I confess I have always been a fan of mystery. I love to curl up on a wintry day with a good mystery novel, full of twists and turns that keep me on my toes. And when I came to write my first novel, Burning Embers, I quickly realised that
Book review: The Hero by Robyn Carr From the blurb: In a moment of desperation, Devon McAllister takes her daughter and flees a place where they should have been safe and secure. She has no idea what is around the next bend, but she is pretty certain it can’t be
I am delighted to be able to share with you today the cover for my upcoming novel The Echoes of Love, which will be published on 6 December this year. I’d love to hear your thoughts!
Recently, I visited the city of Oxford, home to Oxford University and a deep literary tradition in academia, publishing and writing. There, Lewis Carol devised Alice in Wonderland to entertain the children of the Christ Church College dean. There, CS Lewis and his friend JRR Tolkein met in The Eagle
A fortnight ago I introduced the Venice Biennale, a vast contemporary art exhibition in the Italian city with a long history. Today, I look at the power of the Biennale in encouraging both unity and diversity. Worldwide involvement The Biennale is a major player on the world art stage, and
From the blurb: Even in London society—where everyone knows what you did last season—you never know who’s next in line to walk down the aisle… TRUE LOVE IS OFTEN FOUND With her whirlwind social life in London, Lady Isabella Wharton has little interest in the customs of the country. But
The countdown has begun: with avid anticipation, many people are awaiting 1st September and the annual Venice regatta. I love regattas. Near my home in Ste Maxime, France, many regattas take place, and I love to sit in my garden and watch the sails drifting against the blue, blue sky
From the blurb: Erinn Wolf needs to reinvent herself. A once celebrated playwright turned photographer, she’s almost broke, a little lonely, and tired of her sister’s constant worry. When a job on a reality TV show falls into her lap, she’s thrilled to be making a paycheck–and when a hot
At my French home. I especially love to sit here when the flowers are in bloom
I’m delighted to announce that my next novel, The Echoes of Love, will be published in November. I can reveal that the love story is set predominantly in Venice, Italy, so to introduce this wonderful place I’d like to start by looking at the Venice Biennale. The Biennale is a
Recently, I blogged about Read a Romance Month, whose central focus is asking a wealth of romance novelists why romance matters. I’ve been reading with great interest what authors have to say on the subject there. Susan Mallery argues that feminism and romance authorship are not mutually exclusive. She explains
From the blurb: Eilidh Lawson’s life has hit crisis point. Years of failed fertility treatments, a cheating husband and an oppressive family have pushed her to the limit. Desperate for relief, Eilidh seeks solace in the only place she’s ever felt at home – a small village in the Scottish
The patio outside my study where I sometimes write in the late afternoons when the sun is not too bright.
Recently, an interviewer asked me a fun question: If Burning Embers was optioned for a TV drama/movie, who would you like to play Coral and Rafe? Of course, every author delights in the idea of a play or motion picture made of their work. When we write, we are so
The ultimate feel-good romantic film. I defy anyone to watch this without misting up at least once! Sophie (Amanda Seyfried) and her passionate Italian chef fiancé Victor have come to Verona, Italy, for a ‘pre-honeymoon’. Only, lovely as he is, Victor is more interested in sourcing Italian supplies for his
From the blurb: When Gabby first met Elliott she knew he was the man for her. In twenty years of marriage she has never doubted her love for him – even when he refused to give her the one thing she still wants most of all. But now their two
Most houses in Gassin have pots of colourful flowers outside their doors and their windows.
I love art, and I find it deeply inspirational for my writing. Because I write romance, I find special meaning in romantic works. Here are some of my favourites. I would love to hear your opinion. Dance Me To The
Any novelist appreciates that dialogue is an essential part of a story. It’s the means by which you follow the golden writing rule of ‘show, don’t tell’ – it’s the vehicle through which characters reveal themselves and the unfolding story. I love writing dialogue because it really encapsulates the living,
… including my novel, Burning Embers, loaded onto that Kindle Fire! Good luck! a Rafflecopter giveaway
August is Read-A-Romance Month! I stumbled across this initiative recently, and was keen to share it with those readers of my blog who, like me, love to read romance. What a marvellous idea! As Burt Bacharach so eloquently put it: ‘What the World Needs Now Is Love.’ I don’t believe
From the blurb: Livi Callaway has fled back to London after a reality TV disaster in New Zealand. Safely anonymous in the big city, she’s determined to stay under the radar from now on. But her attempts to build a new life are complicated by unexpected visitors from her old
For this hop I’m giving away three copies of my book Burning Embers: To enter, simply comment on this page by the end of 7th August with your name and email address telling me
Where do painters and sculptors and composers and songwriters and playwrights and authors and poets and architects and all other creative types get their ideas? Ask any individual and he or she will give you a unique answer – art stems from a particular place inside. But collate enough answers
As readers of my blogs and my novels well know, I’m an ardent romantic. Two types of romance exist: Happy-ever-after romance, in which the lovers stroll off into the sunset at the end hand in hand. Tragic romance, in which the lovers’ destinies are doomed not to be intertwined permanently.
From the blurb: There are worse things than hiding in a derelict old cottage, battling field mice, and sucking on one’s last lemon. Or so Lady Annabella Price firmly believes. For example, spending the Season in London with her stepbrother and husband hunting, as her mother has ordered. Instead, Annabella
Sometimes my husband and I have our breakfast on this balcony. I love the view – it makes for a wonderful start to the day.
