Tag Archives: Carol Thomas Author

Sue Moorcroft joins my Christmas Countdown!

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

Today, on my Christmas countdown, I am joined by Sunday Times Best Seller Sue Moorcroft, whose latest Christmas book, Let it Snow, has been described as a fab festive read!

Welcome to my blog Sue, Let it Snow is definitely on my Christmas reading list, to get me in the mood, I would love to know how your characters will be spending Christmas…

Isaac knew he’d probably be running The Three Fishes while Tubb’s away in Switzerland, and he is, but he’s somehow ended up with his ex, Hayley, living there too. He also has Doggo the dalmatian to keep him company but neither of those are the one he wants to be with. It’s not until Christmas morning that he realises that Lily, instead of coming in to make gingerbread men for the Christmas Day pub lunch, has disappeared. Lily is with family. Very newly discovered family. And they give her an opportunity she thought she’d never have.

Oh you’ve got me hooked and I see the blurb is equally as intriguing:

This Christmas, the villagers of Middledip are off on a very Swiss adventure…

Family means everything to Lily Cortez and her sister Zinnia, and growing up in their non-conventional family unit, they and their two mums couldn’t have been closer.

So it’s a bolt out of the blue when Lily finds her father wasn’t the anonymous one-night stand she’d always believed – and is in fact the result of her mum’s reckless affair with a married man.

Confused, but determined to discover her true roots, Lily sets out to find the family she’s never known; an adventure that takes her from the frosted, thatched cottages of Middledip to the snow-capped mountains of Switzerland, via a memorable romantic encounter along the way…

Buying links: Kindle UK | Kobo UK | Apple Books | paperback or at your favourite book shop or supermarket | audio

With plenty going on for your characters in the lead up to Christmas, I’d love to know how you will be spending this festive season…

In the first half of December I’ll be visiting Sweden with my lovely author buddy Christina Courtenay ( who also writes as Pia Fenton). My Winter 2020 book will be at least partly set in Sweden and Christina has kindly invited me to go with her to visit her mum, who lives in south Sweden. We’ll be having a few days in Stockholm too and I’m looking forward to Christmas markets, the old town, ice hockey and a moose safari. (Note to self: try and do some Christmas shopping while there. Swiss chocolate went down a storm last year and I don’t think anyone will mind repeating the exercise with Swedish chocolate.)

When it comes to Christmas itself I’ll be having a quiet time at home with family except for one day between Christmas and New Year, when a whole lot of Moorcrofts will descend to eat, drink, be merry and talk a lot. We refer to this as the Gathering of the Clan, although none of us has any Scottish blood. I think it’s a testament to the strength of my family ties that I can’t remember anyone missing the Moorcroft Gathering, whether it’s held at my house or my brother’s.

Wow, your trip to Sweden sounds wonderful, and perfect to combine research and Christmas shopping (I’m guessing you’ll have to sample the chocolate too). So a busy time ahead but I can’t let you go without asking you five questions from my Christmas selection:

Who did you play in the school nativity? Angel Gabriel.

What a great picture! In case you couldn’t spot her, Sue is the very happy looking Angel Gabriel facing the camera in the back row.

Real or artificial Christmas tree? Glass! I’ve just bought a tiny, handmade glass tree with little baubles. I suppose the answer is ‘artificial’ but that doesn’t give the right impression.

Must read Christmas book? Notting Hill in the Snow by Jules Wake

Cracker hat or no cracker hat? No cracker hat.

First Quality Street flavour to disappear from your tub? Green triangle.

Thank you so much for joining my Christmas countdown and I wish you and your family a fabulous Moorcroft Gathering! xx

About the author:

Sue Moorcroft is a Sunday Times and international bestselling author and has reached the coveted #1 spot on Amazon Kindle UK. She’s won the Readers’ Best Romantic Novel award and the Katie Fforde Bursary, and has been nominated for several others.

 Her novels, short stories, serials, columns, writing ‘how to’ and courses have appeared around the world.

Discover more about Sue and her work via: Website | Blog | Facebook profile | Facebook author page | Twitter | Instagram | LinkedIn

Don’t miss Choc Lit author Kirsty Ferry, joining in by sharing a Christmas read and some festive fun, on my blog on Thursday 16th December. xx

Jane Cable joins my Christmas Countdown!

