Tag Archives: Carol Thomas Author

Remember, Remember … Bonfire Night Memories with Tora Williams

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

Continuing the celebration of a special bonfire night in my novel The Purrfect Pet Sitter, I am delighted to welcome fellow Apricot Plots author, Tora Williams to my blog to share her bonfire night memories. 

Tora Williams shares her bonfire night memories:

November 5th in my childhood meant gathering round a huge bonfire on a nearby hilltop. In the days beforehand, my brothers and I made detours to the site on our way home from school, anticipation growing in proportion to the woodpile. On the night itself, we’d bundle up in coats, hats and gloves and dash out onto the hill in time to see the fire lit. We always gave a huge cheer when the wood started to blaze and, bloodthirsty imps that we were, shouted loudest when the guy finally burst into flames. There were fireworks too, of course, but the bonfire was the most exciting feature of the night.

Thank you for sharing your bonfire night memories, Tora. I love the anticipation that grows as bonfire night draws near, even now. x

About Tora Williams:

As a child Tora permanently had her nose stuck in a book and dreamt of one day becoming an author. However, the business of everyday life soon got in the way and it wasn’t until she was in her thirties that she rediscovered the joy of creative writing. For a long time, she wrote purely for pleasure, but in 2010 her old dream of becoming a published author resurfaced and she started writing novels. History has always fired her imagination, and it seemed natural to set her novels in the medieval castles she used to enjoy exploring on childhood holidays in Wales and the Welsh Marches. She was offered her first publishing contract with The Wild Rose Press in 2018. Tora is also a member of Apricot Plots.

Tora writes historical romance with a dash of intrigue and adventure:

Bound to her Blood Enemy:

Norman heiress, Matilda Comyn is desperate to escape her grasping guardian and reclaim her inheritance. After a lifetime of being let down by men, she wants to rule her lands on her own terms. She can’t escape without help and battles her mistrust when compelled to join forces with a Welsh spy.

Huw Ap Goronwy has a rival claim to Matilda’s castle and has sworn a blood oath against the Comyns. When his king rules they must marry, he struggles to reconcile his attraction with his need for revenge. But they must form a truce if they are to seize their castle.

Risking capture and death, they will only succeed if Matilda learns to trust, and Huw allows his love for Matilda to overcome his need for revenge.

Genre: Historical Romance | Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Buy the book.

The Gift of Time

Hoping to escape her dismal life, young widow Kat Beaumont throws a treasured coin into a lake. But how did a wish send her back in time? Now she’s in a snowbound medieval castle complete with vertigo-inducing staircases and smelly drains. While participating in the Christmas festivities, she continues to search for a way home and fights her attraction to the castle’s lord, Ralph d’Eyton.

Ralph needs an alliance through marriage to protect his lands and live up to his father’s legacy. But Kat, with no influential family, would not make a suitable wife. He resists his fascination with this mysterious and beautiful woman who appeared out of nowhere.

Can Ralph reconcile his dawning love with his need to protect his people, and can Kat let go of her fear of loss and surrender to love?

Genre: Historical Romance | Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
 Buy the book.

To keep up with Tora’s latest news, visit her website | Twitter 

Don’t miss more fabulous firework memories from fellow authors between now and November 5th, and as always, do get in touch. I’d love to hear your firework memories too. x

Remember, Remember … Bonfire Night Memories with Michael Parker

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

Continuing the celebration of a special bonfire night in my novel The Purrfect Pet Sitter, I am delighted to welcome fellow Chindi Author, Michael Parker to my blog to share his bonfire night memory. 

Michael Parker shares a bonfire night memory from the 1950s:

In the early fifties me, my brothers and mates would gather round the bonfire built on the estate by ‘responsible adults’ and watch it burn until it was low enough to throw potatoes in along the edge. The trick then was to retrieve them before they were burnt to a cinder. This often resulted in singed eyebrows and hair. Can’t imagine that happening these days. We all smelt of wood-smoke, char and almost burning flesh.

