Next up on my Christmas countdown is Choc Lit author, Morton S Gray, with her festive read, Christmas at Borteen Bay…

Welcome to my blog Morton, I’ve read your wonderful Christmas book but for those who haven’t how will your characters be celebrating Christmas?

Set in my fictional seaside town of Borteen, Christmas at Borteen Bay, follows the story of Pippa Freeman, who runs the Rose Court Guesthouse with her mother, and local policeman Ethan Gibson, as they unravel a family secret. The story starts at the beginning of December and finishes on Christmas Day, so I think it would give too much away by telling you how they celebrate Christmas! Please read the book to find out.

Morton you are being a tease! To discover a little more, here’s the blurb 🙂 

Christmas has a way of bringing family secrets to the surface …

Christmas is a bittersweet time for Pippa Freeman. There are good memories, of course – but some painful ones too.

Then her mother is implicated in a mysterious occurrence in their home town of Borteen, and Pippa wonders if she’ll ever experience a happy Christmas again – especially when a family secret is revealed.

But when police officer and old school friend Ethan Gibson offers his support, Pippa begins to realise that even though her life has been turned upside down, a happy and hopeful Christmas isn’t impossible …

And, to add to that, here’s my review:

The story is told from the point of view of the main characters, Ethan and Pippa, who are both still touched by occurrences from their past, that have divided them. So when Pippa has to turn to Ethan for help, it is more than a body on the beach that is brought to the surface. As the two are thrown together it becomes apparent that Ethan is a different type of romantic hero; he is more measured in his responses and passions, he is flawed and yet thoroughly likeable.

As a novella, it is great to escape into for a few hours over the busy Christmas period. I enjoy Morton’s writing style and the world she has created in her Borteen Bay series. I look forward to visiting again in the future.

Click to buy the book: Ebook | Audio | Other Retailers

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With plenty of drama unfolding for your characters, I am intrigued to know how you will be celebrating the festive season…

We always have a traditional family Christmas.

Early on Christmas morning I enjoy exchanging presents with my husband and youngest son. My eldest son and his girlfriend collect my mother on the way to our house for lunch and more presents.

Thankfully, my husband loves cooking and I am eternally grateful for this. We will have a roast dinner, usually beef and honey-glazed ham with loads of vegetables including sprouts, roast potatoes and parsnips plus Yorkshire puddings. After a suitable gap for digestion, we then have Christmas pudding with brandy butter and cream.

Often my sister, her partner and her children join us later in the afternoon to see mom and exchange yet more presents.

At some point we walk the dog and then settle down for a film in the evening when everyone has gone home. The day usually feels as if it has passed by very quickly.

Your Christmas sounds very similar to my own, busy but full of family and festive fun. My hubby cooks too 😉

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Before you go, I’d love you to answer five quick questions from my festive selection:

Who did you play in the school nativity? I was an angel in the infant school nativity. Unfortunately, I was ill and didn’t make it to school on the day. Mum always says that the teacher cried, ‘Not my Angel Gabriel!’ Oh no, poor you and poor teacher.

Real or artificial Christmas tree? I’ve always loved real Christmas trees, but since living in this particular house and owning a dog, we go for artificial trees, one in the lounge, one in the dining room and one outside of the front door.

Multi-coloured decs or co-ordinated Christmas tree? I love making and collecting Christmas decorations and prefer the multi-coloured, unthemed look. I add to my collection every year and enjoy discovering the older ones when I open the boxes. My favourites have to be the glass icicles that my grandad apparently brought home from somewhere during the second world war.

Here are some of Morton’s gorgeous Christmas decorations!

Best Christmas gift? A perfume atomizer my husband bought for me alongside my favourite Dior perfume. The atomizer has been everywhere with me since that Christmas and it’s so easy to fill by a pressurized system from the mother bottle.

Favourite Christmas film? Without doubt my favourite Christmas film is The Holiday. Jude Law is adorable in the film. I won’t tell you just how many times I have watched this film. Closely followed by Love Actually, which I’ve also watched numerous times.

Three Christmas trees, I have trouble keeping my dog from eating the decorations on one, hehe! Interestingly, The Holiday is proving a very popular choice amongst us romance writers!

Thank you so much for joining my Christmas countdown. I wish you, your lovely family and of course dog, a very happy Christmas. xx

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About Morton S Gray:

Morton S Gray lives with her husband, two sons and Lily, the tiny white dog, in Worcestershire, U.K. She has been reading and writing fiction for as long as she can remember, penning her first attempt at a novel aged fourteen. She is a member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association and The Society of Authors.

Her debut novel The Girl on the Beach was published after she won the Choc Lit Publishing Search for a Starcompetition. This story follows a woman with a troubled past as she tries to unravel the mystery surrounding her son’s new headteacher, Harry Dixon. The book is available as a paperback and e-book.

Morton’s second book for Choc Lit The Truth Lies Buried is another romantic suspense novel, The book tells the story of Jenny Simpson and Carver Rodgers as they uncover secrets from their past. This book is available as an e-book, paperback and audiobook.

Christmas at Borteen Bay is Morton’s first Christmas novella. It is set in her fictional seaside town of Borteen and follows the story of Pippa Freeman, who runs the Rose Court Guesthouse with her mother, and local policeman Ethan Gibson, as they unravel a family secret as Christmas approaches.

Morton previously worked in the electricity industry in committee services, staff development and training. She has a Business Studies degree and is a fully qualified Clinical Hypnotherapist and Reiki Master. She also has diplomas in Tuina acupressure massage and energy field therapy. She enjoys crafts, history and loves tracing family trees. Having a hunger for learning new things is a bonus for the research behind her books.

You can catch up with Morton via: website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram.

Morton is also a member of Apricot Plots.

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Don’t miss me, on my blog on Monday 18th November, sharing a Christmas teaser from The Purrfect Pet Sitter, and how I will be celebrating Christmas. xx

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