A Gift for Maisie Bloom by Jessie Cahalin –
Publication Day
Meet amatuer sleuth – Maisie Bloom – your new best friend
A Gift for Maisie Bloom – Blurb
You’re not supposed to fall in love when investigating your aunt’s disappearance.
When Maisie Bloom inherits her aunt’s cottage in Yorkshire, life is perfect, including her two love interests. But when mysterious mail and blog posts arrive, she discovers Aunt Ada was investigating the disappearance of a prolific author in Paris. Was it murder? Soon Maisie is hot on the trail.
But can you sleuth in Paris without falling in love?
About the author
Jessie is a northern writer who has lived in Wales for over half of her life. She writes romance books with an enthralling mystery to hook the reader. From an early age, Jessie spun elaborate stories to explain why her father wore cowboy boots and owned many rusty cars. Writing has always been her perfect escape destination, and she was thrilled to encourage her pupils to love the power of words and follow their dreams.
Contacts:
Website: https://jessiecahalin.com
Twitter/X: https://twitter.com@BooksInHandbag
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jessiecahalinwrites
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JessieCahalinAuthor/
My thoughts on A Gift for Maisie Bloom
A Gift for Maisie Bloom had me at Felix! But will Maisie choose Felix or Danny? And what actually happened to Aunt Ada? Could she be alive? Things just don’t add up … No spoilers here! I adored the way the mystery unfolds and the will they/won’t they pull between Maisie and the romantic leads. I was keen to know what happened to Maisie’s aunt and questions kept me guessing until the end. The kind but nosy neighbours with their whispers and oblique looks made me smile. An as a former schoolteacher, I connected with Maisie and was right behind her as she uncovered the mystery of her aunt’s disappearance. Of course, I willed her to fall for my choice of hero. The settings of the Yorkshire village and Paris were well drawn. However, moving to the City of Love provides Maisie with more questions than answers.
A cosy, uplifting read.
Where to buy A Gift for Maisie Bloom
Book Links
Kindle UK https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0DVQ9X7WX
Kobo https://www.kobo.com/gb/en/ebook/a-gift-for-maisie-bloom
Google Play https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=t9w7EQAAQBAJ&pli=1
A Room of One’s Own
My Writing Space: From Promotion to Planning
Growing up, I shared a bedroom with my two sisters.Then, when I went to teacher training college in 1969, I found myself sharing a room with another student. I’ve always wanted my own room; a space in which to write and dream. It wasn’t until I married in 1973 that I was able to achieve this. Our first home was a large three bedroom pallisaded villa and my husband turned the smallest bedroom into a study for me.
Scroll forward a few years to when we were able to take early retirement and pursue our hobbies. Me – writing my first novel, and husband Dave restoring classic cars and metal detecting. (He still hasn’t found the elusive Saxon horde but lives in hope). I live in hope of writing that award winning novel and seeing it made into a movie! Well, a girl can dream, can’t she? My ambition is to have ten novels to my name and I am about to start writing number nine for publication next spring.
My study
I’m old school and call my writing den/office ‘my study’. It has everything I need and more besides, including a mug from the Literary Gift Company bearing Virginia Woolf’s eponimous book: A Room of One’s Own. The room overlooks the garden, has a window into our conservatory straight in front of my desk and, to my left, a shelf which my husband erected so I can spread out papers etc. In the winter, we have a wood-burning stove in the conservatory to keep us warm and in the summer, the doors open directly onto the patio. I sit at an old desk I bought years ago out of the local paper. My chair is new and supports my back. The desk is wide enough to hold my PC, printer, pens and notebooks, etc. I’ve also added a piece of wood over the top right hand desk drawer which provides me with extra space for my diary and in-tray. I have thought of installing a coffee machine but decided that would be a step too far.
Recently, I’ve had a massive clear out and have donated some of my paperbacks to charity shops. You can’t keep everything, right? Some books I can’t bear to part with – my ancient ‘penguins’, Mary Wesley, Jilly Cooper and Georgette Heyer novels; and of course all of my research materials. I figure that one day someone will have to empty my study so I want to make the task easy for them.
Where else do I work ?
When I’m planning the next novel I use post-its and large sheets of A3 paper, I like to work at the dining room table with MacBook, pens, highlighters, etc to hand. Again, it has everything I need, and through the double doors, I can see the sitting room where I can go to relax and watch TV/DVDs and videos for inspiration and research. My current fixation? HIGHLAND COPS ON BBC iPLAYER.
