Tag Archives: Carol Thomas Author Blog

Meet Three Characters from Beneath an Irish Sky.

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Today, I am joined by the authors writing under the pseudonym Isabella Connor as they introduce three characters from Beneath an Irish Sky, the first novel in the Emerald Isle series.  

Welcome ladies, over to you…

We’d like to introduce the three main characters from our novel, Beneath an Irish Sky– though of course, the peripheral characters are pretty good too. Of course, everyone has his/her own visualisation of a fictional character but if anyone is interested in how we imagined them, take a look at our Pinterest page, here.

However, visual doesn’t cover personality…

The inspiration for Luke originated from the character Dallas, played by Joe McFadden in BBC’s Sex, Chips and Rock and Roll.  When we told Joe this he hoped there might be a part for him in the tv series…

LUKE KIERNAN:  20-year-old Luke is a spirited young man with a charismatic personality despite his tough upbringing.  Raised a Traveller in Ireland, he is   driven by passion and is a champion of lost causes.  Slow to trust, but once he does his love and loyalty will be intense and unwavering. Though not tall, standing around 5’7”, Luke has black hair with soft curls which just reach his collar, blue eyes and long dark lashes – despite his slight stature, he is likely to stand out in any crowd.  Braver than he probably should be, stubborn and impulsive, Luke will always support the underdog. Hates injustice and prejudice. Loves animals, possibly more than he does people.  Dreamed of playing professional football for Manchester United and Ireland. Has a good singing voice with vocal range from alto to counter-tenor. Enjoys reading, music, plays the guitar.  Luke is streetwise but also naïve.  Shy and inexperienced, he falls in love with Kate, the daughter of his father’s on/off girlfriend – and soon makes up for lost time.

JACK STEWART:  A warm heart beats beneath a tough outer exterior.  Jack is 6’1” tall, lean and muscular, with green eyes and light brown hair which is greying at the temples, and he  looks younger than his forty-six years.  Enjoys working out and walking, good food and wine.  Stubborn, with a tendency to being ostrich-like if he doesn’t want to face something. Became cynical and hardened by the death of his first wife and the disappearance of his second and hehas since lived without commitment or real love, not acknowledging his need for both. He initially refuses to believe that Luke is his son but feels an obligation because there is a chance that he is, and also he hopes that Luke can provide an answer to the question that has been unanswered for 20 years – why did his much-loved wife leave him.  In the past he has been easily influenced by his parents, especially his mother who considers herself English aristocracy, and who strongly disapproved of his marriage to Traveller Annie but when Jack falls for another Irish woman, he finally finds the strength to ditch the ostrich.

EMER SULLIVAN:  Emer, 35, is passionate about her job as a trauma counsellor in a Dublin hospital. Down-to-earth with a warm sense of humour, she has long red curly hair, freckles, and green-yellow eyes. She grew up in County Mayo on the West Coast of Ireland, where her father was the local doctor. She is loyal to family and friends, and has a close relationship with her sister, Maeve. Her profession has made her value honesty. Irregular work hours make a personal life tricky, and five years in a failed relationship has left Emer worried that she doesn’t have the emotional energy left to invest in another. She meets Jack Stewart when he arrives from England to identify the body of his estranged wife, but then has to deal with the shock of finding a 20-year-old son he had no knowledge of. Emer forms a bond with the vulnerable Luke, and then tries to help father and son connect with each other and work through the trauma of the past. As her relationship with Jack develops, though, she starts to feel trapped in the middle of their feud. She worries that saying yes to love will only expose her heart to more pain.

About Beneath an Irish Sky:

The past is never over …

Jack Stewart thought he’d put the past behind him. On the surface, he has everything – success, money, a big house and he is never short of an attractive woman by his side, but a tragic road accident shatters his world.

