Tag Archives: Valentines

Writing Wednesday: Tips for Writing Love Scenes.

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As this Writing Wednesday falls on Valentine’s Day, I have joined forces with my fellow Choc Lit (Joffe Books) romance writers to share top tips for writing love scenes …

Carol Thomas (that’s me). I write feel-good contemporary romance and romantic comedy novels that will make you smile.

  • Having a strong emotional connection between characters, built in earlier chapters, adds to the moment.
  • Building physical tension through anticipation, subtle gestures, longing glances, and dialogue hints adds to the satisfaction of the love scene when it happens.
  • Physical intimacy needs to be consensual and driven by shared enthusiasm.
  • The love scene itself should involve a balance of passion, emotion, and sensuality, some of which will be played out before the audience, while some won’t.
  • I like leaving readers space for their imagination to take over; the things that fulfil the desires of my characters might be a turn-off to the reader, and I wouldn’t want to jolt them out of the moment.
  • Love scenes should never appear for the sake of being there, they should enhance character development and add to the story.

Discover more about me and my novels here.

Lucy Keeling is the author of fun, sexy stories with all of the happily ever afters.

  • If you’re writing your first ever steamy scene and it reads a bit like flat pack assembly instructions (insert part A into part B ), go back and remember to use all the senses.
  • This is an opportunity to show off a deeper understanding of your characters.
  • Oh, and keep an eye on the logistics.

Discover more about Lucy Keeling and her work here.

Ella Cook writes emotional, heartwarming romance that will lift your spirits:

  • I’m going to be controversial and say that, much as the best moments of intimacy in life aren’t planned, neither were the ones that got the best feedback from readers for me. I guess what I’m saying is let the characters go with the flow. If they’re the type of people – or at least one of them is – minded to privacy, then don’t feel like you have to fling the door open and show the ins and outs of their love life.
  • But equally, if your lead character is the type who thinks nothing of keeping her (admittedly rather more subtly shaped than most) vibrator in her bathroom, then she’s probably not going to shy away from talking about sex, either. So, if you want to write about it – write in line with our characters: get into their head spaces and let the reader see what they’re thinking, how they’re reacting and feeling.
  • Oh, and avoid biological terms – it’s a romance novel, not a biology textbook!

Discover more about Ella Cook and her work here.

Kirsty Ferry is the writer of spellbinding timeslips, unforgettable romantic comedies and uplifting contemporary romance novels.

  • I always leave the reader at the bedroom door. I’d never try to write a scene like that!
  • It’s nice to do an ‘almost kiss’ scene and have them get interrupted by a phone or something. I was told they’d kissed too early in my first book, so I usually try to hold off a bit for them.

Discover more about Kirsty Ferry and her work here.

Liv Thomas is one half of the writing duo who writes the utterly enchanting love stories set in Ireland by Isabella Connor.

  • It depends on the context and the relationship between the couple. If it’s a solid relationship, I tend to make it emotional as much, or more, than physical and let the reader feel a slow tempo.

Discover more about the work of Isabella Connor here.

Sue McDonagh writes uplifting, unputdownable romance novels:

  • Hilariously, the sex in my first novels had to be toned down as they were a bit too explicit. The pivotal sex scene in my last book was so toned down (less is more) that my poor editor wasn’t entirely sure whether they’d actually had sex or not, and I had to re-write it several times. I’ve learned that balance is the key.

Discover more about Sue McDonagh and her work here.

I hope you enjoyed our tips and they prove useful next time you write a love scene. Have a wonderful Valentine’s Day, and happy writing!
Carol x

Author Carol Thomas is #SharingTheLove

Guest Post, Writing & Reading, , , , , , , , ,
As February is the month of love, I have had a host of wonderful romance authors stopping by my blog to share flirty extracts from their novels and today it is my turn! 

The Purrfect Pet Sitter

“Nathan turned off the lamp, to improve the view out into the darkness, and joined Lisa by the window. Her body responded to his, her nerves enlivening. She could smell his aftershave – tones of amber and sandalwood – mixed with the scent of the bonfire and evening air that hung upon them both. She felt him trace a line down her side with the lightest touch, sending shivers down her spine. She didn’t move; she didn’t attempt to stop him.

