Sunsets and Happy Ever Afters 3rd Book Birthday!

Happy book birthday to Sunsets and Happy Ever Afters, the third book in my Kittiwake Cove series. 

I can't believe it's THREE already. It's the perfect summer holiday read... 

A gorgeous sun-soaked romance set in Somerset and Cornwall! Perfect for fans of Trisha Ashley, Victoria Walters, Heidi Swain and Phillipa Ashley…

Will Maya ever find the right man for her…?

Having recently gone through a painful divorce, Maya Rosevear has been concentrating on running her mobile beauty business and raising her two young children. Now ready to meet someone new, she decides to give online dating a try.

As she juggles her responsibilities with her love-life, Maya keeps crossing paths with Sam Trescott, the father of her daughter’s best friend. Despite initially getting off on the wrong foot, the two bond over their children and form a tentative friendship.

As a widower, Sam understands what it is like to be lonely. Watching Maya launch herself back into the dating world, he questions whether he is also ready to pursue a new relationship.

Seemingly unable to meet the right man, Maya takes solace in Sam’s companionship more and more. And as they grow closer, both begin to wonder whether they have finally found what they’re looking for…

Can Maya and Sam help each other heal? Will they have a second chance at love?

Or will their painful pasts come back to haunt them…?

SUNSETS AND HAPPY EVER AFTERS is a fun and flirty holiday read you won’t be able to put down. Venture between the Somerset coast and the gorgeous beaches of Cornwall with this sun-soaked romance.

‘The perfect summer escape!’ – Fay Keenan

Now also available in Audible 

A Nostalgic Post - How Old Am I?

I've realised I am of a unique age, being born in the 70s. I'm a Gen X apparently. 

This means I am young enough to accept this modern digital world of mobile phones, WiFi, online shopping and even the electric car, having grown with it, yet as a child, I remember the coalman delivering our coal and having our milk delivered by the milkman. 

My dad actually became a milkman, and I helped him on his rounds, even getting to drive the infamous Unigate milk float. Now, many children these days can say they helped the milkman - let alone seen one. 

Even our post isn't delivered everyday with everything going online or emailed. It's changed from post to parcels. 

I even remember the halfpenny, and going to the corner shop to buy penny sweets with our pocket money. 10p's worth! 

I have photo albums from old family holidays. Now everything is stored on our phone. I get to see my photos when my Amazon Firestick goes onto screensaver. I save my photos to social media, as another storage platform. I no longer use physical albums. 

I have a seven-inch single vinyl collection, (yes, they're tucked away somewhere) as well as having owned albums on vinyl, tape, then CD. Even the CD is now outdated, with downloading music via Spotify or Amazon. Record stores are very hard to come by. 

Then, we used to record our favourite programmes via a VHS Video recorder. My brother convinced our dad to buy one. Gosh, I even remember our black and white portable TV! Snooker was difficult to watch then. 

Then the DVD player came along, and the Blu-Ray. But even these are obsolete with streaming television programmes and films via streaming channels. I would not be without my Netflix or Disney+. 

I've seen computers arrive, and grow... and shrink to laptops.

I remember the landline as the only way to phone friends and family, using a phone in the picture... and if someone was on the phone, you got an engaged tone. Now we are reachable - if we choose to be - via our mobile phones 24/7. No engaged tone, it will go to voicemail. 

I still love my paperback book, that's one thing that hasn't changed, however, we can now read books via a eBook reader, or listen via an audiobook! These can be downloaded instantly! 

There are probably so many other things I've lost track of over the time, taken for granted what we used to have to do. But how a world can change so quickly... 

What do you remember as a child that no longer exists today, having become obsolete?

Cocktails At Kittiwake Cove - Happy Book Birthday

Fancy a trip to Kittiwake Cove? 

Cocktails at Kittiwake Cove, the first in my Kittiwake Cove series, turns four today! 

Happy book birthday! 

Four years ago I had a little party in my garden. Obviously cocktails were consumed. And plenty of cake! 