Raised as an Irish Traveller, Luke Kiernan hasn’t had it easy, and when he wakes in a Dublin hospital to find the man he’s hated since childhood at his bedside, he’s hungry for revenge.
Two very different worlds collide, bringing new dangers, exposing past deceits, and unearthing dark family secrets buried long ago. But from tragedy springs the promise of a fresh start with two women who are intent on helping Jack and Luke mend their lives.

Can new love heal old wounds, or are some scars there for good?

Purchase from Amazon.

Thank you for the great post and for sharing your characters with us, ladies. xx

About the authors:

Isabella Connor is the pseudonym for two internet buddies who have never physically met, and who live on different continents – one in North America, the other in Europe. Val O is a teacher, and Liv T an NHS worker. Beneath an Irish Sky is the first of a planned quartet of novels set in the same area, but stand-alone stories.

Discover more about Isabella Connor’s work here: Amazon | Twitter | Facebook

Cover Reveal for Julie Shackman’s A Scottish Highland Surprise.

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It’s cover reveal time for Julie Shackman’s contemporary romance novel, A Scottish Highland Surprise. Doesn’t it look great! Congratulations, Julie and One More Chapter. 

To find out more, here’s the blurb:

Discover the secrets and surprises that the scenic Scottish town of Briar Glen has to offer…

When wedding planner Sophie Harkness refuses to move a friend’s wedding to accommodate a spoilt bridezilla, she finds herself out of a job. That is until she discovers her late grandma has purchased a local shop for her in the pretty Scottish town of Briar Glen.

Surprised and delighted, Sophie opens her own porcelain shop in honour of her grandmother. But when an unusual tea set is left with Sophie, along with a mysterious letter, she can’t help but be intrigued by the story behind the antique.

And when the handsome but aloof art critic Xander North comes knocking on her door, Sophie is about to find out the true colourful past of her latest treasure.

The perfect feel-good romance for fans of Jo Thomas, Katie Fforde and Trisha Ashley.

Pre-order here: Amazon UK | Amazon US
Publication Date: 22ndApril

About the author:

Julie Shackman is a former journalist from Scotland, who has always wanted to write feel-good romance. As well as being an author, Julie also writes verses and captions for greetings card companies. Julie admits to having an obsession with stationery and handbags. She is married, has two sons and a Romanian rescue pup, who she named Cooper. A Scottish Highland Surprise is Julie’s sixth novel.

Discover more about Julie and her work, here:  Twitter | Facebook | Instagram

Thanks to Rachel Gilbey, of Rachel’s Random Resources, Julie Shackman and One More Chapter for the chance to join in the cover reveal celebrations. xx

Join my newsletter in February  for a chance to win a copy of A Summer of Second Chances.

Researching Queen of the Desert with Marie Laval.

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Today, I am delighted to welcome Marie Laval as she talks about researching her latest romance novel,  Queen of the Desert, released on February 15th. Over to you, Marie …

I absolutely loved writing and researching this novel. Not only did I get to travel in imagination with my heroine Harriet Montague and my hero Lucas Saintclair to the Sahara desert, but I got to read many legends and tales associated with the mysterious queen Tin Hinan.

Tin Hinan is said to have come from what would now be Morocco and settled at Abalessa, an oasis in Southern Algeria, and founded the Tuaregs tribes, or the  “Kel Tamasheq”(those who speak Tamashek) as they call themselves. Her tomb was discovered by archaeologist, adventurer and allegedly occasional con artist Byron Khun de Prorok (what a name!) in 1925.

In QUEEN OF THE DESERT, I used my artistic licence to write that it was Harriet’s father who discovers the tomb, but I made sure I kept as close as possible to the accounts detailing the artefacts, the gold, silver jewellery, and precious and semi-precious stones which were found there, as well as the description of the remains of the Tuareg queen.

In the days before carbon dating, it was the imprint of a coin with the effigy of Emperor Constantine on a sculptured bowl which enabled historians to date the tomb from the 4th century AD. The body of Queen Tin Hinan as well as all the artefacts found in her tomb are now in the Bardo Museum in Algiers.