His hands moved to her sides, only the cotton of her T-shirt separating their skin, and his arms, more muscular than Ben’s, slipped round her. She could see their reflections in the window looking back at her, with the two of them framed in a perfect moment – an image of what might have been. She looked beyond to the fireworks as she felt Nathan shift position. His right thigh rested against hers as he mirrored her stance.

Lisa attempted to maintain steady breathing while they watched the last of the fireworks burst into the sky – their sound made more dramatic by the ricochet from the glass. Heat spread through her body, while her mind whirred with anticipation.”

I hope you enjoyed this flirty extract. It is one of my favourites from The Purrfect Pet Sitter. Having recently finished Maybe Baby, the sequel due out on April 2nd, my mind is still a little too preoccupied with the lovely Nathan Baker. 

Discover more about The Purrfect Pet Sitter:

Introducing Lisa Blake, 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.

Publisher: Ruby Fiction
Genre: Romantic Comedy
Buy the book here.

Exciting news! If you like the sound of spending a little quality time with Nathan Baker, don’t miss Maybe Baby, the sequel to The Purrfect Pet Sitter, now available for pre-order!

#Book 2 in the Lisa Blake series coming April 2nd!

About the me (Carol Thomas):

In the summer of 2017, I was delighted to gain a publishing contract with Ruby Fiction, a new imprint of the award-winning publishers Choc Lit, for my latest novel The Purrfect Pet Sitter.

I live on the south coast of England with my husband, four children and lively Labrador. I have been a playgroup supervisor and taught in primary schools for over fifteen years, before dedicating more of my time to writing. I am a regular volunteer at my local Cancer Research UK shop and have a passion for reading, writing and people watching. I can often be found loitering in local cafes working on my next book, when I should be in my office.

Discover more about me and my books here: Twitter | Ruby Fiction | Facebook

Thank you so much to all of the wonderful authors who have taken part #SharingTheLove so far. It has been so much fun to read all of your extracts. Happy Valentine’s Day everyone and don’t miss, an extract from Jane Cable’s The Cheesemaker’s House tomorrow. xx


Carol Thomas writes contemporary romance novels, with relatable heroines whose stories are layered with emotion, sprinkled with laughter and topped with irresistible male leads. Discover more here.

Author Hannah Pearl is #SharingTheLove

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As February is the month of love, I have a host of wonderful romance authors stopping by my blog to share flirty extracts from their novels! Well you know, any excuse 😉 

Today, I am excited to welcome Hannah Pearl, who is #SharingTheLove with an extract from her novel Evie’s Little Black Book … over to you Hannah!

Evie’s Little Black Book

“‘You’re beautiful.’

I laughed and pretended that my heart wasn’t beating at a million miles an hour. He leant forward and kissed me, gently and sweetly, on the lips. ‘There. Now you can go home knowing that you’ve remembered how attractive you are,’ he said.

‘I didn’t make the first move. Last time I had the confidence to kiss him. It’s been a while since I felt able to do that without worrying that I was misreading the signs.’

‘Then kiss me first,’ Jake suggested. ‘I don’t mind, if it’ll help you with your mission I mean.’

He smiled, and for a moment I forgot how many people were crowded around us. I forgot all the men I’d met before and, most importantly, I forgot all those who came
after. Leaning forward, I kissed Jake, just for the briefest of moments, and it felt perfect.”

Thank you for sharing your lovely extract Hannah, Evie’s Little Black Book is on my to be read list!

Discover more about 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

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

Don’t miss me (Carol Thomas) #SharingTheLove with an extract from The Purrfect Pet Sitter, on my blog tomorrow. xx

Carol Thomas writes contemporary romance novels, with relatable heroines whose stories are layered with emotion, sprinkled with laughter and topped with irresistible male leads. Discover more here.

Author Angela Petch is #SharingTheLove

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As February is the month of love, I have a host of wonderful authors stopping by my blog to #ShareTheLove as they discuss their novels, and share a few cheeky extracts! 

