Thursday 27 April 2017

Guest Post: Jenny Kane

Introducing Abi

By Jenny Kane


Many thanks for letting me nip by to talk about my Cornish romance, Abi’s House.

Let me introduce you to Abi Carter.

Thirty-two years old, short, petite, and almost fragile to look at, children’s illustrator Abi Carter is much stronger than she looks. She has to be. For only six months ago her husband, Luke, who’d been twelve years her senior, suffered a totally unexpected fatal heart attack.

Although she misses the Luke she had first known, the Luke that Abi had been living with for the past few years had no longer been that man. With each promotion in the city, he’d become more money and status obsessed. Abi hadn’t been able to keep up- she hadn’t even wanted to.

Now, guilt ridden because she can’t miss Luke as much as she think she ought to, Abi decides it’s time to walk away from the city life that was making her so unhappy and follow a childhood dream. A move that is going to take a hell of a lot of guts and determination...


Blurb

Newly widowed at barely thirty, Abi Carter is desperate to escape the Stepford Wives-style life that Luke, her late husband, had been so keen for her to live.

Abi decides to fulfil a lifelong dream. As a child on holiday in a Cornwall as a child she fell in love with a cottage – the prophetically named Abbey’s House. Now she is going to see if she can find the place again, relive the happy memories … maybe even buy a place of her own nearby?

On impulse Abi sets off to Cornwall, where a chance meeting in a village pub brings new friends Beth and Max into her life. Beth, like Abi, has a life-changing decision to make. Max, Beth’s best mate, is new to the village. He soon helps Abi track down the house of her dreams … but things aren’t quite that simple. There’s the complicated life Abi left behind, including her late husband’s brother, Simon – a man with more than friendship on his mind … Will Abi’s house remain a dream, or will the bricks and mortar become a reality?


Here’s an extract to whet your appetite...

...Nerves and an inconveniently accompanying wave of guilt hit Abi as she pulled into Taunton Deane services. With the border that divided Devon and Somerset a few miles away, Abi could feel the enormity of the step she was contemplating starting to disturb her concentration.

Making a beeline for a desperately needed cup of coffee, preferably with a side order of something unhealthy and smothered in chocolate. ‘Although not a bloody muffin,’ she muttered under her breath.

Abi couldn’t stop thinking about what her brother-in-law had said when she’d finally given in an answered one of his calls. Had Simon been right? He’d talked to her as if she’d flipped, and had suggested rather forcefully that the trauma of Luke’s untimely death must have had more of an effect on her mental health than they’d all initially thought.

Abi hadn’t been able to stop herself from laughing at the time, assuring Simon that she was very sane, thank you very much, and that if she didn’t like Cornwall, she’d be trying other locations, but that was her business and not his, or his parents. To both humour him and shut him up, and because ultimately it really would be useful, after much consideration, Abi had decided to tell Simon she’d accept his help with ensuring a seamless and tidy sale of the house if he was still willing.

Abi had been quite proud of herself, as Simon had given her his fervent promise that he’d keep an eye on the house sale while she was away, with no expectations or agenda. Now however, as she queued for her overpriced drink, Abi couldn’t help listening to a treacherous voice at the back of her head telling her Simon might be right. Perhaps her leaving was just a delayed knee-jerk reaction to Luke’s unexpected death.

Luke may not have been the best husband in the world, and she didn’t miss being put down in public for one minute, but at the same time she’d never once doubted that he’d loved her. It was more that he always acted as if he wished he didn’t.

Every day since his death it was becoming harder to remember how she’d let herself be changed from a successful businesswoman (who had admittedly been acting her socks off to portray a strong image and hide the true shy persona beneath) to the mousy wife who’d do anything to avoid the look of disappointment in her husband’s eyes when she failed yet again to live up to his expectations. I did love him, and I do miss him, but …

Abi looked out of the window, trying not to let another stab of emotion get the better of her as she watched a happy family of four, all holding hands, cross the car park. Had she been so naive to dream that she and Luke could have a family like that one day?

