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

Two Minute Beach Clean Up #Springwatch

I'm back from my holiday! Did you miss me?

This blog post has a bit more of a serious message with fun pictures of our holiday.

Every year (it was my 11th year) we spend May half-term in Polzeath, Cornwall, and every year we watch the first week of BBC SpringWatch  There are two more weeks of the series, but I always forget to put it on, as real life tends to get in the way, and I want the boys in bed earlier as it's a school night. (Will try harder this year to remember!)

Last week they had some guy (I'm sorry I can't remember his name) on talking about a two minute beach comb. Basically, I was astounded by the micro plastics and how they're in our waters because they are so small to get caught by the sewage system. They're in things like body and facial scrubs etc. In fact, I was looking at my dishwasher tablets and I think they're in them too. The scary thing is I think they're in just about everything!

Anyway, this guy says he does a two minute beach comb after he's finished surfing on the beach to eliminate some of the plastics and rubbish that gathers on our beaches. (Clearly you won't be able to remove the micro-plastics!)

Micro Plastics, Big Problem 

Plastic will never go away.  It can be broken up into smaller and smaller particles, but are called microplastics. Millions of tonnes of these tiny pieces are in our oceans. Investigative reporter Sonali Shah discovers that plastics found in beauty products are killing our marine wildlife, and asks what can be done about a problem that's affecting the whole of the food chain.
Taken from BBC SpringWatch website 

Well, the following day, I did two minutes, and could have spent two hours, if not more, going along the shore line and seeing the rubbish that was tangled among the seaweed.

This human race of ours is really on a self-destruct mission. It angers me the amount of rubbish that is left on our beaches. Some has come from boats out in the ocean, to visitors on the beach that day!

If we don't do something about these plastics in our waters, it will enter the food chain - if it hasn't already! It's killing wildlife, and the waters. And eventually it will kill us!

So the next time you're on a beach, as you walk off, spend two minutes taking rubbish and plastics, old bits of rope - all sorts you'll find - off the beach. Plus your own rubbish, of course. Stop it going back into the water and potentially harming a creature that has every right to be in that ocean.

I urge us, as consumers, to choose the products we use wisely. I'm certainly going to be looking out for micro-plastics in the products I buy from now on. It's better to spend a little bit more money on a product that doesn't cost the Earth. I buy my facial scrub from Lush, which is ground almonds as the 'scrub'. These products don't harm our Earth.

The scary thing is I think this is a much bigger problem but at least do your two minute beach clean! And watch SpringWatch.

Anyway, that's my rant over. As usual, the week went too fast. We ate plenty of ice creams, pasties and cream teas. We went for plenty of walks, made boats in the sand, surfing, and did our usual cycle along the Camel Trail from Wadebridge to Padstow.

Easter Holiday Antics

Does anyone else get that sinking feeling of too much to do and too little time to do it in?

This morning I felt like that as I rushed to school on our first school run of the new term, worrying about events rapidly approaching - i.e. our holiday at the end of May - and I still haven't finished editing my second book.

Yes, I know I should be doing it now, but I'd also noticed I'd been neglecting my blog. The Easter holidays have taken its toll. But with the kids back to school today, I thought I'd share what we've been up to - very quickly!

We did 'Three Beaches in One Day': Seaton, Beer and Branscombe.

Beer, South Devon

We visited the Magical World of Harry Potter - Warner Studios in Watford.

The Night Bus...although we arrived by car

Sipping Butter Beer

And yesterday, as it was an inset day, we went to Slimbridge, where we saw a pair of Moorhens making a nest;



... a robin taking a bath in a pond and lots and lots of baby birds. Slimbridge in spring is awesome.

In other news: My book, Plus One is a Lucky Number comes out in paper on 8th May! Whoop! And panic!

The Last of Our Holiday Antics

Day 7 & 8: Friday 31st May & Saturday 1st June

Fish and Chips, and Trampolining 

This was our last full day in Polzeath. We would be heading home the following day. We woke to the sun shining, and it was getting warmer - mildly. Again, we donned the wetsuits and surfed with the high tide in the morning. In fact the sea was still coming in.

Kieran decided he would surf that morning but he didn't go too deep, having lost some of his confidence.

After an hour of surfing, we returned to the caravan for lunch. Then Dad and I took the boys back down to the beach where we played cricket and they mucked around in the pools left behind by the tide. We had well earned fish and chips for tea.

Before the holiday, I'd found my old Whot cards and packed them. It became our holiday's game this year - dominoes forgotten! Ben and Kieran mastered the game - it is really easy! - and it filled our evenings nicely - or maybe excitedly with the eagerness to win - before settling down to watch Spring Watch on the TV.

