Saturday, November 18, 2017

The Jewel Thief: A Ghostly Regency Romance

My latest book! I love this cover, it is a perfect depiction of the heroine in my mind's eye! This is a playful, fun and romantic ghost story.

The Jewel Thief
A Ghostly Regency Romance
Book Description


Griffin Blackstone, the Earl of Blakenheath, is resting in his room after a long journey to attend a house party at Tallander Castle with his younger sister Lissy. While she is out exploring the castle grounds with her long-time nanny, Griffin hears a strange sound in the room adjoining his own and hurries to investigate, but instead of a maid he discovers a shimmering apparition wearing his sister Lissy’s jewels.
Upon discovery, the spirit immediately disappears. Shocked but curious, he tamps down his initial alarmed instinct to dash out of there and waits for her to reappear. After all, even if he left she’d still be there and he can hardly have his sister return to a room bearing a ghost. But the playful and curious young specter is not easily deterred from her goal of acquiring the shimmering jewels, and Griffin finds himself in the strange predicament of trying to understand the ghost—that he discovers is known historically as the White Silhouette—and her motives.
He nicknames her Magpie as she is attracted to shiny objects. But his research shows her to be a young woman named Melissande DeMesurier Tallander who died of influenza a hundred years earlier.
Tallander Castle is up for sale, and not only is their hostess, the current Miss Tallander, hoping for a buyer, but she has also attracted many of the guests to the party by informing them that they are welcome to search the castle for the long missing Tallander jewels, though Griffin suspects he knows exactly who has stolen them.
A mischievous ghost, a bewildered and fascinated earl, a masquerade ball and some ghostly surprises feature in this lighthearted Regency romance.


Please note that this ghostly tale is much sweeter than my other books which are often quite spicy. My other titles, In Devlin’s Arms and The Third Dance are sensual. An Aspiring Courtesan and Simply Adored are erotic. But all are lighthearted nonetheless

Here's the Amazon links:



The Jewel Thief Australia 



Friday, November 17, 2017

HMS Victory, Horatio Nelson's Flagship




HMS Victory, Nelson's Flagship at Portsmouth Dockyards


This is where Nelson slept, next to the guns that made this ship so powerful


Just one of the many gun decks



Side view of the ship and gun portals


Entrance and gun portals

Monday, November 13, 2017

The Brading Roman Villa, Isle of Wight

The Isle of Wight is home to many wonderful sights and a lot of history. The Brading Roman Villa was excavated to reveal beautiful mosaic floors from the Roman occupation, it's a lovely place to visit.
http://www.bradingromanvilla.org.uk/




Thursday, October 26, 2017

In Devlin's Arms


In Devlin’s Arms
A Sensual and Playful Regency Romance

A little trouble, a little laughter, love, and a whole lot of sensuality feature in this Regency novella In Devlin’s Arms.

Devlin Rochdene, the fourth Earl of Cariston is at his wits’ end. He has been backed into a corner by Lady Clarissa Dravenbrook, a young woman he was caught in a compromising position with—a situation she orchestrated. Now she is insisting that he announce their engagement in The Scottish Daily Times the next day, or she will destroy not only his good name but his reputation in the shipping business, making him appear unreliable.
He is only one voyage away from solvency, so now faced with losing either his financial freedom or his personal freedom he must make a choice. But just when he thinks things can’t get any worse, in walks his young neighbor Lady Chantal Havonford—Tally—with a dueling pistol, demanding his assistance with a problem of her own.
Can he solve one problem with another? As he is leaving on his ship the next day he has to act quickly. If he marries Tally, Clarissa will be thwarted, but will that be the end of it? Or is it just the beginning? And is the feisty Clarissa all that she seems? That lies with his best friend Vincent Harper, Viscount Braden, to discover.

Here is an excerpt from the second part of the book when Vincent visits Clarissa:
“Stupid? I must have been stupid to get into this carriage with you!” she shouted as the crash overhead reverberated through the carriage.
“Well then, be my guest and leave!” He waved a dismissive hand from her to the door.
Instead of cowering or pleading to stay she opened the door and was about to leap out, he grasped her around the waist, pulling her back inside. She landed with a thump on the floor at his feet.
“Now I know you are mad!” he growled. “Barefoot and naked beneath the cloak you would jump out into the night!”
“Anything would be better than being in here with you!” she hissed angrily. Then his attention was suddenly diverted as she struggled to her feet rubbing the spot on her backside where she had landed with a thump. This fiery little vixen was actually a joy to behold, she was fierce and funny and he wanted to laugh. Valiantly he attempted to press his lips together lest he allow a chuckle to escape.
She turned to him, hands going to her hips when she saw the smile he couldn’t quite suppress. “You think this is funny?”
“Yes.” He nodded as finally the laughter broke free and he guffawed in a most ungentlemanly manner. This time she did leap from the carriage, fortunately they had pulled to a halt outside Dravenbrook Castle. She landed with a splash, her bare feet in a puddle. But he was right behind her, lifting her into his arms and carrying her toward the house.
“You have to put me down. You must leave, right now.”
“Why? Isn’t it customary to invite a guest inside, particularly in a storm?” he chuckled as she squirmed in his arms.
“That would be inappropriate,” she informed him primly.
“Inappropriate? You expected my friend to marry you for less than this.”
Recumbent in his embrace she folded her arms. “You are a fool!” she told him.
That really got his dander up! It injured him more to have his intelligence questioned than to be made fun of for his limp. He was a smart man, damn it!
“Do you just enjoy insulting people?” he demanded as he pulled the bell and waited for the door to open.
“Just you, you obviously bring out the best in me.”
“I do? So you are admitting to actually having a good side? Though if this is your best, I confess I may be tempted to call for an exorcist!”
She met his gaze then and he couldn’t fathom what he saw in her eyes. She was puzzled, no doubt no one had ever spoken to her that way before.