Despite their age difference, Luke had always given Abi the impression that he wanted children – until about a month after their honeymoon. They’d been eating in a restaurant, and a family had come in with a baby that wouldn’t stop crying. Luke hadn’t been just indignant, he’d been plain rude to the parents about their inability to keep the infant quiet. All the way home he’d ranted about how families shouldn’t be allowed in restaurants with babies, and preferably with no one under sixteen. When Abi had stuck up for them, saying that there was no way anyone could predict when a baby would cry, and that having children in restaurants from a young age helped teach them good manners and social interaction, she had been cut short with a cold look, a look she would become all too familiar with over the next few years.

A look that was followed by Luke informing her that there was no way they were ever having a creature that behaved like that! And that had been that. All conversations about having a family were closed, and every attempt Abi made to resurrect the discussion met a brick wall of silence.

Was she really striking out for a better life on her own terms, or was she running away from the hurt Luke had brought her when he was alive, and again now he was dead? Could she even do this? Determined to remain calm, Abi found a semi-clean table and sat by the window, staring out blankly across the sea of parked travellers’ vehicles.

She looked down at her drink ruefully. Luke certainly wouldn’t approve of her drinking coffee from a paper cup. After his mega-promotion at work, even drinking from a mug rather than a bone china cup and saucer was only something to be done when circumstances allowed no superior alternative.

Continuing to watch the chatting couples, groups of friends, and families move about the car park, tears started to gather at the corners of Abi’s eyes. By allowing Luke to take over every aspect of her life, she’d missed out on so much. She hadn’t meant to be so feeble – but with Luke …

With a sustaining sip of caffeine, Abi knew she’d been miraculously given another chance. She wished it had come about in another way, but nonetheless, it was a chance, and she was not going to waste it.

Abi suddenly had a strong desire to do all the things Luke would never have approved of. She wanted to mess up her salon-perfect hair, maybe get a tattoo, go out of the house without make-up, make friends …

...she wanted a house she could wear shoes in without anyone having apoplexy about dirty footprints on the carpet. She wanted a home that felt like a home, not a place that was on the verge of expecting royalty, or an impromptu visit from Homes and Gardens magazine.

Daydreams of long costal walks and lazy cliff top meanderings, maybe with a dog (one with long hair that would get all over the furnishings!) filled Abi’s head as she knocked back the remains of her coffee...

I hope you enjoyed that. If you’d like to read on, then you can buy Abi’s House in either paperback or as an e-book from all good retailers, including-

Accent Press- http://www.accentpress.co.uk/Book/12915/Abis-House

Amazon-Kindle-

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Abis-House-Jenny-Kane-ebook/dp/B00UVPPWO8/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1426711175&sr=1-1&keywords=Abi%27s+House+Jenny+Kane



http://www.amazon.com/Abis-House-Jenny-Kane-ebook/dp/B00UVPPWO8/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1426711253&sr=1-2&keywords=Abi%27s+House+Jenny+Kane


Amazon Paperback

http://www.amazon.com/Abis-House-Jenny-Kane/dp/1783753285/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1426711253&sr=1-1&keywords=Abi%27s+House+Jenny+Kane



http://www.amazon.co.uk/Abis-House-Jenny-Kane/dp/1783753285/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1426711343&sr=1-1&keywords=Abi%27s+House+Jenny+Kane

And from 4th May you can buy the brand new sequel- Abi’s Neighbour!!

(Pre-order available now!)

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Abis-Neighbour-Jenny-Kane/dp/178615028X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1487006698&sr=1-1&keywords=abi%27s+neighbour





https://www.amazon.com/Abis-Neighbour-Jenny-Kane/dp/178615028X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1487006868&sr=1-1&keywords=Abi%27s+Neighbour+by+Jenny+Kane

***

Many thanks for letting me pop by to chat, Teresa,

Happy reading,

Jenny.




Bio


Jenny Kane is the author of the full length romance novels Another Glass of Champagne (Accent Press, 2015), Abi’s House (Accent Press, 2015), the contemporary romance/medieval crime time slip novel Romancing Robin Hood (Accent Press, 2014), the best selling contemporary romance novel Another Cup of Coffee (Accent Press, 2013), and its novella length sequels Another Cup of Christmas (Accent Press, 2013), and Christmas in the Cotswolds (Accent, 2014).

Jenny’s sixth full length romance novel, Abi’s Neighbour , will be published in May 2017.

Keep your eye on Jenny’s blog at www.jennykane.co.uk for more details.

