Blog Archives
2025 Christmas Newsletter: Highlights and Upcoming Novels
Hi everyone and welcome to my Christmas Newsletter. Some of you may have received a shortened version of this letter with your Christmas card but here is the extended version should you wish to read it.
I spent most of the first quarter of 2025 publicising my latest novel Winter Star in the Scottish Highlands because, as an indie author, if I don’t get word of my books out there, who will? Winter Star is the sequel to Dark Highland Skies . I am currently writing the last in the series (title to be announced) for publication in 2026. If you want to know how Halley and Tor’s love story pans out, subscribe to my blog and keep in touch.
I’m also updating the last of my novel covers: Take Me I’m Yours. A proof copy is on pre-order but won’t arrive until after Christmas so I don’t have anything to show you. But you can download a copy (with the old cover) on Amazon for 99p or read FREE via Kindle Unlimited. .
The highlight of 2025 was the five weeks we spent in Scotland in August when we had the most am-az-ing weather. We made it over to Tobermory on Mull for the best fish in chips in the world and, to top it off, saw white-tailed sea eagles soaring over moorland/pine forests. It was so hot when we reached Arisaig I bought Factor 30 suncream from the local Spa and came home with a tan (not rusted up as usual).
We spent three nights in Drimnin in ‘Airship2’ which features in Winter Star in the Scottish Highlands as Tor and Halley’s hideaway – Beag air Bheag (little by little). When we saw it through the trees it took our breath away, it was like a film set. As for midges, the garden came complete with an anti-midge machine (the Terminator) which zapped the little blighters before they could get us. We have booked to stay there in June 2026 including the Longest Day when it never gets dark. So romantic.
I’m always looking for authentic touches to add to my novels. When we were in Mallaig we came across the Vintage Horsebox Deli which served delicious cake and coffee. I filed it away for future reference. I envisage a scene in #9 where it could be used to good effect. We also came across the Jac-o-bite cafe but that was too cheesy, even for me.
Upon checking the map I saw that we were very close to the village of Pennan and twisted Dave’s arm to drive us there. Pennan is where the movie Local Hero was filmed and we couldn’t resist standing by the iconic phone box. I love that movie so much that we downloaded a copy to re-watch in the caravan before we we visited there !!
After Pennan we headed south, and managed a quick visit to see Maggie in Lenzie before spending the day in Edinburgh and heading home. I’ll be updating the blog with more of our Scottish adventures after Christmas, so if you don’t already subscribe, please consider doing so.
In case you are unaware, my sister Phyllis King is a very talented artist and these are the covers of some of the Christmas cards she’s created. I used the stag’s head to make labels for my cards this year and it looked fantastic. Coincidentally, I found a stag’s head garland in the local Age UK, added new ribbon and batteries and it now hangs on our door in pride of place. Well, to be honest, Dave added the ribbon etc but I did order it off Amazon! Cute, or what?
Looking ahead . . . In 2026 we will be celebrating 53 years of marriage, 30 years in our current home, 20 years of retirement and Dave’s mum’s 98th birthday and, hopefully, a new novel(!). We’ll be heading out with the caravan in March to celebrate my birthday and I can’t wait. (I won’t say which one) 😊Remember, you are always welcome at Chez Lamb for coffee, cake and a chance to sit by the wood burning stove and share the craic. I promise to turn the telly off . . .
Much love and warmest wishes from Lizzie and Dave
Boot Camp Bride – love, romance and danger on the Norfolk marshes
Boot Camp Bride: A sassy, workplace/enemies-to-lovers rom com guaranteed to make you smile
Hi everyone, I hope your summer is going well and that the sun is shining on you. I’ve been living a mole-like existence in the semi-dark of my study getting on with my writing. By which I mean the last novel in my Dark Skies Trilogy which I hope to bring out next spring. Then, as yu do, I decided that updating the cover of Boot Camp Bride was a good idea – so here it is. Reading the novel again I remembered how much fun I’d had writing it and creating the two main characters: sassy, up-for-anything Charlee Montague and brooding hero Rafa Ffinch.
Read the blurb and, if sounds like your kind of thing, why not download a copy . . .
Take an up-for-anything rookie reporter. Add a world-weary photojournalist. Put them together . . . light the blue touch paper and stand well back!
Posing as a bride-to-be, Charlee Montague goes undercover at a boot camp for brides on the Norfolk coast to photograph supermodel Anastasia Markova. At Charlee’s side and posing as her fiancé, is Rafael Ffinch award winning photographer and survivor of a kidnap attempt in Columbia. He’s in no mood to cut inexperienced Charlee any slack and has made it plain that once the investigation is over, their partnership – and fake engagement – will be terminated, too. Soon Charlee has more questions than answers. What’s the real reason behind Ffinch’s interest in the boot camp? How is it connected to his kidnap in Columbia? In setting out to uncover the truth, Charlee puts herself in danger …
And, as the investigation draws to a close, she wonders if she’ll be able to hand back the family engagement ring and walk away from Rafa Ffinch without a backward glance.
