Monday's Musings - on Tuesday

Sorry to be a day late.  It's been a busy day  Had to take my little dog to the vet yesterday, for his routine injections..  He was such a good boy.  He whimpered a bit when the needle went in but soon forgot the discomfort when the vet gave him some treats afterwards.

I can't believe it's the middle of Febuary
already.  It hardly seems like a few weeks since Christmas.  I've had snowdrops in my garden since January, due to the unusually mild winter, and now there are crocuses, daffodils and primroses as well.  I usually have to will the daffodils to bloom in time for St David's Day on March 1st, but this year I'll

be lucky if there are any left by then!

Getting very excited about the forthcoming release of 'Beloved Enemy' on March 11th, and am busy arranging blog tours, etc.  If you'd like to see some previews, pictures of my settings and characters and news before I post them anywhere else, and if you'd like to help me get the word out, you're welcome to join my 'Stargroup' street team at https://www.facebook.com/groups/118700921405/

That's all for now, enjoy your pancakes if you're having them today, I'll be making a stack tonight, I love them with cream, lemon, and maple syrup.  I might get some nutty chocolate too if I have time to pop to the village shop.

Monday Musings

I can't believe it's well into November and Christmas is only about six weeks away! Where has the year gone! I'm going to bake our Christmas cake today as soon as I finish this.

I love my fellow authors and really enjoy promoting  them on my blog - but I think it's time I started sharing some of myself with you again, so I'm going to try to keep Mondays to chat with you about this and that - and perhaps post up the odd Welsh legend again.

It's been quite an eventful and busy year.  I had the third novel in what has become the Destiny trilogy accepted by the Wild Rose Press and have been busy with edits with my very patient editor, Frances Sevilla, and was thrilled with my lovely cover by the talented Rae Monet, who gave me exactly what I asked for - only better! Hopefully I'll have the release date soon and will be giving a few short 'teasers' here and on my Facebook 'Street Team', where I'll be posting all the news about 'Beloved Enemy' first.  If you'd like to join, just pop along to
https://www.facebook.com/groups/118700921405/  I'll be thrilled to have you on board.

I've also been busy with our new 'rescue' Choccy.  He was pretty hyper when we first had him, as he'd spent most of his life shut up in a box room, and never being taken out for walks or played with until he went to the Blue Cross, who, along with other rescue centres in this country do such sterling work for abandoned, abused and neglected or unwanted animals.  Never having been 'socialised' as a puppy, he tended to bark and spin like a loony when meeting other dogs. I'm glad to say he's a lot calmer now, and doesn't bark so much when we meet

dogs when out and about. We had a few sessions with a
local dog trainer, which we enjoyed very much, and I think that helped a lot.  It was his third birthday yesterday, and he had a good time, with two different types of ball (he loves chasing balls), a nice marrow-bone to chew on and a special chicken dinner. He had a great time and is sleeping it off today, lying behind me on my chair as I type.

I'm doing National Novel Writing Month again  this year,  and am writing a ghost story.  It's completely different to the Destiny series and is very horsey, we'll see how it goes.  I'm actually behind on my word count so I'd better finish this post and get back to it - as soon as I've made my Christmas Cake.

Have a great week!

Country Affairs

If you follow this blog, or my website or Facebook page, you'll know that besides books and writing, my other other passions are horses and dogs, and of course the countryside.  So when I found out about fellow Brit author Zara Stoneley's latest release, 'Country Affairs' I just had to invite her to my blog as part of her Brook Cottage Books tour.  Here's some more about the book.

Genre: Contemporary Fiction/Humour/ChickLit

Release Date: e-book 7 May 2015, Paperback 16 July 2015

Publisher:  HarperCollins (HarperImpulse)

COUNTRY AFFAIRS
'A great treat for readers who love their books jam-packed with sexy men and horses.' Bestselling author Fiona Walke. It’s time to get back in the saddle with the follow up to the deliciously naughty Stable Mates!

BLURB

Swapping her spurs for stilettoes and becoming Lady of the Manor is not on loveable, but scatty, Lottie’s life plan. Nor does she have the faintest idea how to rescue it from rack and ruin.

But with footballer’s wife Sam on the case, determined to bring glamour to the manor, and fun-loving eventer Rory egging them on, nothing can possibly go wrong, can it?

Todd never forgave himself for abandoning Lottie on a Barcelona beach, but now he’s tracked her down and he’s ready to kiss and make up. With a roving eye and his roguish grin he soon has more than one girl in Tippermere going weak at the knees, but why is he really there?

With wedding plans going awry, unexpected pregnancies and relationships starting to look rocky, will Lottie ever be ready to accept her inheritance and help Tipping House Estate move into the 21st Century?
 

Let's find out more about the super sexy hunks in her book. Over to you, Zara:

Here come the men!  Country Affairs

The great thing about sportsmen is that you can guarantee they’ll be fit, they’ll probably be pretty competitive and chances are they will love a challenge. And all the men of Tippermere pretty much fit the bill – so which one would you go for? (Check out my pinterest board for pics!)

Rory Steel – is a sexy three day eventer. He’ll do anything for a dare, is a bit of an adrenalin junkie and is the one man who is guaranteed to make Lottie laugh. He could be the guy for you if you like a challenge and having fun, and don’t mind his terriers and horses. Don’t expect him to sit still for longer than absolutely necessary though, like Tilly the terrier he’s always got a glint in his eye and is looking for trouble. And bear in mind his taste in girls might be similar to his taste in horses - he like them flighty, brave and slightly unpredictable, like Flash.