Lipstick, powder, compact, hairbrush, breath freshener, eau de toilette… the contents of a woman’s handbag are myriad and many. Now, according to a recent study reported in the media, if the woman in question wishes to be attractive to a potential mate, her handbag arsenal needs an essential addition: a
Hannah says: You needn’t pay the earth for your funky summer tote… Did you know that the first tote bag was designed in 1944 by LL Bean? They quickly caught on, as ladies realised they made light and easy work of carrying paraphernalia, and by the 1990s, when designer Kate
In my novel Masquerade, book two of the Andalusian Nights trilogy, the heroine Luz is maddeningly attracted to her new employer, Andrès. I say ‘maddeningly’, because while Andrès is in so many ways a good match for her – charismatic, intelligent, charming, successful in his work – he is also
Hannah says: With this simple top in your wardrobe, you can be effortlessly chic and classy. ‘Simplicity is the key note of all true elegance.’This was the ethos of one of my all-time favourite designers, Coco Chanel, and it’s one I wholeheartedly embrace. Did you know that we have Chanel
In my lifetime, I have been fortunate enough to travel to all manner of places around the globe. I have liked many, and loved a few. One of those few is Andalusia, Spain. That sultry, sunny Spanish region so fired up my imagination that I set not one or even
Earlier this week I blogged about how high heels can infuse a woman with a sense of style and confidence. While researching the book, I was led on a meandering and enthralling course, which culminated in a wonderful new discovery: the Fashion Fairy Tale Memoir series. Is there any better
Recently, I have been packing up my British home to move to my renovated mas in the south of France, where I summer each year. I have a confession to make: of the many cases stacked ready for transportation, more than oneis devoted to shoes. High heels: beautiful, artistic, show-stopping
My latest fiction series is set in Andalucía, Spain. It is a region I know well, having travelled there several times. Whenever I visit, I try to practise my Spanish (I am far more fluent speaking in French and English), which requires that I listen carefully to the language and
I am a keen follower of http://www.ted.com/: the website devoted to ‘ideas worth spreading’. Recently, the following video, entitled ‘My year reading a book from every country in the world’, caught my eye: From the description: Ann Morgan considered herself well read — until she discovered the “massive blindspot” on
If you love reading and you want to share your passion with the world, how do you do so? How do you identify yourself as an ardent bibliophile? Until a few years ago, the answer was most likely to entail words. You showed your love of reading by writing about
‘Learning language from the language of love’: That was the headline that caught my eye in the news recently. Have you heard about Google’s artificial intelligence (AI) engine, and its new reading material? Some time ago, Google realised that the conversational skills used in its many products were somewhat lacking:
Welcome to my blog, and thank you for visiting. For this hop, I’m giving away ebook copies of my novels Masquerade and Indiscretion, books one and two of the Andalucian Nights trilogy, and recent award winners: Entry is open to all, via Rafflecopter. The prizes are ebooks: mobi, epub or
My romantic trilogy – comprising Indiscretion, Masquerade and the forthcoming Legacy – is set in Andalucía, Spain. As part of my research for the series, I travelled to this beautiful region and immersed myself in the culture and vistas. Then, when I returned home, I stacked my bedside table high
Digital publishing is still in its infancy. Developments are quick, and frequently surprising, because ebooks are breaking new ground. With anything new comes a desire to forecast and predict trends, but sometimes, when the pace is fast, there is a tendency to make assumptions rather than carefully analysing exactly what
Synopsis: Holly Wright has had a difficult few years. After her mother’s death, she’s become expert at keeping people at a distance – including her boyfriend, Rupert. But when Holly receives an unexpected letter explaining that an aunt she never met has left her a house on the Greek island
Welcome and thank you for stopping by. For this May I Suggest hop, I’m suggesting the novel that began my career: Burning Embers. Entry is open to all (I will post internationally). Good luck! a Rafflecopter giveaway There are plenty more great books to win: follow the hop
On Monday, I posted an article celebrating eight years of blogging here. Over those years, I have revisited certain themes in my articles, and one of those is the ‘print versus ebook’ debate.
This month marks eight years since I began writing this blog. Over those years, I have enjoyed writing about a range of subjects relating to my fiction, from culture to mythology, romance to philosophy, publishing to writing.
When I decided upon Italy as the setting for my new novel, Concerto, I knew at once where I would set the story: beautiful, timeless Lake Como. More specifically, I knew the story would unfold in a villa, since the area is famous for these grand, belle époque residences with magnificent gardens of rare trees, exotic flowers and broad lawns, and narrow pink or mellow yellow stone staircases leading down to the edge of the lake.
‘[H]e’s more myself than I am. Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same.’ So said Cathy of Heathcliff in Emily Brontë’s classic novel Wuthering Heights.
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756–1791) was, without doubt, one of the greatest composers to have ever lived. In his short life he composed more than 600 works, many of which continue to be performed by musicians today. His music is popular the world over, and in the most recent poll for Classic FM’s Hall of Fame (2019), three of his pieces featured in the top-twenty list. Here is his most popular work on the list, the Clarinet Concerto in A Major.
My home in the south of France overlooks the Mediterranean Sea, and for a few days each summer, to quote William Wordsworth, ‘With ships the sea [is] sprinkled far and nigh’. The event is called Les Voiles de St Tropez, and it is a sailing regatta that takes place in the gulf of St Tropez (you can learn more about it in my article ‘The romance – and sensuality – of sailing’). I love to sit on my terrace and watch the white sails moving across the ocean, like a kaleidoscope of white butterflies in the bluest of skies.
There is a very simple reason I am a writer: I love writing. I love the experience of taking ideas in my imagination and realising them on the page; I love the sense of magic that unfolds as the muse guides the pen; I love to be immersed in a fictional world and to create.
At the start of my latest novel Concerto, the heroine, Catriona, is balancing on the line between girl and woman. She is eighteen, and in some ways she has an adult perspective. For example, she has been career-minded for some time.
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