Research, caravanning and holidays
Followers of my blog will know that we try to spend most of the summer caravanning in Scotland. This year will be no exception. Once there I manage to get down to some writing each day using my MacBook Air. I save the manuscript each day on Dropbox and back up on Microsoft. Belt and braces, that’s me.
Recently I bought a keyboard to work alongside my Ipad and that takes up even less space. I do like music in the caravan (when I’m not writing) and take my blue-tooth speaker along to listen to music on Spotify. This summer , I hope to work on the sequel to Winter Star ready for publication in 2026. If you haven’t read Winter Star and the pre-quel Dark Highland Skies you can read an extract on their Amazon page.
Here is one of my favourite reviews – from Sue Baker of Facebook group – Rivetting Reads and Vintage Vibes, who recently organised a Burns’ Night celebration of my books
Well, I guess that about wraps up February’s blog post. Please be sure to follow my blog as over the coming months I will be organising a couple of giveaways . . . signed paperback copies of my novels. Until then, stay warm and look forward to spring.
Yorkshire and Paris
February: A Month Of Reading Romance #respectromfic #romanticnovels #proudtoreadromfic #romfic #reading
Time to Love and Respect Romantic Fiction It won’t surprise you to know that as well as writing romantic fiction, I also love reading it. And while I…
February: A Month Of Reading Romance #respectromfic #romanticnovels #proudtoreadromfic #romfic #reading
If you’re looking for a great romance to read this month, check out – mybook.to/WintetStar
Happy New Year or, as we say in Scotland . . . lang may yer lum reek
My novel, WINTER STAR IN THE SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS, published mid-December, has been well received. It’s a sequel to Dark Highland Skies and continues the love story of Tor and Halley as they prepare for the birth of their first child. I’m happy to say it’s one of my best-selling novels and due to readers’ feedback, I plan to write one last book in the trilogy.
As one of my lovely readers put it: “This is a superbly written story, easy to follow with fine details and explanation which are second to none. You will laugh, cry and sense all the emotions that the characters do in this snow-covered Christmas setting with an ending not to be missed. I’ve learnt so much from Lizzie Lamb’s portrayal of this magical place. As always, it’s best to read both books, but Winter star in the Scottish Highlands can be read as a standalone.”
This is Ballindalloch Castle which I visited a couple of summers ago and which inspired the castle in my book – Creag na h-lolaire, which means Eagles Crag in Gaelic. Everything about it is romantic and if you’re ever in the Trossachs its well worth a visit.
If you would like to know what the novel is about. here’s the blurb
If you’d like to read the opening chapters of Winter Star in the Scottish Highlands FREE, click here
. . . A Winter’s tale to warm your heart from the Queen of Highland Romance Wrap up and snuggle down, this is the perfect winter read, whatever the weather
if you’d like to know what readers thought of Winter Star in the Scottish Highlands – see below –
. . . A captivating and heartwarming sequel to Dark Highland Skies. Fall in love with Halley & Tor and the glorious Scottish Highlands all over again! A Winter Wonderland of love, family feuds and friendship – a gorgeous read
. . . As usual Lizzie Lamb writes a compelling and heart-warming story of love, friendship and at times difficult family relationships, with great characters and a few scheming villains too! Tor is a wonderful hero and Halley is a strong heroine and their love for each other really shines throughout the story.
And, finally, before you go, please consider leaving a rating/review for Winter Star. Short written reviews matter on Amazon and just a few sentences is enough. More importantly, enjoy the story and look out for the last book in the trilogy which I hope to publish at the end of the year.
Bliadhna Mhath Ùr
Happy New Year from Lizzie and her kilted hero
We might be a long way from the highlands but we know how to party.
An extract from the Ghillies’ Ball in Winter Star in the Scottish Highlands –
Lights and music greeted them as they disembarked from the Land Rover and entered the barn, transformed under Lady Strachan’s expert guidance. Industrial-size machines pumped heat into the air of the cathedral-like building, melting the snow on its slate roof. In lieu of seating, straw bales draped in rugs and tartan shawls were arranged around three sides of the barn. As the temperature rose the scent from the bales reminded them of the successful harvest gathered in thanks to unseasonably good weather.
