I am a keen cook, and as well as cooking with local produce I like to try out recipes that are native to the areas in which I live: Kent in England and the Var in France. Today I’m sharing with you a wonderfully simple recipe for a classic Kentish
Mary Margaret ‘Mollie’ Kaye (1908–2004) has been one of my favourite writers since I read her worldwide best-seller The Far Pavilions in the early 1980s. She has been an inspiration to me in my writing, because, like me, she was a traveller at heart and she wrote wonderfully descriptive stories
In the summer of 1814, St James’s Palace is host to His Royal Highness Prince Randolph of Petersbourg, and it is no secret that at the end of his stay the prince intends to take his future queen home with him. Deeply romantic, he wants to marry for love and
Pruning roses in my garden in France. Already, summer seems a long time ago.
For those of you who have read Burning Embers, today I thought I would explore the hero, Rafe, in a little more depth. I’ve interviewed him soon after Coral moves to Kenya and first meets Rafe. I hope you enjoy learning more about this character. 1. Good afternoon, Rafe. Can
For the past years a fierce debate has been raging among readers, writers and those in the publishing industry: ebooks versus printed books. Most now agree that there is some place for both. But recently I was reading a romance novel on the Kindle, and I was thinking about how
The online music service Spotify recently ran a survey to discover people’s favourite songs for creating a romantic atmosphere. The results make for an eclectic top 20 list, which showcases that we all have our own individual tastes when it comes to the romantic mood. Here they are: 1. Patrick
From the blurb: Having grown up on the quiet island of Guernsey, Betty Dean can’t wait to start her new life in London. On a mission to find Clara Pickle – the mysterious beneficiary in her grandmother’s will – she arrives in grungy, 1990s Soho, ready for whatever life has
Our fat ducks. They ravage our vegetable garden and live a very happy life on our two ponds.
I’ve been reading romance novels from an early age. In my teens, I would read the French equivalents of Silhouette and Mills & Boon, and I loved being swept away into fantasy worlds where love always won out. Since then, I couldn’t possibly count how many romance novels I have
For those of you who have read Burning Embers, today I thought I would explore the heroine, Coral, in a little more depth. For fun, I’ve interviewed her soon after she moves to Kenya and first meets Rafe. I hope you enjoy learning more about this character – and keep
Here are the answers to my recent Halloween Quiz. 1. ‘Halloween’ is a contraction of what original name for the festival? All Hallows’ Eve/Evening Which two countries first celebrated Halloween? Scotland and Ireland For how many centuries has Halloween been celebrated in the United States? Two Which vegetable was originally
Emma Fairbourne’s father has recently passed away, leaving her alone in the world. What Emma should do is allow the sale of the family business – the prestigious Fairbourne auction house – which would provide the money she needs to continue to live in the family home. But Emma has
Happy Halloween! Whether you’re busy carving pumpkins or dressing your children up as witches and warlocks or baking up some treats for the neighbourhood children, I hope you enjoy this most spooky night of the year. But just how much do you know about this festival? See how you fare
An alley off Middle Street, a street lined with quaint cottages in the conservation area of Deal, which used to be the haunt of smugglers. There is a lovely coffee shop on the corner here that sells delicious chocolates.
Autumn is here! The leaves on the trees in my garden in Kent are a riot of colours, from burnished orange to saffron yellow to ruby red to aubergine red. The air has a distinct chill, and the mornings and evening grow darker by the day. As one begins to
In 1987 a new American film studio released a movie shot on a low budget and with no major stars. Expectations were not high. And yet that movie would prove to be a sensational box office hit, and would become one of the most enduring and iconic romance movies of
Once upon a time… those four simple words evoke such wonderful memories for me. I remember being a little girl, bathed and ready for bed, sitting by my governess, Zula, as she read to me the tales of Hans Christian Anderson and the Brothers Grimm. ‘The Little Mermaid’, ‘The Nightingale’,
In my latest novel, Masquerade, the heroine Luz receives a dark warning from a gypsy woman: Gemini, Gemini … Deceptive Gemini. You think you know them, blinded by their wit and charm, Today they love you, tomorrow they may harm. Chameleons of the Zodiac, they’ll lead your mind astray, Into
Recently, a friend asked: ‘Have you read the Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon?’ I thought for a moment and then replied, ‘No, I haven’t.’ ‘Oh,’ she said at once, ‘you must! You’ll love them.’ I trust my friend; she knows my reading tastes well.So I bought the first book and
Thank you for visiting my blog as part of the Dreaming of Books Giveaway Hop. I’m giving away the Literary Listography reading journal – ideal for keeping track of your reading past, present and future, and sharing recommendations with friends. Good luck with your entry: a Rafflecopter giveaway <!– end
My new trilogy, spanning Indiscretion, Masquerade and the forthcoming Legacy, is set in Andalusia, Spain. Wherever I set my stories, it is important to me that I convey a sense of the history, culture and personality of a place, and for Andalusia, that meant horses simply had to feature! Have
Regular readers of my blog will know that I like to keep up to date with writing, publishing and reading-related news. This week, my favourite story relates to George RR Martin, author of the wildly popular ‘A Song of Fire and Ice’ series, on which the equally successful Game of
One of my favourite sites for online window-shopping is The Literary Gift Company at www.theliterarygiftcompany.com. They sell all sorts of essentials, luxuries and quirky delights for the book lover. And their latest is wonderfully innovative: This ‘fictional map of London’ is described as: A navigable plan of London streets, parks,
Subscribe to my mailing list. I promise: no spam, only valuable information.