finding You, The Holiday, The Wedding Date.

Novel: Wintercombe by Pamela Belle, Lost Dogs and Lonely Hearts by Lucy Dillon, Starting Over by Sue Moorcroft (I’ve read all of these titles many times over).

Song: Breathless by The Corrs, Wildest Dreams by Taylor Swift.

Thank you for your post, Morton. Despite watching a lot of films, I haven’t seen Finding You, so I will check it out. I do remember you recommended Lost Dogs and Lonely Hearts to me, and I greatly enjoyed reading it, too, as I have each of your romance novels.

About A New Arrival in Borteen Bay: 

FALL IN LOVE WITH AN UTTERLY IRRESISTIBLE, BRAND-NEW ROMANCE ABOUT FRESH BEGINNINGS AND LETTING GO OF THE PAST.

Skye knows it’s now or never. It’s time for her to reveal herself to the father she’s never met.

So she hops on a plane from Dublin to the English seaside town of Borteen.

But between the father she’s just getting to know and her worried mother, Skye realizes that the past is never that simple as a whirlwind of secrets turns their world upside down.

And now Skye has Adam, the hunky guy next door, to contend with. He’s determined to show her there’s room in her life for love.

Skye thinks they’re better off as friends, but Adam has other ideas. Even when she reveals a secret of her own.

Will Skye allow history to repeat itself? Or will she let go of the secrets of the past and open herself up to the future?

This uplifting and feel-good romance is perfect for fans of Beth Moran, Shari Low, Jessica Redland, Sue Moorcroft or Isabella Connor.

Purchase or discover more here: A New Arrival in Borteen Bay

My review:

I enjoyed returning to the enchanting setting of Borteen Bay and spending time in the company of Buzz, Skye and Adam. While Adam’s actions sometimes seemed impetuous, I felt this was explained as I discovered more about his character and motivation. For me, Buzz was the real star of the story, emerging as a compelling figure with his poignant creation of a labyrinth on the beach, only for it to be erased by the tide – encapsulating both the fragility of life and the enduring spirit of optimism (something he certainly embodies). As the characters come together, the narrative weaves their individual stories, creating a tapestry of resilience, healing, and acceptance. It’s a lovely, gentle read to cosy up with.

Morton’s books are a delight to read and always have a great hook. If you are looking for a new series to fall in love with, I recommend checking them out: The Secrets of Borteen Bay

About the author:

Morton S. Gray lives in Worcestershire, U.K. She has been reading and writing fiction for as long as she can remember and penned her first attempt at a novel at the age of fourteen. She is a member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association and The Society of Authors.

Morton worked for many years in the electricity industry, developing and training staff. She is a qualified hypnotherapist and Reiki Master. She enjoys crafts and history and loves tracing family trees. Having a hunger for learning new things is a bonus for the research behind her books.

You can find out more about Morton and her work here: website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram