Tag Archives: Borteen Bay Series

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

Escape to Borteen Bay with Morton S Gray.

Escape to, Guest Post, , , , , , , , , ,

Today, I am delighted to be joined by regular guest Morton S Gray as she talks about living in a fictional world. Over to you, Morton…

I write standalone contemporary “romance with a mystery to solve” novels but all set in my fictional seaside town of Borteen. I’m just putting the finishing touches to the seventh novel set in the town, having published the sixth – Summer at Lucerne Lodge in April 2021.

My debut novel, The Girl on the Beach was my first book set in Borteen. I truly find it amazing how quickly a fictional place can begin to feel completely real. In my head, I can walk down the streets and name the shops and their owners, I know what the views are like from various places in the town and surrounding countryside, even how wide the roads are.

When it came to writing Book Two in the Borteen Secrets Series – The Truth Lies Buried, my editor asked if I had a map of the town, so I drew one and added pictures to show how I envisaged the buildings and various landmarks. It was surprisingly easy to do, because I had walked the streets so often in my head. I fully intend to tidy this up at some point so that I can let readers see it, but at the moment the map includes some pictures to which I don’t have sharing rights.

I’ve set two books at Christmas in Borteen – Christmas at Borteen Bay and Christmas at the Little Beach Café and book seven’s timeline goes through the Christmas period too. The traditions of the town at this time of year again feel so very familiar to me, with the Christmas fair, Santa fun run and Christmas tree dressing event.

There have also been two summer books set in Borteen – Sunny Days at the Beach and Summer at Lucerne Lodge, which give the town a different touristy feel with more beach activity. Again, I can happily walk the beach at Borteen and visit the caves in the cliffs. The town is not based on an actual place, more a mixture of lots of seaside places I have spent time in, so it amuses me when my readers try to guess the actual location.

My characters are also very real to me. If any of them walked into a café I would instantly recognise them. I know their appearance and demeanour, how they interact as if I was inside of them looking out of their eyes, as well as from observing them through the eyes of other characters. Not only do I know how their facial features change when confronted with the situations I put them into in my books, but I know how they feel too, how their heart rate reacts and the sensations on their skin.

I suppose what I am trying to say is that I can put myself inside my story, fictional town and even inside the characters’ heads. I realise that makes me sound really odd, but it is how the process of writing works for me. For me as part of the practice of writing, I see my books unfold like films in front of me.

This experience isn’t unique amongst writers, but friends who haven’t had this encounter with a fictional world can look at me a little strangely if I talk about it, especially when I mention that other Borteen residents mentioned in the seven books so far are clamouring for their stories to be told too.

What a great post, Morton. I love your Borteen Secrets series and the way your knowledge of the setting and characters shines through in the writing. xx

Book celebrations:

 Morton is celebrating two things at the moment, the release of her sixth novel for Choc Lit – Summer at Lucerne Lodge and the paperback release of Sunny Days at the Beach.

Summer at Lucerne Lodge tells the story of Tanner and Rosie. They first meet at a charity auction held in the grounds of Lucerne Lodge on the outskirts of the seaside town of Borteen. However, that first meeting isn’t as innocent as it sounds, because Tanner has found a private investigator’s file on his father’s desk about Rosie and wants to know why … Discover more, here.

Sunny Days at the Beach begins when commitment free singleton and craft shop owner Mandy takes in an abandoned teenager, but then gin distillery owner Graham arrives in Borteen with some unexpected news. Discover more, here.

About the author.

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 Star competition.Her other books for Choc Lit are The Truth Lies Buried, Christmas at Borteen Bay, Sunny Days at the Beach, Christmas at the Little Beach Café and Summer at Lucerne Lodge.

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 find out more about Morton and her work via: website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Apricot Plots

Don’t miss author Ian Wilfred, as he stops by next week with a guest post that will have you dreaming of Greece. xx


Feel Good Friday with Morton S. Gray.

Feel Good Friday, Guest Post, , , , , , , ,

For this week’s Feel Good Friday post, I am delighted to welcome Morton S. Gray back to my blog to chat about her novel, Summer  at Lucerne Lodge.

I’m hoping that readers of my new release Summer at Lucerne Lodge will enjoy going on a journey of discovery with my hero, Tanner and heroine, Rosie. I enjoyed writing the book because it allowed me to relive some lovely times in my life.

At one point in the book my heroine runs away to North Wales and I was immediately transported back to holidays spent in the Harlech area when I used to stay with my friend, Sue in the static caravan she owned at the coast.

We used to have such lovely times on the beaches, exploring Harlech and Cricceth castle and shopping in Barmouth. My husband worked abroad a lot when my son was small, so he was often with us on these holidays and got to do things like lighting a fire on the beach and making sand angels.

My book also has my heroine exploring some alternative therapies and these have played a big role in my own life as I worked as a therapist for a number of years. I have fond memories of taking part in alternative health fairs and giving mini sample treatments to people interested. I could also write a book about training in therapies and some of those experiences have found their way into this book.

Carol asked me to share my favourite place to read books. If I could choose any place to read, it would be on the sofa at an apartment my husband used to have for work purposes in Dublin. Carol once joined me for a long weekend writing at this flat. If I need to relax, I imagine myself there and can almost feel the material of that sofa beneath my hand.

These days I mainly read at the end of the day in bed, or else in the bath. It’s almost a gauge of a good book, because if I find myself sneaking off in the middle of the day to read, a book has well and truly hooked me.

Five Quick Questions for Fun:

Sweet or savoury? Sweet all the way!
Favourite biscuit? Ginger nut – love dunking them in my tea.
Laptop or notepad? In the early stages of writing a story, I prefer a notepad. Writing longhand helps my creativity flow more easily than typing.
Late night or early morning? I’m an early morning girl.
Mountains or the beach? I don’t enjoy sitting on a beach in the sun, but I love walking on beaches and could beachcomb all day collecting seaglass.

About Summer at Lucerne Lodge

The blurb:

Could a beautiful old house and a handsome stranger hold the key to a life-changing secret?

Rosie Phillips could be forgiven for not being immediately won over by Tanner Bryant. After all, their first meeting involves him knocking a tray of prawn cocktail over her very expensive dress at a charity event in the grounds of Lucerne Lodge.

But little does Rosie know how pivotal that awkward first meeting will be, or how the Lodge will become the unexpected backdrop for a summer spent finding out who she really is, and who she could be …

Purchase links: Amazon | Choc Lit link for other retailers
Published by Choc Lit
Publication date: 20th April 2021

About Morton S. Gray:

Morton lives with her husband, two sons and Lily, the little white dog, in Worcestershire, UK. 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.

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 loves learning new things and these often end up in her books. Crocheting blankets, making her own perfumed soap and weaving have kept her sane during lockdown. She has been tracing her family tree for many years and is fascinated by the new avenues of research opened up by genealogical DNA testing.

When she writes fiction, she enjoys the process of solving a mystery that links her characters. Her sixth novel for Choc Lit Publishing, Summer at Lucerne Lodge is published on 20 April 2021. Her books are stand-alone titles that can be read in any order but are linked by her fictional seaside town of Borteen.

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

Thank you so much for the lovely post, Morton. I loved our time in Dublin and look forward to when we can go on a writing retreat again. The very best of luck with Summer at Lucerne Lodge. I can’t wait to read it. xx

Feel Good Friday with Morton S. Gray.

Author Interview, Guest Post, , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Welcoming the return of Morton S. Gray to my blog, as she shares her latest novel Sunny Days at the Beach, a fabulous feel-good Friday read:

It’s lovely to have you back, Morton, and I know you have shared your top tip for wellbeing with us before, but for those who missed it, perhaps you could share what you’ve discovered during lockdown: 

 I discovered that a daily long walk of at least 10,000 steps helps my wellbeing tremendously. I am always in danger of telling myself that I don’t have time to spare for my walk, but I have now recognised that it is a necessity and not a luxury. The added bonus is that I actually lost weight during lockdown, which I gather not many people can claim.

Now, to the exciting news! You have a new book out and I can’t wait to read it. Please tell us a little about Sunny Days at the Beach:

Sunny Days at the Beach was published on 18 August 2020. My fourth novel for Choc Lit, Sunny Days at the Beach is a contemporary romance with more than its fair share of intrigue and mystery. The book features Mandy Vanes, who runs Owl Corner Crafts in my fictional seaside town of Borteen. Mandy arrives at work one morning to find teenager, Nick Crossten sitting on the craft centre steps. Nick is distraught as he tells Mandy that his mother has left him home alone and gone off with her boyfriend to start a new life. As if that wasn’t enough, gin distiller, Graham Frankley arrives on the scene and tells the pair that Nick’s mum has written to him to say that he’s Nick’s dad!

