This week I read a wonderful book by fragrance lover Jan Moran called Scent of Triumph (review to follow on the blog this week) in which perfume and the aromas of nature feature heavily. The book struck a chord with me because I have always felt scents have such power
From the blurb: Lady Gwendoline Muir has experienced her fair share of tragedies in her short life: she lost her husband to a freak accident and developed a limp after falling from horseback. Still young, Gwen is sure that she’s done with love and that she will never be married
Part of my daily scenery when I go for a walk in Ste Maxime.
At my home in Kent, where I’m ensconced until the New Year now, it’s beginning to look a lot like winter – frost on the lawn, ice-encrusted puddles, clouds of breath misting the early morning, fires stoked all day long. Having grown up alongside the Mediterranean in a warm country,
I’ve been reviewing books for some time now, and I’ve been publicising my own book, Burning Embers, on various blogs thanks to the generous support of some wonderful book bloggers. I’m keen to return the favour and help out fellow romance authors, so I’ve decided to open up my own
Recently, it has been raining rather a lot in England, and we’ve had terrible flooding as a result. The skies are dark, the ground is soggy and I find myself housebound, reluctant to venture out beneath clouds that leave me damp and shivering. The cold I don’t mind; but having
From the blurb: ‘If I’m being totally honest I had fantasized about Phil dying.’ When Poppy Shilling’s bike-besotted, Lycra-clad husband is killed in a freak accident, she can’t help feeling a guilty sense of relief. For at long last she’s released from a controlling and loveless marriage. Throwing herself wholeheartedly
I love to take walks on the beach here. At this time of year, the sea air is bracing and refreshing, and it’s divine afterwards to get home to a warm house and a hot drink.
There is something magical about a musical. Music has such power to create a reaction, and done well, I think a musical form of a romance can really heighten the connection to the characters and the emotional charge of the story. I am a very visual writer, and when I
As a romance novelist I am, of course, an ardent romantic and the best part of my job is dreaming up romantic scenarios and infusing scenes with romantic details. The word ‘romance’, to me, conjures up images of sunsets and candlelight; wonderous scenery and calm, mellow moods; intimate meals and
Every writer is first and foremost a bookworm. Reading comes first, then comes the desire to create something that will give others pleasure and pause for thought. Growing up, my house was full of books, and both my parents were keen to instil in me an appreciation of great literature.
From the blurb: A thrilling account of one of English history’s most daring women, who risked everything in the dark days leading up to the Civil War. Court beauty, Lucy Russell, Countess of Bedford, feels frustrated by life with her weak husband. Poverty stricken, they are confined to their country
I’m delighted to be participating in Reading Romances’ Fall in Love All Over Again Giveaway Hop! There are lots of participants giving away romance books, so be sure to check out the full hop. I’m giving away two copies of my novel Burning Embers plus two CDs by the fabulous
As you may be aware, November is NaNoWriMo: National Novel Writing Month (see http://www.nanowrimo.org/). All over the world, writers – many of them with families to tend to and day jobs to hold down – have been furiously penning their novels, with the aim of reaching a 50,000-word total by
The young gypsy took his place in the middle of the circle, which the previous performers had left vacant. His long, copper-tanned fingers began thrumming his guitar. The prelude continued for some time and the shouts, clapping of hands and stamping of feet worked his audience up to a state
The following description is from my Spanish-set novel Indiscretion: At La Linea, just outside Gibraltar, where she had arrived by passenger ship, she had found a train heading north, up the coast to Puerto de Santa Maria, via Cadiz. Coming face to face with the trenmixto, Alexandra had momentarily been
Thank you for visiting my blog as part of the Keep Calm and Hop On giveaway hop, hosted by http://thekidsdidit.com and http://themommyisland.blogspot.com. I’m giving away a paperback copy of my latest novel, Masquerade. I will post the prize internationally, so entry is open to all. Good luck! a Rafflecopter giveaway
From the blurb: Bienvenue à Paris! When April Vogt’s boss tells her about an apartment in the ninth arrondissement that has been discovered after being shuttered for the past seventy years, the Sotheby’s continental furniture specialist does not hear the words “dust” or “rats” or “decrepit.” She hears Paris. She hears
I happily confess that I am a big fan of Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander books. Her plots are intricate and clever, her historical context is fascinating, her dialogue is realistic and witty, and her characters are vividly drawn. Then there is the love story of Jamie and Claire; theirs is surely
In my latest book, Masquerade, I describe Luz’s home as follows: The sun was benevolent today so she seated herself comfortably on the veranda. A particularly fecund crop of orange and lemon trees hung like illuminated lanterns on one side of the terrace, backed by the whitewashed walls of the
Recently, writer Kevin Pickard wrote an article for Electric Literature entitled ‘Should Fiction Be Timeless? Pop Culture References in Contemporary Novels’. In it, he explored the enduring debate in literary circles over whether it is acceptable – preferable, even – to interweave popular culture references in a novel, or whether
It’s a February Fiesta! For your chance to win one of my novels in paperback or a £100/$150 Amazon gift card, follow the tour: 1 February dot-scribbles.blogspot.co.uk 2 February silvybooksaremylife.wordpress.com 3 February cosmochicklitan.com & readingbetweenthewinesbookclub.com 4 February oh-my-books.blogspot.co.uk & glowsnoveladdiction.blogspot.co.uk 5 February jeanzbookreadnreview.blogspot.co.uk & roomwithbooks.com
Subscribe to my mailing list. I promise: no spam, only valuable information.