A sparkling summer romance set in Cornwall! Perfect for fans of Trisha Ashley, Victoria Walters, Heidi Swain and Phillipa Ashley…

Can Rhianna realise her dream without losing her heart…?

After breaking up with her boyfriend, Rhianna Price has decided to take a break from romance. Determined to focus on her career, she moves to Kittiwake Cove to fulfil her dream of opening a cosy beachside cocktail bar.

But things get complicated when she crosses paths with Joe Trescott — a handsome pub manager and her old holiday fling.

After hearing of her plans, Joe takes Rhianna under his wing to help her feel at home in Kittiwake Cove as she prepares to launch her business.

As they spend more and more time together, both feel their connection starting to rekindle. And although she knows he’s a serial player, Rhianna soon finds herself falling for Joe’s charms once again…

Will Rhianna be able to resist her attraction to Joe? Can she stay focused on her new venture?

And will she make a success of her Cocktails at Kittiwake Cove…?

Cocktails at Kittiwake Coveis a fun and flirty holiday read you won’t be able to put down. Venture to Cornwall in this gorgeous sun-soaked summer romance.

Available here

Happy Father's Day to My Hero

I'm incredibly lucky. I have a wonderful dad. He's my real life hero, but I've especially noticed this in the past years where I've been a single mum. Before, I realise, he didn't want to step on my husband's toes. But now there is no one to upset, he can offer his help more.

My dad has his own foibles, possibly a little eccentric in some things, and is certainly stuck in his ways, but I love him for who he is and the support he gives me. 

Although he does spoil me, it's not in ways of giving me everything I want, monetary wise. But if I need his help on something, he is ALWAYS there. In fact, I'm so used to things being done almost immediately, that when one of my son's takes too long to do something, I get very impatient, because I know with my dad, if I asked for him to help me with something, he just does it. 

My garden wouldn't be as wonderful as it is without his input - that's where I am spoilt - and the planting of all the plants over the past twelve years! 

He moved to Weston-super-Mare just before Ben, my eldest was born, so has been here with me nearly twenty one years. It's meant he's been a big part of the boys' lives growing up as Grandad Ron, too. He's taken them on walks and bike rides in the school holidays when I've had to work. We usually go out on his birthday. The Bishops Lydeard to Minehead steam trains being a favourite.

Please note, I don't have many good photos of my dad, because he doesn't really like being in photos, and then, when I take a sneaky photo, he's always blinking or talking! 

Dad's truck! 

Happy Father's Day, Dad. And to all the amazing daddy's out there! 

Gardening Therapy - I Talk To My Plants

On the Sunday of the May Bank Holiday weekend, I'd written over a thousand words, and although it was a tad windy, the sun was out, so I thought I best get out in the garden in the afternoon.

Dad had picked me up some extra plants and I knew I needed to get them into the beds. Next week, the weather forecast wasn't looking so bright, plus I'd be working, and gardening is obviously done best in the sunshine. 

Pre-lockdown I would leave the gardening mostly to Dad. I potted up the hanging baskets, but that was about my forte. Then, in 2020, when my gardener wasn't allowed into the house, I had to stand on my two feet, roll up my green sleeves and just get on with it. 

Dad does still do a lot of the hard work, like cutting back the roses early spring etc. And my garden would not look so lovely if it wasn't for his hard work in it too. But I've got better at gardening. And I love it.

my favourite rose bush

I came in Sunday after getting all the bedding plants into my beds in the front and back garden, and I felt good. My mental health had had a boost. I'd been in the sunshine with the bees, busily working. I mean, literally, I had a bee on a plant right by my ear, and they weren't bothered by me. And I wasn't bothered by them. 

I even enjoy mowing the lawn. I do try to get the boys to do it - more to make them do a chore. And Dad sometimes cuts the lawn for me, if I'm at work and rain is due the next few following days.

My pond

All these people with their plastic grass (that's another subject where I could get on my soapbox on how bad that is for the planet and wildlife) - you're missing out on helping your mental health. Just get out in the garden, prune the plants, talk to the birds, the bees  - and the plants, like I do.

If you're struggling with your mental health, seriously, get out in your garden. It'll boost your mental and physical health.