Here’s the blurb:

From party nights at the pub to sunny days at the beach …

Craft shop owner Mandy Vanes has always enjoyed a commitment-free singleton lifestyle — in fact, she’s well-known for her wild ways in her small seaside town on the coast.

But when local teenager, Nick Crossten, turns to her for help, Mandy has the opportunity to prove she can be a responsible adult. Although things get tricky when gin distillery owner Graham Frankley comes to town with some unexpected news.

Could this mean that Mandy the party girl is finally ready to grow up?

It sounds great, and I remember Mandy as a minor character from previous Borteen books and so I’m excited she has her own story.

Here are the links to buy Sunny Days at the Beach: Amazon | Choc Lit

Please do share an extract from the story:

Nick glanced up as Mandy approached. His face looked ashen, just as hers had been in her morning reflection and his eyes were hollow and dark ringed too. He was shivering in the cold air.

‘Nick? What’s up?’ She tried to sound bright, even though her heart lurched as she could tell something was terribly wrong.

‘Mum’s gone.’

‘Gone? What do you mean gone?’ All thoughts of herself, her reflection in the mirror and even her sore head fled.

‘Met a man and left with him.’ The unhappy youth shrugged and looked away, as if he didn’t want her to see his expression.

‘But she can’t just leave you. Can she?’

He looked back at Mandy, his eyes full of tears. ‘Well, she has.’ He shrugged again.

‘Are you absolutely certain? She’s not just gone on holiday?’

‘She’s gone, Mand. Gone forever. Said horrid things to me before she went.’ His thin shoulders began to shake, no longer able to hold back the sobs. Mandy didn’t quite know how to react. You thought twice about putting your arm around someone else’s child these days. ‘But who’s going to look after you? Did she at least leave you some money? A phone number for emergencies?’

‘Nope.’ He gulped the bleak word out through his emotion. ‘Said I didn’t deserve anything, that I could support myself with my “poncy” art. Left her keys on the table, took her suitcases and slammed the door.’ He looked up at Mandy, blatant fear in his eyes. ‘What do I do now?’

Mandy sank down to sit on the step next to Nick and an ache started up in her chest in response to his woeful expression. ‘First of all, Nick, your art is wonderful. Never let anyone say otherwise. And you, young man, deserve the best the world can give to you.’

Nick had always appeared scruffy and slightly neglected, but this was the first time she’d seen him looking beaten down by life. He’d always had a ready smile before.

‘What about your dad?’ Her tone sounded falsely bright even to her own ears.

‘Never known a dad. Mum always says I haven’t got one.’

Mandy resisted the obvious retort that he must have been fathered by someone and wondered how Nick’s mother could have been so cruel to her son to say such a thing. She felt a spark of determination growing inside of her. ‘We’ll work this out together. You can come and stay with me for now, until we decide what to do.’

Aw, goodness, that’s moving and I hope life takes a turn for Nick. I know you are always busy but I hope you are finding time to write too, what can we expect from you next?

My next book is a Christmas novella set once more in my fictional seaside town of Borteen. This one features the Borteen solicitor and a woman he meets by chance on the beach.

I loved my last Christmas trip to Borteen, so I will look forward to it. Before you go, please could you answer five of my quick fire questions:

Mountains or beach (though I expect we can guess)? Beach every time – a walk on the beach is good for my soul.
Sweet or savoury? Unfortunately sweet – I love puddings, cakes, chocolate, etc.
Tea or coffee? Coffee, not instant, proper coffee of course.
Trainers or heels? Haven’t worn heels for years, but I tend to wear walking shoes rather than trainers.
Favourite season? Autumn – I was born in September and I often wonder if that’s why I prefer the autumnal days and cooler temperatures.

About the author:

Morton 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 find out more about Morton and her work via: website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Apricot Plots

Morton S Gray joins my Christmas Countdown!

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

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

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 😉

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

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.

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