Happy Book Birthday Meet Me At Wisteria Cottage

Happy book birthday for Meet Me At Wisteria Cottage.

This book turns 8 today. Where has the time flown? 

This has certainly been my biggest selling novel, with the paperback making it into Sainsburys and The Works.

It also meant I got to go to the HarperCollins' summer party of 2017 - which I believe was its 200th anniversary party too. 

Harry is inspired by the lovely and most delectable Henry Cavill, if you want a visual of my super hot hero. The cornish setting is inspired by my family holidays in Polzeath, North Cornwall. 

So grab a glass of wine, or tea/coffee, whatever your tipple, and enjoy the romance... 

'A striking example of two pasts threatening a joint future…A great read' Sue Moorcroft, bestselling author of Just for the Holidays

‘Warm, funny…a wonderful read’ International bestselling author Nicola Cornick

Blurb: 

A Cornish Escape

After her house is set on fire and her love life is left in tatters, Maddy Hart can’t believe her luck when a friend offers her the temporary haven of Wisteria Cottage. Overlooking the turquoise blue waters of the Cornish coast, the fresh air feels like a fresh start for her and her broken heart.

Peeking out of the cosy cottage windows, Maddy’s surprised to see her gorgeous but insufferable neighbour Harry Tudor has been employed to landscape the garden. But as the wisteria winding its way around the cottage begins to bloom, an unlikely friendship starts to blossom…

It's available on all good ebook and book sites. Or from the library. Here's the link to it on Amazon though.

And please remember, if you enjoyed this book, please make an author happy and leave a review. 

Thank you for reading x 

Sand, Sun, Sea and Surf

Surfer Kieran

Back from my holidays, and I know I've been neglecting my blog, so I thought I would post some photos of my inspiration for Tinners Bay, which is a seaside town that features in most of my books (and I'm in the process of writing a series which Tinners Bay will feature).

Last year we changed our holiday location to Woolacombe, and although we thoroughly enjoyed our holiday, except for the naff weather, we missed the beach.

Woolacombe has a gorgeous beach, but where we were staying meant not being able to visit without taking the car down. It was a bit of a trek, so didn't get there every day, especially as the weather wasn't great.

Surfer Ben

However, in Polzeath, where we stay, the beach is only a short walk. So if it's miserable, we can head down for an hour or two, and if it's glorious sunshine we can stay there all day. High tide was growing later each day, so we ended up being on the beach later each evening actually.

We were on the beach every day!

When we first arrived, and walking the beach, the boys both said, "I've missed Polzeath." And so had I, if truth be told.

Revisiting Polzeath has kind of hit a reset button for me personally too.

I've made myself a promise that I must try to visit each year with the boys, while they're still children at least, and funds permitting. I paid for a surf session for them both, (it'll help with some research for me too) and they took to surfing with surf boards (rather than body boards) easily. In fact, the only reason they came out of the water - other than the boards needing to go back - was because they were bloody knackered!

Anyway, here's some photos I promised. I have put some on my Facebook page, but thought I'd share here too.

The Backdrop To Wisteria Cottage

I write stand alone contemporary romance stories, not sequels. I have been asked if I'll write a sequel to Plus One is a Lucky Number (Cassie really has a story to tell) and One Fine Day (Ruby and Brett's story could be expanded...) but as yet, I haven't got to those... if I ever will.

However, I did set Meet Me at Wisteria Cottage in Tinners Bay which is where Plus One is a Lucky Number is set. In fact, there are a couple of characters from Plus One who feature in Wisteria Cottage. My main antagonist in Plus One is a bit of thorn in Harry's side in Wisteria Cottage.

And to tie in my other novel, I have Maddy's parents based in Clifton, Bristol, which was the back drop One Fine Day. Sadly no cameos there though.

Meet Me At Wisteria Cottage is available to pre-order on Amazon here... it releases 6th April. So if you haven't read my previous novels, you could always read those while you wait for the 6th April!

Meet Me At Wisteria Cottage blurb:

Is this a chance for a fresh start?

After her house is set on fire, Maddy Hart’s gorgeous neighbour, Harry Tudor – ex-firefighter turned landscape gardener – comes to her rescue. He invites her to stay at his place during the investigation, but living with Harry soon has Maddy hot under the collar!

Wary after a bad experience with her ex-boyfriend, Maddy decides to slow things down with Harry by moving out. She can’t believe her luck when a friend offers her the temporary haven of Wisteria Cottage, but somehow she’s not surprised to discover Harry’s been employed to landscape the cottage’s garden. Is fate is trying to tell her something?

Can't Beat Cornwall When The Sun Shines

Ben about to brave the waves... I mean millpond.

View from coastal path to Daymer Bay

Every year, for the last twelve years, I've holidayed with my family in Polzeath, Cornwall. It's situated north of Newquay, with Padstow around its corner and is a great surfing beach.

This year the waves weren't so good, but the sunshine was fantastic! (It usually happens that way). And the wind had dropped too, which meant we could actually stand on the beach and not freeze. The water even felt warm.

To be honest, in the twelve years, the network problems still haven't improved for Vodafone, so I am cut off from the world wide web pretty much all holiday. Which is probably a good thing. I can only send text messages from the beach! I couldn't check emails, and it was hard to peruse Facebook with the sun glaring on the screen... and the kids demanding games of cricket.

Polzeath Beach

The irony is that I seem to get a better reception and 4G out on The Rumps. In my caravan, zilch.

Polzeath Beach

Anyway, I wanted to share some photographs I took. (Unfortunately some may have my children in them). This is my inspiration for Tinners Bay, for the setting/back drop of Plus One is a Lucky Number, and (if I'm lucky enough to get my third book published too), for To Love Again. (Although this title may change. I've learnt not to get attached to a title. Let's play it safe and just call it book 3, because it's the 3rd book I've written).

While walking the coastal footpaths, I wondered if I'd done this scenic coastline any justice in my books. Can't do much about Plus One is a Lucky Number, but I can certainly go back to book 3 and edit some of Polzeath's character into it.

Walking coastal path to the Rumps.

The highlight of this holiday was on Friday, 3rd June, when we strolled to the Rumps (it's a good fair trek, I tell you!) we were rewarded when we reached them, because there were two seals in a small bay below. Absolutely fascinating to watch. We were sure they were waving at us.

Sat on The Rumps