Twitter- @JennyKaneAuthor

Facebook -https://www.facebook.com/JennyKaneRomance?ref=hl

Jenny also writes erotica as Kay Jaybee and historical crime as Jennifer Ash.





Friday 21 April 2017

Meet Me At Wisteria Cottage Paperback #Shelfie #Competition

Yesterday was the paperback publication day of Meet Me At Wisteria Cottage. Of course I had to pop into my local Sainsbury's to see if my book was there - as you do! I got my very own #shelfie.

I knew I should have put make-up on that morning!

My mum.
Anyway, as my friend and I snapped selfies/shelfies, and she kindly told two bewildered women what we were doing, and that I was the author of the book on the shelf, one asked if I'd sign a copy for her. Nothing like a bit of book signing on your publication day!

My mum found the book today in Andover, visiting my brother. Another friend has confirmed Epsom. And in Staines, my hometown :D

It's been great having friends post their #shelfies. The paperback is in 500 Sainsbury's stores. You may think I'm joking - I want to find them all! (With your help, of course).

Taken in Kidderminster by Morton S Gray




I thought I would run a competition to win a signed copy of Meet Me At Wisteria Cottage.

How to enter: Post your photos of your #shelfies (preferably with you in it) and tag me, either on Facebook or Twitter and I'll add you into my draw. I will include all those who have been posting so far. And please make sure I've seen it - nag me if you have to. I will like, comment or retweet.

Competition will close Friday 12th May (my mum's birthday).

Facebook: Teresa F Morgan page

Twitter: @Teresa_Morgan10 

If you use Instagram, I'm the WitteringWoman but make sure you tag on FB or Twitter too.

Remember to tell me which Sainsbury's you're in, too!

(I'm half tempted to buy a map and stick pins in the areas to see who is the furthest from me lol!)

Please feel free to follow me on Twitter and Facebook.

Monday 17 April 2017

Meet Me At Wisteria Cottage Blog Tour

It's started!

This week is my book blog tour for Meet Me At Wisteria Cottage. 

Today I'm on Cosmochicklitan's blog, talking about my writing process.

Follow me (@Teresa_Morgan10) or Harper Impulse on Twitter for the future blog tours. Or I will be adding the links to My Blog Visits page. 

Only 3 more sleeps until the paperback release... :D

Thursday 6 April 2017

Meet Me At Wisteria Cottage Publication Day

Today the ebook of Meet Me At Wisteria Cottage was published.

The paperback will be out 20th April 2017

Tuesday I received my first ever parcel of author copies. It was such a buzz, making me feel like a real author. (I know I am but I still have to pinch myself!) When the DHL driver knocked on my door, I thought I was taking in a parcel for my neighbours.

I am thrilled that the paperback will be going into selected Sainsbury's stores over the country as of 20th April, which is such exciting news. And I want to see those #Shelfies. Let's see how many stores we can find between us. Remember to tag me @Teresa_Morgan10 on Twitter, or Teresa F Morgan on Facebook.

I know this is only my third book, compared to other authors who are on their umpteenth, but I can tell you the elation that you've achieved something and the anxiety that everyone will hate it never goes away!

Meet Me At Wisteria Cottage is available at all good ebook sellers... but for now I will share the link to Amazon UK http://amzn.to/2kZkE2h and Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2jZ6CO7

My delivery of author copies! 

Tuesday 4 April 2017

Book Review: The Second Chance Tea Shop by Fay Keenan

I don't leave book reviews on my blog any more... but I wanted to leave you this one. Fay and I met over a year ago on Twitter, and have become writing buddies, helping each other brainstorm our books. I was delighted to read Fay's book finally, and it really is a treat! Enjoy.

The Second Chance Tea Shop (Little Somerby)The Second Chance Tea Shop by Fay Keenan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I thoroughly enjoyed this book!

This is Fay Keenan's debut novel, and what a treat! Great characterisation, lovely little details, enchanting setting and an emotional journey for the characters and the reader.

With Matthew being the brooding hero and having concentrated most of his energy into the family business before his head gets turned by Anna, this was like a modern day version of North and South, only set in Somerset around the cider industry.

Knowing the area that Little Somerby is based on, and the landmarks described in Somerset, this was such a delight to read. I can’t wait to read the next book set in this charming village.


View all my reviews