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

A HUGE welcome to my good friend and fellow Apricot Plotter, Jane Cable, as she joins my Christmas Countdown!

It’s lovely to welcome you to my blog, Jane. With Christmas fast approaching, your post and novel offer a timely reminder that, for some, this can be a difficult time of year …

The Faerie Tree opens at Christmas and it’s a desperately sad time. Izzie is newly widowed and she and her daughter are facing their first Christmas alone. But when Claire takes her mum for a festive latte to cheer her up, Izzie bumps into a tramp and is sure she recognises him.

“So who do you think he is, Mum?”
“Someone I knew before I started my teacher training. I was filling in time selling stationery and he was the office manager at one of the big firms of solicitors.”
“Office manager? Wow – I wonder what happened to him?”
I shrug. “People’s lives change. The last time I saw him he was wearing a suit.” But it’s a lie and I know it; Robin was naked – his face buried in a pillow, our duvet twisted around his legs.

Robin spends Christmas on the streets and Izzie spends it thinking about the past. So on Boxing Day she sets out to find him.

I’ve read The Faerie Tree and this emotive scene has stayed with me since. For those who would like to know more, here’s the blurb:

In the summer of 1986 Izzie and Robin hold hands under the Faerie Tree and wish for a future together, but hours later tragedy rips their dreams apart.

In the winter of 2006 Izzie spots a down-and-out on the streets of Winchester – a man who looks very familiar.

The Faerie Tree pieces together Robin’s and Izzie’s stories as they try to create a second chance. But why are their memories of their brief affair so different? And which one of them is right?

Buying links: Amazon 

It’s been fascinating for me (and I hope the followers of my blog) to discover how the authors stopping by will be spending Christmas, so I have to ask you, Jane, how will you be spending this festive season?

Since moving to Cornwall we always spend Christmas at our beach house on the north coast. We never let it out over the festive season because it’s so wild and wonderful we just want to be there.

For the last few years we’ve had friends to stay, but this year we’ll be on our own so we can have a leisurely start to the day. But at eleven o’clock we’ll be on the beach, cheering on our neighbours who brave the sea for a festive swim. Every year I say I’ll join them and (so far) every year I’ve found an excuse not to.

After that we’ll pop back home to put the joint (usually rib of beef) in the oven, then it’s off over the cliffs to the pub. It’s normally packed to the rafters for a couple of hours and it’s great to catch up with everyone. We’ll have our meal in the late afternoon and then will probably curl up on the sofa at watch a Christmas favourite, like Terry Pratchett’s Hogfather.

I don’t blame you for avoiding the dip in the sea, and I love the sound of the festive catch up in your local (great picture). Before you go, I must ask you to answer five of my festive selection of quick fire questions:

Black forest hot chocolate or gingerbread latte? Gingerbread latte – every time. We even buy the gingerbread syrup from Starbucks so we can make them at home. I haven’t forgotten I’ve promised you a Black Forest Hot Chocolate though 😉 I forgot to claim this on our recent meet up – you know that means we’ll have to do it again!

Must read Christmas book? Heidi Swain’s. Her Wynbridge novels are so stuffed full of Christmas they’re addictive and over the last few years have become an important seasonal tradition for me.

Favourite Christmas song? Fairytale of New York – it’s festive yet subversive, sentimental and cynical, all at the same time. It’s the only song I’d ever attempt at karaoke – Shane MacGowan’s part, of course.

Who did you play in the school nativity? I was almost always the narrator, and when we progressed to nine lessons and carols I normally read the last lesson. I remember being an angel once when I was very small, but I think I bent my wire coat hanger halo.

 Angel, fairy or star on top of your Christmas tree? Owl.

Thank you so much for stopping by my blog, and though I am sure we will chat again before Christmas arrives, I’d like to take this opportunity to wish you a very merry festive season. xx

About the author:

Jane Cable writes romance with a twist of mystery. She enjoys Christmas far more now she’s moved to Cornwall where they do it so well.

Discover more about Jane and her work, here: Facebook | Twitter | website | Apricot Plots | Sister Scribes .

Don’t miss author Sue Moorcroft, joining my Christmas Countdown, on Thursday 12th December! xx

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