Today, I am pleased to welcome Chindi Authors’ Author of the Week, Angela Petch, who has recently released Mavis and Dot – a book of humorous tales about two eccentric ladies who form an unlikely friendship. To #ShareTheLove Angela talks about love for the older generation and the special bond between best friends. Over to you, Angela.

Mavis and Dot

The two main characters in my new book are baby boomers, ladies “of a certain age”. But that doesn’t mean love is a thing of the past for Mavis and Dot.

Mavis is prone to infatuations with Italian men. At the beginning of the novella, we learn about her Italian lover,  who is married to another woman. He owns a string of famous restaurants and when Mavis and Alessandro occasionally meet in the flat that he bought for her in Worthington-on-Sea, they make love and afterwards enjoy “morsels that Alessandro brought from his restaurant kitchen. The twinkling lights along the promenade provided a festive backdrop to their feast. As usual, Mavis had eaten with gusto, feeding her lover with garlic mushrooms and slivers of sweet red oily capsicum from her own fork.”

I won’t tell you how their relationship ends, but a few months later, she falls for an Italian café owner who teaches the tango in his spare time. Mavis comes to an undignified end when she tries his dance class and rapidly falls out of love with Mario.

A couple of days later, Dot consoles her friend, as they share tea and friendship in the Marks and Spencer cafeteria.

“He was really nasty to me, Dot… I was a little off-balance, that’s all. I’ve never done the tango before – what did he expect? He left me lying in a heap on the floor.”

Her friend tries to sympathise. “Falling in love is like catching mumps. It’s tricky,” said Dot, stirring her lapsang.

“What do you mean?”

“Well, it’s fine catching mumps when you’re young but it’s tricky when you’re older. It hits you harder.”

My mother-in-law picked up a copy of Fifty Shades of Grey in the supermarket and asked me if it was a manual about hair dye. I’m afraid I sniggered but her comment also made me think. Love and romance is not restricted to the young. We all need love… and friends. Mavis and Dot are very different from each other and form an unlikely friendship. Newly retired to the Sussex seaside, they are both lonely. As they begin to learn more about each other, they provide mutual help and support.

I wrote Mavis and Dot in memory of my best friend who died thirteen years ago from ovarian cancer. Yes, it has taken me all those years to develop the original short story I wrote for her when she was gravely ill! We enjoyed hunting around charity shops on our days out and we used to nickname ourselves Mavis and Dot. I miss her.

My friend drew this sketch for me when she was very ill. The illustrations in Mavis and Dot, created by Gill Kaye, Editor of Sussex Magazine, Ingénu/e, are inspired by it.

All profits from sales of Mavis and Dot are going to Cancer Research and I hope to raise as much as possible! You can find out more, and buy the book here.

Thank you for sharing the humour, love and warmth of Mavis and Dot with us Angela, and for all you are doing to raise money for Cancer Research in memory of your dear friend.

Angela is delighted to have received love and encouragement from the reviews so far on Goodreads and Amazon, and has had many requests for a sequel:

 “This book was a total joy from beginning to end…a perfect reminder of the power of friendship.” (Welsh Annie – Top 500 Reviewer)

“Mavis and Dot is a warm-hearted exploration of life and friendship that I found beguiling and engaging. It’s a super read. (Linda’s Book Bag)

“Absolutely perfect for an afternoon’s reading, just before your belly dancing class, fish and chips supper or the nude modelling! Completely uplifting…” (Stardust Book Reviews)

“What a cast! I loved Mavis, I want to be her when I grow up…” (The Midnight Review)

“One of my top three reads of 2018” (Book addiction UK – Wrong side of forty)

“10 * It’s not often I go above a 5* ranking but Mavis and Dotabsolutely stole my heart…utterly charming.” (Dash Fan Book Reviews)

About the author

Angela Petch lives in the Tuscan Apennines in summer and Sussex in winter.

Her love affair with Italy was born at the age of seven when she moved with her family to Rome. Her father worked for the Commonwealth War Graves Commission and he made sure his children learned Italian and soaked up the culture. She studied Italian at the University of Kent at Canterbury and afterwards worked in Sicily where she met her husband. His Italian mother and British father met in Urbino in 1944 and married after a wartime romance.

