Because I live so close to the beach, you might assume that when I’m not working, I pack up a picnic hamper and a deckchair, and head off for a day in the sun, but nothing could be further from the truth.
Even though I live in Spain–the land of sun, sea, and sangria–I’m not a beach lover, I’d rather sit in the shade, and drinking alcohol in the sun gives me a headache!
I’ve always wanted a hammock in a shady spot, strung between the trunks of two strong, gnarly old trees, where I could escape to with a book and a cup of tea. That, for me, would be a perfect way to spend a few hours. But as I don’t have a hammock, I’m quite happy to curl up on the couch!
If you receive my newsletters, you’ll know that I love to read and cook. I’ll give a book in most genres a try and, as there’s not much I won’t eat, there’s not much I won’t cook, either.
On the reading front, I’ve been reading a lot of Women’s Fiction recently, because that’s a new genre I’m going to be publishing in once I’ve finished book ten in my Charlotte Denver Mystery Series. I’ll still write mysteries, but I’ll be writing in the other genre, too. My series will revolve around the lives of a family who living in an English village with storylines and a cast of supporting characters I hope readers will enjoy. The village will be familiar to readers of my Bliss Bay mystery series, because it´s also the setting for the new women´s fiction series!
If you’re interested to know about the type of books I’ll be writing, this is a small selection of the ones which have inspired me the most. If I can write a book that’s half as enjoyable as any of these, I’ll be very happy.
She arrived in the village on the spring tide and hoped to be at the heart of it, knowing its secrets and weathering its storms.
It was to be a new beginning…
It’s springtime in the Cornish village of Pendruggan and as the community comes together to say a fond farewell to parish vicar, Simon, and his wife, Penny, a newcomer causes quite a stir…
Reverand Angela Whitehorn came to Cornwall to make a difference. With her husband, Robert, by her side, she sets about making changes – but it seems not everyone is happy for her to shake things up in the small parish, and soon Angela starts to receive anonymous poison pen letters.
Angela has always been one to fight back, and she has already brought a fresh wind into the village, supporting her female parishioners through good times and bad. But as the letters get increasingly more personal, Angela learns that the secrets are closer to home.
With faith and friends by your side, even the most unlikely of new beginnings is possible.
Newport Harbor House by Cindy Nichols
Fall in love with this uplifting and heartwarming tale of friendship, second chances, and the magic of new beginnings, set against the picturesque backdrop of Newport Beach. This charming saga, the first in a series, celebrates the transformative power of friendship and mid-life self-discovery.
Meet Jen Watson, a resilient widow, who finds herself in a battle to save her beloved grandmother’s beach house from being sold by her own family. It’s not just a house, but a memory trove that speaks of sunlit days, laughter-filled nights, and little hands crafting sandcastles by the ocean. As Jen seeks to preserve this irreplaceable piece of her heart, she’s reacquainted with an old flame, something she’d never expected.
United in Jen’s mission are her two lifelong friends. Carrie, an unconventional dentist who dances to her own rhythm, and Faith, a devoted kindergarten teacher on the brink of retirement with aspirations of entrepreneurship. Their shared journey is one of unexpected adventure, personal growth, and the sweetness of love rediscovered.
With their fifties unfurling in front of them like a second act, these three women face change with courage, grace, and a contagious zest for life. This series embraces the allure of new opportunities that can present themselves at any age, the preciousness of cherished memories, and the unbreakable bonds of friendship that make any storm weatherable.
It’s a touching and inspiring tribute to the women who show us it’s never too late to redefine who we are and grasp life with both hands. As an added treat, experience the anticipation of a grandmother-to-be as Jen’s son and his wife are expecting their first child.
Pack your bag for Newport Beach and let the rolling waves and whispering sea breeze guide you through a captivating journey that will warm your heart and reignite your belief in endless possibilities. This is women’s fiction at its finest – tender, evocative, and unforgettably enchanting.
Nashville Dreams by Pamela Kelley
Charleston native Laura Scott fell in love with her best friend, Cole Dawson, and together they dreamed of their future—and Cole’s career in country music. But they live in two different worlds–Laura grew up in a trailer park with her mother, while Cole lives in a mansion with a billionaire father with political ambitions.
They’d planned to marry after graduating college, but an unexpected pregnancy speeds up their timeline.
Dalton doesn’t approve of Laura or of Cole’s interest in music. He is planning a run for Governor and wants Cole to follow in his footsteps and go to law school.
When Dalton learns about Laura’s pregnancy and her plans to marry Cole so soon, he’s furious. This will not reflect well on his candidacy.
A fatal car accident changes everything when Dalton takes an action that he thinks will be best for everyone.
But actions have consequences and as the years pass, dreams change in ways they never anticipated.
On the cooking front… shock and utter disbelief! My husband–a carnivore ever since his mum fed him beef casserole baby food before he even had teeth–has stopped eating meat. I’m completely gobsmacked. Three weeks ago, he suddenly stopped enjoying it and hasn’t touched it since. It’s beyond bizarre.
He’s quite a fussy eater, so I thought I might be stuck for things to cook, but I recently inherited a Nutribullet, which has become my favourite kitchen appliance of all time. I already have a large blender, but this is so much better. Have you ever used one?
It literally blitzes everything you put into it to smithereens in seconds. (It might not surprise you to learn that I’m often months, sometimes years, behind everyone else when it comes to kitchen gadgets–or any gadgets, come to that–so I’m probably the last one to be getting excited about a Nutribullet in 2023!)
I’ve been whizzing up fresh veggie pasta sauces, gazpacho and ajoblanco (cold Spanish tomato soup and cold garlic and almond soup, which might not sound very appetising, but are delicious), fruit juices, guacamole, fruit smoothies, hummus, milkshakes, overnight oats, honey and lemon pancake batter, and veggie and lentil pate. I’m blitzing everything I can get my hands on!
I’m really happy to experiment with meat-free cooking for a change. I don’t know about you, but I get so bored cooking and eating the same things, week in and week out, so I’m really looking forward to experimenting while me and my hubs decide what we’re going to do with all the meat in the freezer.
If you’ve never used a Nutribullet before and would like to know more about it (similar blenders are available, but I can’t speak for those, never having used them) here’s the closest model I can find to the one I have. I think the one I have might have been discontinued, because I can’t find it, but I’m sure this one does all the same things. Here’s a link to it on Amazon if you’d like to take a look:
And here are the pictures of the strawberry milkshake I’ve just made. Not very exciting, but it literally took seconds, and it’s so creamy and delicious.
So that’s what I’m up to these days when I’m not working.
Once the sun’s not so fierce, and the rain clouds are on the way, that’s when I’ll take a chair and a notebook down to the beach, and sit and watch the sea with a sandwich and a flask of tea. Roll on winter!
And, by the way, we’ve just decided to take all the meat in our freezer to a local soup kitchen tomorrow, and they can use it as they please.
Happy Days!