Even before her tomb was discovered, the numerous legends surrounding Queen Tin Hinan inspired Pierre Benoit to write his classic novel ‘Atlantide’, published in 1919. His heroin, Antinea, and her followers are descendants of the people of ‘Atlantis’ who had taken refuge in the Hoggar after a great disaster destroyed their world. Antinea lives in a palace hidden in the mountains, where she seduced and entrapped lost explorers to the Sahara.

Recently there has been some controversy about the identity of the woman who was buried at Abalessa, with some historians now disputing that the remains belonged to Tin Hinan at all! But whoever was buried there however was a woman of immense prestige and immense wealth.

I hope that readers will enjoy the adventure and the mystery in the story as much as the romance between Harriet and Lucas, who remains one of my all times favourite heroes…

Here is the blurb:

Sometimes the most precious treasures exist in the most barren and inhospitable of places …
Harriet Montague is definitely too much of a gentlewoman to be frequenting the backstreet taverns of Algiers. But her father has been kidnapped whilst on an expedition to the tomb of an ancient desert queen, and she’s on a mission to find the only person who could save him.

It’s just unfortunate that Lucas Saintclair, the man Harriet hopes will rescue her father from scoundrels, is the biggest scoundrel of the lot. With a bribe in the form of a legendary pirate treasure map, securing his services is the easiest part – now Harriet must endure a treacherous journey through the desert accompanied by Saintclair’s band of ruffians.
But on the long, hot Saharan nights, is it any wonder that her heart begins to thaw towards her guide – especially when she realises Lucas’s roguish façade conceals something she could never have expected?

QUEEN OF THE DESERT is available as ebook from Amazonand Kobo

Follow The Queen of the Desert on tour as Marie Laval stops by the following blogs:

About the Author:

Originally from Lyon in France, Marie now lives in Lancashire and writes historical and contemporary romance. Best-selling LITTLE PINK TAXI was her debut contemporary romantic novel with Choc Lit. A PARIS FAIRY TALE was published in July 2019, followed by BLUEBELL’S CHRISTMAS MAGIC in November 2019 and bestselling romantic suspense ESCAPE TO THE LITTLE CHATEAU which was shortlisted for the 2021 RNA Jackie Collins Romantic Suspense Award. HAPPY DREAMS AT MERMAID COVE is her latest contemporary romance. QUEEN OF THE DESERT is Marie’s second historical romance, following on from ANGEL OF THE LOST TREASURE which features another member of the Saintclair family.

She also writes short stories for the bestselling Miss Moonshine anthologies, and is a member of the Romantic Novelists Association and the Society of Authors. Her novels are available as ebooks and audiobooks on Amazon and various other platforms.

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

Thank you so much for stopping by my blog, Marie. I hope you enjoy the rest of your tour. xx

February, the month of love!

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With February being the month of love, I am delighted that Maybe Baby is currently included in the Choc Lit / Ruby Fiction 99p Valentine’s sale.

“A truly heart-warming story of love, romance and most importantly friendship,” Maybe Baby is the perfect read for a month that includes Galentine’s Day on 13th February and Valentine’s Day on 14th February.

Galentine’s Day is a time to celebrate your gal pals, that supportive network of friends and family who you know are there for you no matter what.

Whether virtual, real, or imagined in a novel – female friendships thrive where there is an element of support, appreciation and commitment. With many influential women in my life: my amazingly supportive late mum, three older sisters, three daughters and a granddaughter, as well as close female friends and colleagues, my writing frequently includes strong female relationships; Maybe Baby is no exception.

In writing the Lisa Blake novels (The Purrfect Pet Sitter and Maybe Baby), the story of Lisa and her first love, Nathan Baker, takes centre stage. However, the exploration of the reconnection between Lisa and her once-best friend Felicity plays an important part in the novels and was a joy to write.

The interaction between the two recently reunited friends reflects their past – the shared memories, the in-jokes, and the things only best friends would know about each other. Writing their characters and the moments they share was touching, as if I was privy to their lives and bond. I hope as people read the novel, they enjoy spending time in their company, as much as I did.