Inside Yarmouth Castle, Isle of Wight

Inside historic Yarmouth Castle, complete with a mock-up of a small feast and cannons pointed toward the ocean ready to 'welcome' unexpected visitors!





Tuesday, October 24, 2017

Cover update for In Devlin's Arms

I decided the heroine in my novel In Devlin's Arms looked a little too pensive and decided to change the cover for something more cheerful. Though this book has a few serious moments, it is more than anything a fun and playful book.

 It changed from this----to this. Depicting the moment she arrives at the house, pistol in hand, as opposed to missing him when he is away.

Monday, October 23, 2017

Warrior the war horse and Winne-the-Pooh

Warrior the war horse was a famous and well loved resident of the Isle of Wight, UK. The movie War Horse was based upon his life during world war one.
You will find references to Warrior at the Isle of Wight Heritage Museum and Carisbrooke Castle where there is a statue to him and his owner General Jack Seely in the center of Princess Beatrice's Garden at Carisbrooke.
(There is also a book, still available written about the famous pair.)
It is a heart warming story to know that Warrior went to war, survived the entire first world war and lived many years afterwards.
But the story that most people do not know, is of his connection to Winnie-the-Pooh! Enlarge the second photograph if you can to read the text.


The inscription reads: Warrior 1908-1944 "I do not believe he is denied in heaven the soul he had on earth" General Jack Seely 1868-1947


The text under the photograph reads:
Warrior met Winnie. Whilst in England training with the Canadian cavalry Warrior met this black bear cub known as Winnie. He was an orphan bear named after the town Winnipeg in Canada and was the mascot for the Fort Garry Horse.

Winnie-the Pooh
When the cavalry moved to France Winnie was left at London Zoo where he was very popular.
After visiting him, a small boy Christopher Robin Milne, named his teddy bear after Winnie.
Christopher's father, the writer A.A. Milne used Winnie as inspiration for the children's book Winnie-the-Pooh written in 1926.


Looking down from the ramparts of Carisbrooke Castle on the Warrior statue.

Tuesday, October 10, 2017

The Sands of Alum Bay

The sands of Alum Bay are a famous Isle of Wight attraction, they are made up of quartz, felspar and mica, and come in wide a variety of colors.


Monday, October 9, 2017

King Charles I bedroom

King Charles I was held prisoner at Carisbrooke Castle on the Isle of Wight before being taken to London for his execution. He did try to escape through the window but was caught. I wonder how different English history would be if he had made it out, raised an army and marched on London?





Monday, October 2, 2017

A WWII street scene from the Isle of Wight Military and Heritage Museum

A WWII street scene from the Isle of Wight Military and Heritage Museum.

You can look into the windows in this scene at the Isle of Wight Military Museum and see the products that folks used during that period in history. Some of these products were around long after the war.


Here is a link for more information. http://www.wmahm.org.uk/

Newstead Abbey, Nottinghamshire, UK

Newstead Abbey is a beautiful place to visit, the grounds are wonderful, it is also the former home of Lord Byron.


Saturday, September 9, 2017

Ryde Pier, Isle of Wight

You can take a train down the pier in Ryde, Isle of Wight, to catch the catamaran to the mainland or take a train to other parts of the island.






Wednesday, September 6, 2017

Carisbrooke Castle, Isle of Wight

Carisbrooke Castle. This is probably why people were so fit many years ago.😊 Even today it's quite a workout going around the whole place including walking the ramparts!


Thursday, August 31, 2017

Vernon Cottage, Shanklin, Isle of Wight


Vernon Cottage, Shanklin, Isle of Wight is one of my favorite places to go on the island. It has lovely gardens, often has entertainment, great food and a fascinating history, not to mention a beautiful thatched roof. It is two hundred years old this year, to find out the history, you can go here:
http://www.vernoncottage.co.uk/p/history.html
or just to check out the menu etc:
http://www.vernoncottage.co.uk/