The Ghillies’ Ball was the family’s way of thanking their staff and tenants for their hard work and looking forward to the new year with hope and enthusiasm.
Behind the bales, along the bottom edge of the barn, large trestle tables had been erected and staff, under the critical gaze of Mrs Robinson, were unloading food from catering vans. At the opposite end of the barn on a temporary stage draped with a large saltire, musicians were tuning their instruments in readiness for the ceilidh: bagpipes, snare drums, accordion, fiddle, electric guitar and a small Celtic harp.
Chains of fairy lights, strung along the sides of the barn and as high as staff could safely reach, made everything festive and inviting. Soon folk arrived, stamping their feet to clear their boots of snow, and blowing on frozen hands to ward off chilblains. Arranging their coats over individual bales to reserve their place for the night and exclaiming at the barn’s transformation they greeted friends noisily. Once they’d bagged their spot, they removed outdoor shoes and replaced them with trainers. Or, in the case of the older generation, dancing shoes.
Tor and Halley’s party were as impressed as the other guests at the barn’s makeover and exchanged knowing looks as they recalled discussing the barn’s potential as a wedding venue. Leaving Halley in Lexie and Rowan’s capable hands, Tor walked over to the band to check everything was ready, keen to ensure Halley’s first Ghillies’ Ball would be a night to remember.
If you’ve enjoyed reading this extract from my novel then read a longer sample and maybe even download a copy of the novel. All my other Scottish themed romances are currently priced at 99p/99c.
Many thanks to Book Escape with Babs for this fabulous review of Winter Star in the Scottish Highlands.
You can download it here or buy both for under a pound
For me, the main draw is the unerring connection between Tor and Halley. Their determination to tackle everything head-on and not allow anything to create uncertainty in their lives is beyond powerful and a rare skill.
Keeping the love going . . .
I’m featured on the Australian Romance Readers’ Association’s website today talking about being awarded the #RNA’s Indie Champion of 2023 award. Do pop over and have a look if you have a moment. Any and all comments/likes are most appreciated. Thank you, Lizzie x
Valentine’s Day guest blog post and review – courtesy of Babs Wilkie of Book Escapes
I was lucky enough to meet Babs Wilkie at the RNA Industry Awards in November 2023 when I was named Indie Champion 2023. I have since discovered that Babs is married to a Scot (I hope he’s a kilt-wearing one) and that she is a great supporter of authors and their books. If you aren’t following Babs’s fabulous blog then you’re missing a treat. Do take time to read the whole interview, if you can.
To celebrate Valentine’s Day and Dark Highland Skies’s first birthday I have put the novel on #KindleCountdown for 99p/99c – but only until Tuesday 20th February. So get it while it’s hot. In the meantime, I’m writing a sequel to Halley and Tor’s love story and really enjoying moving the characters forwards. ?Towards another happy ending? You’ll have to wait until the end of the year to find out.
Have a wonderful Valentine’s Day whethere its with the one you love or reliving treasures memories of those you have loved. I’ll end this post by quoting Virgil – cras amet qui nunquam amavit; quique amavit, cras amet – which means: loveless hearts will love tomorrow, those who have loved will love again.
Caravanning and researching!
Back in the day my husband bought a ‘secret caravan’ off eBay for £300 because he was not sure I would take to the caravanning life. Talk about ‘ducks to water.’ We are now on caravan #5 (a Bailey Cartagena) which is 25 feet long, has a dedicated bathroom and a fixed double bed. A real home from home. Caravanning is ideal because we can combine research, writing away-from-home and having a fun time.
As you can see, its quite a big ‘van’ and I don’t travel light. Call me crazy but I don’t like staying in hotels (at least, not the ones I can afford), so the van suits us down to the ground.
At home, I have a study overlooking the garden. I have had a writing room/study since we married in 1973 and, occasionally, I allow my husband to enter, but he must knock first and wait for me to say: ‘Ye-es?’ before entering. Just kidding. To be fair, he brings me coffee and biscuits to fuel my writing sprints or, in the winter, a stiff gin and tonic and cashews nuts. Spoiled? Most definitely. But he knows that when I am writing I’ll leave him alone to get on with his ‘projects’. (mostly servicing his fleet of classic cars, if you really want to know.)