While we don’t see Lisa and Felicity celebrating Galentine’s in Maybe Baby, I am sure they would celebrate it in style. What we do see, however, is Lisa attempting to give her boyfriend, Nathan, a Valentine’s Day surprise he will never forget, but you’ll have to read the novel to find out if things go to plan.

No matter how you choose to spend the month of February, I hope it is in the company of those you love and a good book! xx

The blurb:

Just when you thought you had it all worked out …

Lisa Blake is back with her first love, she’s reunited with her best friend Felicity, and even her pet sitting skills are improving – everybody knows you can’t believe all you read in the local Gazette, don’t they?

Felicity is on the cusp of achieving her perfect wife-mum-life balance; Her husband, Pete, is being wonderfully attentive, and her four children are getting older and wiser (sometimes too much wiser) by the day.

But when Lisa walks in on a half-naked woman in her boyfriend’s flat and Felicity is left reeling from a shocking discovery, it seems life is nothing but full of surprises. Can love, laughter, and learning to compromise, help them achieve their dreams?

Maybe Baby is available in audio, ebook, paperback and in large print, buying links: Amazon | Kobo | Ruby Fiction 

Maybe Baby is the second book in the Lisa Blake series. While the story follows on from The Purrfect Pet Sitter (Lisa Blake book #1), it can also be read as a standalone novel.

Discover more here: Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram |  

A New Feel Good Friday Read from Kirsty Ferry.

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It Started with a Wedding: An uplifting and fun romance for the new year from Kirsty Ferry.

I am always in awe of fellow Choc Lit author Kirsty Ferry as, as well as being a talented artist, she is also a prolific writer; And neither of these things are her day job! Her latest novel, the fifth in her Schubert series is released later this month (22/2/22 – what a memorable date). As she prepares for the launch, I thought I would share a little about her latest fabulous, feel good read.

The blurb:

It’s one thing to be asked to plan your sister’s wedding; it’s quite another when your sister is Nessa McCreadie …

Alfie McCreadie wants his twin sister Nessa to have the best wedding ever, but he’s not happy at being roped in as wedding planner – especially as, unbelievably, his main assistant seems to be Nessa’s cat, Schubert. Anyway, Alfie is a scientist. He might know his protons from his neutrons, but what does he know about weddings?

It’s Nessa who points him in the direction of Bea’s Garden, just outside Edinburgh, where he’s tasked with picking a “very-relevant-bouquet”. It’s there he meets Fae Brimham, who might be prettier than any bouquet bloom but doesn’t seem impressed by Alfie’s sensible, scientific side.

But when Nessa and Schubert are involved, surprises are bound to happen and, despite less-than-perfect first impressions, perhaps something new and beautiful can still blossom for Alfie and Fae …

This is Alfie’s story in the Schubert series. They can all be read as standalone stories.

Currently available for preorder, release date 22nd February 2022.

What folks are saying about It Started with a Wedding:

  • “Entertaining fun.”
  • Great for fans of magical powers, mythical spirits and the belief that cats are minds readers (of course they are)!”
  • “A quirky light-hearted romance.”
  • “I was very happy when this book was announced, and even more while reading it.”

Best of luck with the new book Kirsty. I hope it will be a huge hit. xx

About the author:

Kirsty Ferry is from the North East of England and lives there with her husband and son. She won the English Heritage/Belsay Hall National Creative Writing competition in 2009 and has had articles and short stories published in various magazines. Her work also appears in several anthologies, incorporating such diverse themes as vampires, crime, angels and more.

Kirsty loves writing ghostly mysteries and interweaving fact and fiction. The research is almost as much fun as writing the book itself, and if she can add a wonderful setting and a dollop of history, that’s even better.

Her day job involves sharing a building with an eclectic collection of ghosts, which can often prove rather interesting.

You can follow Kirsty, and find out more about her work here: Facebook | Twitter | website | blog