Her first book, “Tuscan Roots” was written in 2012, for her Italian mother-in-law, Giuseppina, and also to make readers aware of the courage shown by families of her Italian neighbours during WW2. Signed by Bookouture in 2018, this book will be republished in June 2019. Another Tuscan novel has been commissioned for 2020.

“Now and Then in Tuscany”, a sequel, was published in April 2017 and features the same family. The background is the transhumance, a practice that started in Etruscan times and continued until the 1950s. Her research for her Tuscan novels is greatly helped by her knowledge of Italian and conversations with locals.

Although Italy is a passion, her stories are not always set in this country. “Mavis and Dot”, published at the end of 2018 and sold in aid of Cancer Research, tells the story of two fun-loving ladies who retire to the Sussex seaside. They forge an unlikely friendship and fall into a variety of adventures. Ingenu/e Magazine describes it as: “Absolutely Fabulous meets Last of the Summer Wine… a gently hilarious feel-good book that will enchant and delight…”.

A prize-winning author, member of CHINDI independent authors and RNA, she also loves to travel and recently returned to Tanzania, where she lived at the start of her marriage. A keen tennis player and walker, she also enjoys spending time with her five grandchildren and inventing stories for their entertainment.

Angela’s short stories are published by PRIMA and the People’s Friend.  Her historical novels Tuscan Roots (available for a limited time only) and Now and Then in Tuscany are available as ebooks and in paperback.

Discover more about Angela Petch and her writing here: Facebook | Twitter | website | Amazon

Don’t miss author Hannah Pearl #SharingTheLove with an extract from Evie’s Little Black Book, on my blog tomorrow. xx


Carol Thomas writes contemporary romance novels, with relatable heroines whose stories are layered with emotion, sprinkled with laughter and topped with irresistible male leads. Discover more here.

Author Sue McDonagh is #SharingTheLove

Guest Post, , , , , , , , ,
As February is the month of love, I have a host of wonderful romance authors stopping by my blog to share flirty extracts and magic moments from their novels! Well you know, any excuse 😉 

Today, I am excited to welcome Sue McDonagh, who is #SharingTheLove with an extract from her novel Summer at the Art Cafe, and a preview extract from her new book,  Meet Me at the Art Cafe … over to you Sue!

 

Summer at the Art Cafe

“Counting to 40, she walked purposefully out of the building, turning a sharp left towards the test compound, and walked straight into Ash peering round the corner of the building.

‘Oof, sorry!’ she spluttered, clutching his arm to save herself from falling. ‘I just wanted to see how he got on.’

‘Me too,’ muttered Ash, his eyes on the compound. ‘I don’t want him to see us in case it puts him off.’

He pulled her in front of him so they could both see, and it was several moments before Lucy realised he was still holding her arm. For a heart-stopping moment, she wondered what it would be like to lean back into his comforting presence, feel his arms encircle her and gather her into an embrace.

She shook herself. Get a grip, woman!

‘Cold?’ he asked, releasing her arm as if he’d only just noticed it there.

She shook her head.

‘No. Nerves.’ It wasn’t really a lie, she thought.”

OO I loved this, thank you, Sue!

Discover more about Summer at the Art Cafe:

From watercolours and cupcakes to leather jackets and freedom …

If you won a gorgeous purple motorbike, and your domineering husband said you were too fat for leathers and should sell it, would you do as you were told – or learn to ride it in secret?

Artist and café owner Lucy Daumier intends to do just that – but learning to ride is far from easy, especially under the critical eye of prickly motorcycle instructor, Ash Connor.
But gradually Lucy gets the hang of it, and in the process re-discovers the girl she used to be. So starts an exciting summer of new friendships and fun – as well as a realisation that there is more to Ash than meets the eye when she is introduced to his seven-year-old daughter, Daisy.

But can Lucy’s new-found happiness last when a spiteful family member wants to see her fail?

Publisher: Choc Lit
Genre: Romance
Buy the book Amazon UK | Amazon.com

As an extra treat Sue is also #SharingTheLove with an extract from her novel, Meet Me at the Art Cafe:

“As they reached the sea where it lapped untidily against the shoreline, she handed Liam an apple and tucked him into her side on the grassy bank.