When we are at the caravan, I write at the pull out ‘card table’ or at a big table in the awning. The caravan is fully equipped, but – as I said above, I do not travel light . . . I take my iPhone (natch) printer/scanner, dongle, MacBook Air, packs of paper etc. I have commandeered one of the drawers at the front of the caravan as a dedicated ‘stationery drawer’ full of pens, notebooks, spare ink cartridges etc. I also keep my planning notes in there (made from a recycled Amazon folder). However, I find writing notes by hand takes too long and I easily lose the thread, so I do most of my planning on the MacBook, cutting and pasting once I’m happy with it.
I’m not a great fan of the MacBook and wish now that I’d bought a Windows laptop.
I don’t take many reference books along with me, instead I keep all the information in a bookmarked folder on my pc. It’s backed up every day on Dropbox et al. I usually print out the relevant sections and take those with me for reference. I prefer to write the novel proper while I’m away and research is filed away for when we get home. Then I ‘colour in’ what I’ve written/make changes.
As I said, I do not take copious notes along with me, but two things are essential – a timeline and a cheap calendar. I use these to mark what happens when/where in my WIP. I know (roughly) how the novel ends and put little ‘pegs’ on the timeline to get me there. Each section of the timeline becomes a chapter. If inspiration or a new idea strikes, I glue post-it notes to the relevant section of the planner to remind me to add that information when I come to it.
All my photos are stored in the cloud for when I need them. I don’t write outside the caravan, unless its in the awning, because I find the light bothersome. When in the caravan I write with the blinds behind me drawn, as I find it easier on my eyes. Mostly I beaver away in the semi-darkness wearing a peaked cap to further shade my eyes. I have dedicated ‘computer glasses’ with a blue-light coating, I also use a screen filter on the MacBook, so my eyes don’t get tired.
We have a television, Blu-ray DVD player, stock of movies and an Amazon Firestick. That way, when I run out of inspiration, I can watch a favourite movie, zone out and give my imagination free rein.
In case you’re wondering what my husband Dave does while I’m writing, it’s simple. He lies on the double bed and watches DVDs (wearing headphones) or surfs the net on his iPad. He can shut the bedroom off from the front of the caravan via a sliding screen, so we do not distract each other. In fact, I am pleased that he can have down time as he works so hard towing the caravan and setting it up etc.
Sometimes, we will stumble upon a part of Scotland which is unfamiliar to us and take masses of photos for research and planning. For example, after discovering Castle Stalker on Loch Linnhe and booking a tour, Girl in the Castle was born. Several summers ago, we returned to the castle and presented the owner with a signed copy of the book and my heartfelt thanks. One of my favourite spots in Scotland is Plockton which inspired Harper’s Highland Fling – a ‘road trip to romance’, featuring a slightly older hero and heroine. I was able to draw upon my experience as a teacher when I created the heroine, a primary school headteacher who discovers that her niece has run away to Scotland – where else – with a boy who lives in the same village.
Usually, we explore the location where my books are set. I could do most of this research via Google Earth, But where is the fun in that? Visiting a place several times means that I can write about it with some authority. I particularly love Wester Ross and last summer we visited Inverewe Gardens which set me off thinking about/planning number nine. Readers tell me that they love my depiction of Scotland but I am careful not to let purple prose or descriptions of scenery get in the way of the romance.
Some days I do not write a word, but I’m always thinking about my novel when I’m not at the pc.
Well, that about wraps up my first blog post on Romancing the Plaid. I hope you’ve enjoyed it. Keep your eyes peeled because Dark Highland Skies will be available for 99p from Valentine’s Day – its book birthday, until February 20th. After that, it reverts to its usual price of £2.99.
Halley Dunbar has spent her entire career searching for the impossible – an exoplanet capable of sustaining life, a one-in-a-billion find. But when she’s forced to travel to Scotland to arrange her great-uncle’s funeral, Halley discovers something rarer, the one man capable of making her happy, Laird’s son Tor Strachan. However, obstacles stand in the way of their happiness. Tor, an Afghan veteran, has Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome and must confront his demons before he can be the man Halley deserves. Meanwhile, Halley has a secret of her own, one she can’t share with anyone – not even Tor. Will the two be able to find their happy ending or will their secrets be the downfall of them both?
See you soon,
Lizzie Lamb - author 