 I think you’re quite right Michael, health and safety wouldn’t let that happen these days, but I bet the potatoes tasted good! x

About Michael Parker:

Michael has been writing thrillers for many years and has experienced the highs and lows of being a writer since his first book was published in 1980.

He has been married to Patricia for fifty seven years and they have four sons, ten grandchildren and three great grandsons (when last he updated his profile). His main hobby is writing, of course, and to date he has thirteen novels to his credit, nine of which were traditionally published. His other hobbies are snooker, speedway, football and music.

Michael is a born again Christian and played keyboard in his church fellowship in Spain for several years. He has worked as a maintenance technician most of his adult life, serving sixteen years in the Royal Air Force, and about seventeen years with a food manufacturer. He retired in 1996 (at the age of fifty five) and moved to Spain a year later, where he lived with Pat for seventeen years.

Writing has been Michael’s hobby for as long as he can remember. When his first book was published by Macmillan in 1980, he was described as a “gifted narrator” in the Financial Times. Here are just some of his titles currently available on Amazon.

Michael is also a member of the Chindi Authors. You can keep up to date with news of his writing and new releases via his blog | website | Facebook | Twitter 

You can also discover more of Michael’s memories and gain an insight into his life in his rarely promoted book, The Sum of My Life, available on Amazon.

 Look inside or buy the book.

Don’t miss more fabulous firework memories from fellow authors between now and November 5th, and as always, do get in touch. I’d love to hear your firework memories too. x

Littlehampton Bonfire Night in The Purrfect Pet Sitter

Writing & Reading, , , , , , , , ,

My novel, The Purrfect Pet Sitter, is set in my hometown of Littlehampton. One of the major celebrations in the town each year is the bonfire parade, which culminates in fireworks on the beach. In my novel, Lisa and Nathan, who are newly reunited after eleven years, go along to the parade. Old memories are sparked and the evening becomes significant in their developing relationship.

Research at the Littlehampton Bonfire Parade.

I had so much fun researching it. I hadn’t been to the parade for many years and going along brought back very happy memories, which are threaded into the book.

To get into the bonfire night mood, I am going to share an extract from The Purrfect Pet Sitter, which I hope you’ll enjoy. Nathan is a firefighter and this scene takes place after some shenanigans during the parade involving a float of fellow firefighters, and the bonfire is getting underway.

“Together they watched as the flames from the torches, that had been thrown on to start the bonfire, grew in strength, devouring the offerings left over the passing weeks with an intense greed. The heat spread into the crowd, causing them to edge further back. Lisa looked up at Nathan’s flushed cheeks and knew they mirrored her own. Her toes felt the cold ground biting at them while the rest of her felt warm, her senses enlivened from the heat and Nathan’s proximity. The crowd spread across the green and the seafront just beyond, lost to darkness. Some children in pushchairs had succumbed to sleep despite the spectacle and noise, while others, still fuelled by enthusiasm, sat on their parent’s shoulders keenly waving glow sticks. Families further back, taking better positions to see the fireworks, huddled together against the cold, not feeling the benefit of the bonfire.

“Everyone seemed to move in shadows, silhouetted by the flames. Lisa saw young lovers, holding hands and kissing, reminding her of herself and Nathan in the past. What decisions lay ahead for them? What would shape their futures? The figures moved before them like the ghosts of their past.

“Returning her attention to the fire, Lisa watched mesmerised as the bright orange flames leapt and danced triumphantly from the top of the pyre, roaring in the wake of their victory. She remembered again the words on the back of the float, ‘Supporting those who run in when others are running to safety’, and drew Nathan’s arms a little closer around her; a move that made him lean down and ask if she was OK. Lisa felt the brush of his stubble against her cheek and felt goosebumps ripple down her side, despite the increasing heat.”

The fireworks don’t stop there! Discover where the evening takes Lisa and Nathan in The Purrfect Pet Sitter. 