‘Once upon a time,’ she began, looking across the calm turquoise water, ‘there was a little girl with sticky up black hair that never went where it was supposed to, no matter how many times it was brushed, or how many clips and bows her mummy put in it. But her daddy loved her just exactly as she was, and never tried to change her.’

‘Are there dragons in this story, Mummy?’

‘Do you want there to be dragons?’

‘Not really.’ Liam leaned against her, and nibbled at his apple. ‘Sometimes I do. But not today. Who is the little girl?’

‘Well, it was me. This is a story about me. Is that okay?’

Liam nodded. ‘Okay. I prefer proper stories, really. Out of a book. But it’s okay.’ He patted her thigh with a sticky hand and she chuckled.

‘My daddy used to find things, and then fix them.’

‘Like you!’ Liam fixed her with his wide eyes.

‘Yes, a bit like me, only my daddy fixed things with engines. He was ever so clever. But he did make a bit of a mess.’

‘You’re messy too.’ Liam nodded sagely, and Jo rolled her eyes. How had she ended up with such a tidy child?

‘It’s called “creativity”, actually,’ she responded. ‘Anyway. I used to help my daddy to fix things in his garage, but Mummy always wanted to take me out. In little dresses. And white socks. Yuk!’

‘Yuk,’ agreed Liam, through a mouthful of apple. ‘Where is he now, your daddy? Is he in space?’

‘Erm, well, he sort of is, darling, because he’s in heaven now.’”

Thanks, Sue. I could feel the love between the characters!

Discover more about Meet Me at the Art Cafe:

Would you take a chance on a bad boy with a leather jacket and a vintage motorbike?

That’s the question single mum Jo Morris has to ask herself when she collides with local bike mechanic Ed Griffiths on a rainy Welsh hillside. Working at the Art Café, Jo hears the gossip and is all too aware of Ed’s reputation.

But whilst he’s certainly no angel, there is something about Ed’s daredevil antics that Jo can’t ignore. And as she gets to know him better and watches the kind way he deals with her young son Liam, she begins to wonder – is there more to this ‘bad boy’ than meets the eye?

Publisher: Choc Lit
Genre: Romance
Preorder the book Amazon UK | Amazon.com

About the author:

Sue McDonagh says, “Arty, biking, writing granny, that’s me! Living on the Welsh coast, right at the bottom before it plops into the sea, I was a policewoman in Essex before I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer at a very early age.

“Thanks to my amazing family and friends, I made a full recovery, left the police, met the man I then married and went to live in semi-rural Wales – okay, I thought it was semi-rural after living in Essex. I mean, you had to drive fifteen miles to get to a Marks and Sparks. Where on earth did people buy their knickers? All right, it was a small town that thought it was a village. And it had a beach.

“I fell in love with it, along with the two adorable little boys I inherited. They inspired my passion for painting children, and subsequent career change as portrait painter. I’ve even been on the tv!

“The beach formed a huge part of my life, and I trained as a beach lifeguard, patrolling the beach and competing on the single ski. That all stopped when I needed a hip replacement and found carrying equipment too painful. Not to be outdone, I and three pals did a 45 mile walk and raised over £10,000 for Cancer Research, and not long after that, I decided I’d learn to ride a motorbike.

“That was a huge and entertaining learning curve, and has inspired my debut novel, Summer at the Art Cafe. I’m on my second hip now, still riding my 1000cc red Honda, and I’ve made some of my most enduring friendships through biking.

“I hope you enjoy reading about my characters and their stories. Some of my life has inevitably given birth to some of theirs, but their personalities are all their own, and I keep expecting to see them in the local supermarket or on the beach! Please leave me a nice review if you did enjoy it – it helps other readers to decide whether they might like to read it too 🙂 xx”

Discover more about Sue McDonagh here: Twitter |  Facebook | blog

Don’t miss author Kirsty Ferry #SharingTheLove with an extract from Spring at Taigh Fallon, on my blog tomorrow. xx


Carol Thomas writes contemporary romance novels, with relatable heroines whose stories are layered with emotion, sprinkled with laughter and topped with irresistible male leads. Discover more here.