It seems I wasn’t the only who enjoyed Charlee and Rafa’ adventures!
Reviews for Boot Camp Bride
A touch of Sophie Kinsella, a smidgen of Jilly Cooper, yet totally Lizzie Lamb! Adrienne Vaughan
This book is above the average contemporary romance for me – the reason why? It’s intelligent as well as wildly romantic. India
Entertaining with comedic elements throughout, the pace of this well written tale rattles along at a good rate with sexual tension building from the start. Georgia Rose (Vine Voice)
Boot Camp Bride, however, is no straightforward Rom-Com. Ffinch has a sinister past, and hidden agenda. In cold and dark mid-winter, he drives them in his VW Camper Van into danger and menace at the isolated Boot Camp on the edge of the Norfolk marshes. Mags Cullingford
Undeterred by the alpha male, she managed to fight him with wit and stubbornness. Lizzie Lamb’s characters and style of writing sparkle in Boot Camp Bride. This romantic comedy is classic gold: it is the equivalent of comfort food and a good night out with friends. Lady Bracknell
Boot Camp Bride is a well written and very amusing romance novel which would be ideal for a holiday read or a long winter night in front of the fire. Catherine
As I mentioned at the start of this blog I am currently writing the third book in my Dark Skies Trilogy and where better to write it than Scotland? We’ll be heading north soon and if that doesn’t inspire me to finish the novel, nothing will. In the meantime, why not check out the first two books in the series? All my books are available as paperback which make ideal gifts.
Finally, I hope everyone has a great summer and look forward to touching base with you in September when, hopefully, the word count of my next novel will have increased. And, I’ll have lots of fabulous photos to share with you. In the meantime, do check out my other novels which are all available on Amazon and written with love.
Winter Star in the Scottish Highlands – 99p – #kindledeal
Winter Star in the Scottish Highlands is available to download for £0.99 until 31st of May.
After that it reverts to the original price of £2.99. So get it while it’s hot. Winter Star in the Scottish Highlands can be read as a stand alone. Or, you can find out more about Halley and Tor’s relationship and how/when they fell in love by reading Dark Highland Skies . I am currently writing the third book in the series: Summer Solstice in the Highlands of Scotland which I hope to publish late spring 2026.
This isn’t the first time kindle deal I’ve been offered. I was on holiday in Scotland on a freezing cold autumn day at John O Groat’s when my phone pinged and there it was. That deal was for my novel Boot Camp Bride. If you want to know more about Boot Camp Bride you can read an extract here. It is currently available to download for £0.99. Strangely, I was in the Cotswolds on the hottest day of the year this time when Amazon offered me this kindle deal. I accepted straight away as such offers are as rare as hens’ teeth.
Perhaps caravanning brings me luck! Back in 2017 when I was offered my first deal, we were touring Scotland with our first caravan – and Ebay bargain at £300. Since then, after deciding that caravanning is for us, we have upgraded several times and are currently on our fifth – a double axle with ensuite shower room, island bed and full size fridge. Strangely enough, we collected it from Newhaven which is exactly where we spent our honeymoon in great uncle Tommy’s wooden (!) caravan with no running water, fridge or other refinements.
You can read here about how our caravan becomes my writing room when we’re on holiday
Anyway, I digress. Here the books are side by side. I have a lot of affection for the hero/heroine in Boot Camp Bride, Rafa and Charlie – but Tor and Halley (Winter Star) are my and readers’ current favourites.
If you haven’t read ‘Winter Star’, Here’s the blurb – As the harsh Lochaber winter approaches and with Halley expecting a baby, living in the converted Airstream caravan, Beag air Bheag, becomes impractical. Tor’s family home – Eagles Crag – offers shelter, but his mother’s inevitable meddling is holding them back from moving there. Instead, they find refuge in the Dower House and prepare for the arrival of their baby with optimism and hope, embracing the magic of a Highland Christmas, culminating in the Ghillies’ Ball on Hogmanay.
However, an old flame of Tor’s rents the nearby bothy threatening to disrupt their idyllic life . . .
Is their love strong enough to survive the trials of family, winter and a ghost from the past?
. . . and finally. When we were in the Cotwolds we went to Snow’s Hill Manor where I spotted a bassinet in an attic room. It was seeing a similar cot in Drum Castle in Scotland two years ago which inspired me to include the contentious “Strachan Bassinet” in Winter Star.