Grandad Ron

Saturday was equally as good weather wise, and although Mum and I had the cars all packed up and ready to go by 10am, we spent another morning on the beach. The boys wanted to trampoline again - the bouncy castle was boring now. (I remember the holidays when we had to do the bouncy castle every morning before getting on the beach!) They had one last go, practising their somersaults, and then we hit the road around 4pm.

I couldn't believe the lack of traffic! We made it home in good time. Was it really half-term week?



I had tears in the car initially, and when we got home, too. Ben always gets sad when we leave a place we're holidaying at. I used to feel the same sad feeling when I left Woolacombe as a child. Leaves a heavy, empty place in your heart for a bit. Maybe it's a good sign that we enjoyed our stay?

We intend to return next year. I've provisionally booked the caravan! The caravan site is located so near to the beach that the cars never have to move unless we go for a day trip. We just like it too much to want to change.

With these newly purchased wetsuits, I'm hoping to take the boys to Woolacombe (as it's a bit closer to me than Polzeath) in the summer holidays coming up, for a day trip or two, just to keep their surfing skills up. Ben was really getting the hang of it.

What I miss about this holiday: The beach life, the landscape, the sound of the sea, and the ice creams.
What I don't miss: The narrow doors in the caravan, seagulls waking me up walking on the caravan roof and the bed I slept in.

Catch Up And Holiday Antics

I haven't forgotten that I need to continue with my holiday antics, but this week's been a bit odd, frankly. Very low then very high. And I now have my manuscript still in its jiffy envelope, arriving this morning, returned from the RNA NWS, and I'm too afraid to open it.

Could it continue my high, or send me back down into the lurky depths of a depressing, frustrated low?

As I have work later, and that's bad enough as it is, let alone feeling miserable about my writing, I'm going to save the envelope opening ceremony until this evening, when I can have a glass of wine to hand, to steady my nerves.

Don't worry, I'll let you know how I get on!

Day 4: Tuesday 28th May - We're Going On An Ice Cream Hunt

Ready to surf!

Lunch on the rocks.

The sun returned! Hurray! But it was still a bit chilly on the beach. We spent the morning feeding chickens, bouncing on bouncy castles (well, the boys did), and surfing. After lunch on the beach, Dad and I took the boys for a walk to The Rumps. Obviously, we grabbed an ice cream on the way. I had chocolate fudge - it looked so nice when Ben had it the other day.

To make it sound more adventurous than just a walk, as my six-year-old can complain after a while, I said we were going on a bear hunt. And that was it. The boys were off, always ahead of us and never really allowing us to catch up. Little voices singing, "We're going on a bear hunt, we're gonna catch a big one. What a beautiful day."

We're going on a bear hunt...

They let us catch up at The Rumps but were soon running off!

We were home in time for dinner and watched Spring Watch. I think the boys slept soundly that night. And so did I.

Book Review: Stowaway by Becky Black

Stowaway by Becky Black

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book definitely gets four stars for characters.

Kit is my favourite. He's just so cheeky, and the humour bounced off him nicely against the more stricter character of Raine.

I felt a little cheated though over Gracie. I loved her, and would have liked to have known more about who had let her down in the past. There was too much telling about that and not much showing... but then I'm not your usual run-of-the-mill m/m romance reader, so maybe that wont bother other readers so much.

Although the author does well to have a balance of female and male characters, at times I did get confused with some of the female characters and who they were. They may have been over done. 

For plot and setting, it probably should get three stars. Parts of it became predictable (and I'm not talking about the romance) and it did need some more sci-fi elements. I don't wish to put spoilers up really, but words like 'rifle' gave me an image of a rifle, and not a weapon they would use in the future. Also, at one point, Kit holds a can of insect repellent/fly spray and I was like, really? In space would they need that?

I did like the ending though, and a particular scene had a familiar feel and I think I know where the author's inspiration may have came from (although I was slightly confused on how the containers were attached to the ship and would have thought they'd need disconnecting from the outside, not inside).

But the ending is the right one. Four stars for that, too.


View all my reviews


29 books read! 11 more to go... What to read next?

Knee Deep In Washing... Is It Worth It?

I'm home, and boy, my washing machine hasn't stopped since I walked through the door Saturday night.

Our family holiday is spent in Polzeath, Cornwall, for two whole weeks.  (I won't go into taking my son out of school to do so, that's a whole other topic).  We've done it now for the last 6 years, staying in a static caravan which is situated so perfectly that we don't have to use the car to get to the beach.  We can walk.  No petrol costs, or parking fees, which can add to a holiday's expense.