“A fun, feel good read that you will not want to put down. Highly recommended!”

The Purrfect Pet Sitter

When Lisa Blake’s life in London falls apart, she returns to her hometown rebranding herself as ‘the purrfect pet sitter’ – which may or may not be false advertising as she has a rather unfortunate habit of (temporarily) losing dogs!

But being back where she grew up, Lisa can’t escape her past. There’s her estranged best friend Flick who she bumps into in an embarrassing encounter in a local supermarket. And her first love, Nathan Baker, who, considering their history, is sure to be even more surprised by her drunken Facebook friend request than Lisa is.

As she becomes involved in the lives of her old friends Lisa must confront the hurt she has caused, discover the truth about her mysterious leather-clad admirer, and learn how to move forward when the things she wants most are affected by the decisions of her past.

Praise for The Purrfect Pet Sitter:

‘A purrfectly fabulous read.’ ~Bookkaz Blogspot.

‘All I can say is that this ticked every single box.’ ~Jo Lambert, Author.

‘As an avid reader and a professional Petsitter, this book ticked all the boxes! It’s a purrfect combination of village life, chaotic animals and will she/won’t she romance!’ ~Annie’s Book Corner.

Buy the book here.

Coming soon to my blog … don’t miss the fabulous firework memories of fellow authors between now and November 5th, and as always, do get in touch. I’d love to hear your firework memories too. x

Review of Rosie Green’s Christmas at the Little Duck Pond Cafe

Blog Tour Review, Book Review, , , , , , , , , , ,

Today, I am delighted to be taking part in the blog tour for Rosie Green’s Christmas at the Little Duck Pond Cafe. This is the third of Rosie’s Little Duck Pond novellas.


The blurb:

Fen has always hated being the centre of attention. She loves her new job, working behind the scenes at the Little Duck Pond Cafe and baking the scrumptious cakes that have helped its reputation soar. But frankly, she’d rather scrub the public toilet floor with a toothbrush than have to come out and talk to the customers.

She’s always been happy to stay in the background as long as she has a good supply of books to escape into. That’s her kind of romance – the fictional sort where she can read about other people taking a chance on love, but she doesn’t have to risk her own heart.
But that was before Ethan Fox arrived in the village and turned her world upside down. Ethan is a leading light in the local amateur dramatics theatre company and Fen knows he’s way out of her league.

But when the popular village Christmas pantomime hits a crisis, Fen and Ethan find themselves thrown together. Can Fen overcome her shyness and find the courage to step on stage and save the day?

Genre: Contemporary Romance / Romantic Comedy / novella

My review:

This was my third visit to the Little Duck Pond Cafe and so it felt like returning to catch up on old friends.

Christmas at the Little Duck Pond Cafe follows the story of Fen, who is introduced in the first novella. Fen has been a bit of a shy character in previous books, never really coming to the fore and so it was great to see her take centre stage and shine in this novella. It was good to get to know her better and to will her to find her confidence and the happy ending she deserved.

This was a lovely story about personal growth, finding love and discovering who your friends really are. Being a novella, it is ideal to fit in, during the busy lead up to Christmas and was a great way to escape for a few hours; I am always happy to lose myself in the warm and welcoming world of those who live in and around The Little Duck Pond Cafe and look forward to the next in the series.

Click to buy the book.

About the author:

Rosie Green has been scribbling stories ever since she was little. Back then they were rip-roaring adventure tales with a young heroine in perilous danger of falling off a cliff or being tied up by ‘the baddies’. Thankfully, Rosie has moved on somewhat, and now much prefers to write romantic comedies that melt your heart and make you smile, with really not much perilous danger involved at all, unless you count the heroine losing her heart in love.

Rosie’s brand new series of novellas is centred on life in a village café. The first two stories in the series are: Spring at The Little Duck Pond Cafe and Summer at The Little Duck Pond Café, you can read my reviews of these books here.

You can find Rosie on Twitter.