Todd Mitchell – is an Australian surfer who abandoned Lottie on the beach in Barcelona. He prefers the surf to the green grass of Cheshire and is far too tall for the Tippermere quaint cottages.   If you’re not desperate for a happy ever after (he’s not got a great track record), but do like wall to wall fun then Todd could be the one for you. And you are guaranteed that his fit body comes with an all over tan (not something you often get with a horse rider), as well as a six pack! With the exception of Lottie, he’s always had a thing for perfectly groomed blonds (girls not horses!), but he’s open to offers.

Mick O’Neal - dangerously sexy, deep thinker, Irish charmer, he’s ruggedly handsome in a dark and mysterious way but often has a twinkle in his eye. Do you like a guy who’s perceptive and protective? Mick could be for you, but he’s not been lucky in love and with his damaged heart might be a tricky customer. A farrier, not a competitive rider, he’s still a wonderful horseman so steer clear if you don’t like horses and the country life. But can any girl resist that steady gaze, and those warm, firm hands?

Dominic Stanthorpe – is a true aristocrat. He’s always striving for perfection, and has a strong sense of duty. This man is undemonstrative, but totally loyal and will do anything for the woman he loves (which can surprise even him). As a dressage rider he dislikes shoddy behaviour, flamboyance and surprises. If you like control and the best things in life then Dominic could be your perfect man, if you’re a tantrum type of girl then he might well be off at a gallop.

Bestselling author Zara Stoneley lives in deepest Cheshire surrounded by horses, dogs, cats and amazing countryside. When she's not visiting wine bars, artisan markets or admiring the scenery in her sexy high heels or green wellies, she can be found in flip flops on the beach in Barcelona, or more likely sampling the tapas! Zara writes hot romance and bonkbusters. Her latest novels, 'Stable Mates' and ‘Country Affairs’, are fun romps through the Cheshire countryside and combine some of her greatest loves - horses, dogs, hot men and strong women (and not forgetting champagne and fast cars)!
She writes for Harper Collins and Accent Press.

 Find out more about Zara:

Website      Twitter        Facebook        Google+

 
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Choccy

The house has felt empty since we lost our beloved Jack Russell, Bouncer, in August, so...

The DH and I paid a visit to the Blue Cross Adoption Centre

where I'd seen an on-line picture of this little scrap named Choccy

After some visits to get to know him and take him for walks...

(Well wouldn't you know I'd find a chocolate themed doggy!)




We bought a smart, matching Blue Cross collar, harness and lead

and took him home with us

Where he soon made himself at home in his new bed with his blanket and toys...

before calling round to see the neighbours
Bonnie and Ellie, belonging to Sara-Jane and Neil.
(Poor Bonnie was abandoned in a box. she had a badly infected
eye which had to be removed, but she's such a happy little girl now
with her lovely adopted mum and dad.)

At this rate I'll never get that novel finished and submitted to my publisher! But who could resist  such a sweet little dog - even if he does put his paws on the keyboard so he can give me big doggy kisses!

Tribute to Bouncer

Bouncer at the shelter, before we adopted him

Instead of my 'Welsh Legend Monday' I'm devoting today to my beloved little 'rescue', Jack Russell, Bouncer.

Tragically we had to have him put to sleep last Thursday. He had several brain tumours and had slowed down over the last few months, although he was still happy and mischievous, and very, very 'knowing'.  On Wednesday night he started having convulsions and on Thursday we had to make the terribly sad decision to make sure he did not suffer any more.

Bouncer first came into our lives in September 2007.  I had emailed an animal shelter in Wales and they sent me his picture. There were other dogs available for rehoming, but how could I possibly refuse that little face and the silent plea in those dark eyes?  I knew he was meant to be ours.

From the minute he stepped through the door it was as if he'd always been part of the family.  I put the blanket we'd bought for him which he'd been lying on, on the way home, in his bed and he climbed straight into it and curled up, quite at home.  Among his new toys was a red, plush dragon which he 'loved' to death. After a few weeks it was as flat as a pancake, and missing its eyes and horns, but he slept with it every night of his life with us.



He'd been badly treated in the past, and his hip had been broken and allowed to heal without a vet, so it healed a bit crooked and he walked with a bit of a swagger, with his feet pointing to a quarter to three, like a little penguin, as he 'sashayed' along.




He was such an inquisitive little dog and soon found a small hole in the garden fence where he could spy on next door's cat.

I think he believed if he slept on a growbag, he might turn into a Great Dane and not have to stand on flowerpots.

He loved going down  to the horses with us, and would investigate every nook and cranny of the feedroom, where he could probably smell the resident mice and our 'feral' stable cats. 

His favourite thing in the world was his 'treatball' and as soon as he finished his morning and evening meals he would sit and ask for it to be filled with treats and chase it around, batting it with his nose or his paw to get the treats out with a dexterity and expertise that would have made David Beckham green with envy!

About two years ago he started to lose his sight and gradually went completely blind, but he didn't allow it to interfere with his enjoyment of life and still managed to get around and play with his treatball and enjoy his daily 'walkie'. In November last year he had what the vet at first thought was a 'mini stroke' but scans revealed to be inoperable brain tumours. We were devastated.  How could our clever, happy little dog have this inflicted on him on top of everything else?  For a while we thought we were going to lose him, but he was such a little fighter and after a week or so on new medication, bounced back, true to his name, and it was hard to believe there was anything wrong with him, he certainly didn't lose any of his zest for life, or knowing ways, and was still as bright as a button.

We went 'home' to Wales for a few days last week and while we were there he began to have convulsions and we knew it was time to say goodbye to our beloved little friend and companion. He is buried, his paw resting on his red dragon,  in a lovely, peaceful spot on my sister's land, with her two dogs. It seems fitting that he should be laid to rest in Wales, where he came from.  He will be sorely missed by us and everyone who knew him, and will never ever be forgotten.  Rest In Peace little Bouncer, and wait for us at the Rainbow Bridge.