We also love the site (Valley Caravan Park) because it's geared towards families and has some wildlife and 'pets' for the kids to see.  Regularly the ducks come to the caravan for their bread.  There is Chocolate Duck (left), Huff Puff (below), and Goose (right) who are there every year (thank God foxy loxy hasn't got them).  And if you're lucky a mummy duck might come along with her brood of ducklings, or you'll spot some rabbits (I even saw a squirrel this year!).  Just have to watch out for the cheeky seagulls while trying to feed the ducks!

Personally, I don't think you can beat British beaches.  North Devon and Cornwall have some beautiful beaches, with long stretches of perfect 'castle' building, golden sand, and white surf crashing on to the beaches.

I myself was dragged up on Woolacombe beach every year as a kid.  Dad (aka Grandad Ron) was never going to take us away on a plane! Crikey! That would mean getting a passport and enduring hell at an airport!  (It's not that bad, but I know it's something my dad would never have the patience for).

But to be honest, I'm grateful.  When the sun is out here, it's hot! (I've come back with a lovely tan, plastering factor 20 on me everyday).  And if you read the warnings on the back of suncream bottles, well, we shouldn't even be on the beach between 11am and 3pm!  So imagine going somewhere hot and trying to protect your little ones.  I know some choose to do it, but it's not for me.  Not with kids.  I'm not keen on taking small children on aeroplanes.  Gosh, the stress in the car with 'Are we there yet?'  I can only imagine it quadrupled on a plane with 300 other passengers glaring at you as you reply 'NOT YET! (It's just round the corner).'

I like Cornwall.

When the sun's out, Cornwall is great.  (I know the reason we do tend to go abroad is to guarantee the sun and I don't blame anyone who's not got kids - I did it before kids!).  And even on the days where it's not so bright, there are walks to do, and touristy things that are perfect for the rainy day.  This is Britain after all!  They prepare for rain, too.

Okay - so the sea water might be cold, (especially the earlier in the year you go) but you get used to it.  Honest!  And really, the kids don't care.  Kieran stood there shivering at the same time saying, "I'm not shibbering."  (His v's are b's at the moment.  Caraban, Nanny Sylbie... It's quite cute).  But could we get him out of the water?  What do you think?

And on our last day, as we walked around to Padstow, you would not believe how blue and clear the sea looked.  You'd think you would only glimpse water as beautiful and clean as that some where hot and tropical. 

Oh and a little tip, if you're going to holiday in the UK, do it end of May beginning of June.  (Touch wood), we've always had pretty good weather! (But please don't blame me if the sun doesn't shine for you.  Remember this is the UK, weather is not reliable). Plus you can make the most of the longer evenings.


Every year we try to do the beach as much as possible, purely because if you do too many day trips it makes your holiday very expensive.  The boys are more than happy on the beach with their trucks, rock pooling and 'swimming' in the sea.  (Swimming means ankle deep paddling for mummy).  We had Grandad Ron building boats for them (he camped for a week on the same site).  The boys always make friends on the beach.  They met a little boy called Paddy who was two months older than Kieran (though he looked more like a four year old, nearly as tall as Ben).  He had a cracking sense of humour, and for three days they played together on the beach.

Weather depending we do break up beach days with trips out.   For one it makes our holiday feel longer, and two, well, like I said, it's weather depending.  One day was too wet to go on the beach, and another was overcast and windy, so we went for a long walk and nearly made it to the 'humps'.  We realised the boys would be getting hungry (working out how long it had taken us to walk there, how long we were going to have to walk back....) so thought best to head back, otherwise we would have got there.

We love cycling the Camel Trail from Wadebridge to Padstow, and this year, because Ben was that bit bigger he could cycle with his dad.  Grandad Ron was most impressed how Ben cycled all ten miles (there and back), without moaning or stopping.  In fact, Dave would rest (stop pedalling) and let Ben carry on cycling!  Kieran was chauffeured by me in one of those trailers - lucky devil!

Lappa Valley is another favourite, and not too far away, situated near Newquay.  A little steam ride to the park, where there is enough to fill a day for two little ones and have a picnic.  I wouldn't recommend this place really once your children are over 7-8 years of age.  They might get bored a little easily.  It really is for younger children.

We never made it to Cornwall Crealy this year as the weather was just fab the second week.  But in the first week we did go to Bodmin station to see the steam train and to Newquay's Waterworld (for a swim in warmer waters).

So I have two weeks worth of bath towels, beach towels, bed linen (you have to take your own sheets/duvet covers), clothes, swimming costumes/surf suits.  But a change is as good as a rest, so they say.  So yes, it was worth it.