Thank you, Rosie, for another great read! Thank you, also to Rachel of Rachel’s Random Resources for the advance copy of Christmas at the Little Duck Pond Cafe, and for having me along as part of the blog tour.

My reviews are posted on Amazon UK and Goodreads. xx

Review of Morton S Gray’s Borteen Bay Series

Book Review, , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

As I am sure you know, I am an avid romance reader. I generally read contemporary romance or romantic comedy, but occasionally dip into other sub-genres too. So this week I am sharing my review of Morton S Gray’s romantic suspense novels, set in the fictional seaside town of Borteen Bay.

The Girl on the Beach

The Blurb:

Who is Harry Dixon?
When Ellie Golden meets Harry Dixon, she can’t help but feel she recognises him from somewhere. But when she finally realises who he is, she can’t believe it – because the man she met on the beach all those years before wasn’t called Harry Dixon. And, what’s more, that man is dead.

For a woman trying to outrun her troubled past and protect her son, Harry’s presence is deeply unsettling – and even more disconcerting than coming face to face with a dead man, is the fact that Harry seems to have no recollection of ever having met Ellie before. At least that’s what he says …

But perhaps Harry isn’t the person Ellie should be worried about. Because there’s a far more dangerous figure from the past lurking just outside of the new life she has built for herself, biding his time, just waiting to strike.

Genre: Romantic Suspense
Publisher: Choc Lit

My review:

I don’t often read romantic suspense but I am so pleased I picked this book up; it had me hooked right from the start. It is well paced, the characters were likeable – I’m a little in love with Harry Dixon – and the story gripping. I read it over a couple of days. From the early revelations in the book to the action packed ending the story holds you, transporting you to Borteen Bay and into the complex lives of Ellie and Harry. Having said I don’t often read romantic suspense, I now can’t wait to read Morton’s second novel.

Buy the book here.

The Truth Lies Buried

Two children in a police waiting room, two distressed mothers, a memory only half remembered… When Jenny Simpson returns to the seaside town of Borteen, her childhood home, it’s for a less than happy reason. But it’s also a chance for her to start again.

A new job leads to her working for Carver Rodgers, a man who lives alone in a house that looks like it comes from the pages of a fairy tale – until you see the disaster zone inside …
As Jenny gets to know Carver she begins to unravel the sadness that has led to his chaotic existence. Gradually they realise they have something in common that is impossible to ignore – and it all links back to a meeting at a police station many years before.

Could the truth lie just beneath their feet?

Genre: Romantic Suspense
Publisher: Choc Lit

My review:

I really enjoyed my first visit to Borteen Bay in The Girl on the Beach, and so I was greatly looking forward to reading The Truth Lies Buried. It certainly didn’t disappoint.

The two main characters grow as the story progresses, as does your empathy for them as you read. Carver was a good male lead, strong and yet sensitive, with a backstory that explains his state of mind and the manner to which he has become accustomed to living, before Jenny enters (or re-enters his life). He also has a dog, which in my opinion, is a bonus in any book.

The story and action unfold at a steady pace, with some lovely tender moments along the way. With likeable characters, a wonderful setting (I’d quite like to live in Borteen Bay) and a good amount of intrigue to hold you to the end, it’s an absorbing read.

Buy the book here.

I am loving life in Borteen Bay and can’t wait to return to see what mysteries the Morton S Gray will serve up in her next book Christmas at Borteen Bay.

About the Author, Morton S Gray:

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 e-published in January 2017, after she won Choc Lit Publishing Search for a Star competition.

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 on her website, on Twitter, Facebook and on Instagram. Morton is also a member of Apricot Plots.

Oh and before I go my cinema tip, if you enjoy suspense, is A Simple Favour, based on the novel by Darcey Bell. Described as a stylish, post-modern film noir it is well acted, entertaining and kept me guessing.

Thank you so much for the great reads, Morton. My reviews are posted on Amazon and Goodreads. xx