I’ll sign off for now. Thank you for reading my blog post – I hope it has inspired you to download Winter Star and Dark Highland Skies which are available for £2.98
PS – I would love it if you ticked the FOLLOW box on my Amazon page and susbcribed to my blog
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
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
Many thanks to . . . Babs of Book Escapes for mentioning my books and those of fellow author Adrienne Vaughan in her latest blog.
Babs will be featuring Dark Highland Skies on her blog in February when it is the book’s ‘birthday’. I sent her a copy of the book after meeting her at the RNA Industry Awards when I was voted Indie Champion 2023. I hope she has enjoyed it. I’m trying to get back in to the writing groove after a fabulous Christmas as I have the sequel to Dark Highland Skies to write. However, there are unopened packets of mincepies and remnants of New Year’s Eve’s trifle trying to distract me with their siren call. I’d better resist otherwise nothing will fit me !
As well as the shout out on Bab’s blog I was super pleased to learn that Anne Williams had selected Dark Highland Skies as one of her favourite reads for 2023. She even posted her review of the book on her blog- https://beinganne.com/2023/03/review-dark-highland-skies-by-lizzie-lamb-lizzie_lamb-newrelease-scottishhighlands-romance-respectromfic-darkhighlandskies/
Adrienne was singled out for her latest novel Secrets of the Shell Sisters on Anne’s blog, too. Do check it out as I think it is one of her best novels so far. As I said in my review: The adventures of the Morgan sisters and the secrets they shared but kept to themselves kept me hooked right to the end
As Scot by birth, heritage and blood, New Year’s Eve or Hogmanay is always special to me. Usually, we have a houseful but this year it was just Dave and me as everyone has one form of the lurgy or another. However, he manfully donned his kilt and Leicester Tiger’s shirt and we toasted in 2024 with Nytimber and pizza! Sometimes, it only takes two to tango.
Just for fun I produced these two romanticised portraits of Dave and I through Photolab. If you’re a writer or blogger the site is worth exploring as it offers easy ways of making your book(s) look enticing to prospective readers. The tartan I have over my right shoulder is the Lamont – the Lambs claim kinship with that clan. We have Burns Night to look forward to at the end of the month and I hope my friends will have shrugged off their germs and will join us to hear Dave giving the Address to the Haggis (vegetarian, of course).
So, I’ll say farewell for now. But keep your eyes peeled for updates to the blog I hope to organise some prizes and giveaways once I shrug off a winter cold and Christmas excesses. Have a great day and keep reading.
Welcome to Rosie Amber
Hi,
My name is Rosie Amber, I’m an author, book reviewer and blogger. I live in the county of Hampshire in the UK. Blogging opened up a whole new world to me and I have met some lovely people. I try to publish a blog post every single day because my blog is still quite new and I need to keep readers interested. I began my blog primarily to help promote my own book, but it has become a much bigger part of my life. I’m now able to use my love of reading and my blog to help promote other people books too.
My first published book is called “Talk of the Playground” (Amazon.co.uk & Amazon.com)and is a fun tale of the ins and outs of an English village school. I call it my work of love rather than my work of art because it meant so much to me at the time. I learnt a lot about writing and self-publishing and have learnt even more from blogging and reading other writers work. Now I’m working on a big edit of my book because I love evolving as a writer.
I love reading. In the Goodreads 2013 challenge I read 154 books, this year I expect to increase that number. Nearly every book I read gets a review on Goodreads, Amazon and my blog, with links to my Facebook author page, Google+ and Twitter. I also do Guest Author Interviews and take part in book related tours.
In 2013 I was lucky enough to be invited to write a monthly book review page for a local magazine called “Fleet Life”. 5000 copies go out locally and the magazine has an online version too, I usually review 5 books of my choice per month for the magazine. In 2014 I also picked up its sister magazine Elvetham Heath Directory which has 2000 copies and an online version, I do a different set of reviews in each magazine.
I love keeping my blog fresh; in April 2013 I took part in my first April A to Z Challenge and I blogged my way through the alphabet matching book titles to the letters of the alphabet. This year I took part for a second year and again promoted books using all the letters of the alphabet, it is a great way to meet lots of new bloggers from all over the world.
Never one to stand still for long I recently completed a year-long challenge that I set myself on the day I began reading a book called “A Year of Doing Good” by Judith O’Reilly.
Judith challenged herself to do Good Deeds for a whole year and wrote a truly inspirational book about what happened. Judith undertook giant acts of good, my own challenge was to do just 1 Good Deed a day for a year. Every Sunday I updated my readers with my latest deeds. On April 16th 2014 I celebrated completing my challenge and am now carrying on for a second year. Do come and check it out.
My most recent addition to the blog is a page I’m building on resources for writers. It features people who offer editing services, marketing, promotion, book covers, book reviewers etc and I shall be adding more.
Lizzie Lamb - author 