Book Trailer for The Earl's Lady Geologist

I am excited to reveal the book trailer for my upcoming release, The Earl's Lady Geologist, #1 in The Linfield Ladies Series from Vinspire Publishing.

Release Date: 28 February 2021.

Conflict in Romance Novels and Real-Life Relationships - Part One

Conflict is necessary in a romance novel to drive the story forward. If the hero and heroine of a book meet in the beginning of the novel, get on fabulously well, and decide straight away that they want to spend the rest of their lives together it would make for pretty dull reading. There would be no conflict in the book driving it forward, and therefore no story. A novel must have both external and internal conflict and once this has been satisfactorily resolved, the story comes to an end, and the inevitable HEA (Happily Ever After) is reached.

When I read Regency romance novels as a child, I longed to be the heroines of those stories. I dreamed of driving along in horse-drawn carriages, and twirling around candlelit ballrooms while having spirited discussions with my own dreamed up heroes. The thought of being a heroine in a novel thrilled me and often was the time that I wished I’d been born in another era so that I could appear in my own Regency romance.

However, as I got older, I started to look at all the ordeals the Regency heroines had to go through on their paths to happiness, and I realised that they usually weren’t all that happy on their way to their HEAs. It was then that I came around to the way of thinking that a less conflict-ridden relationship in real life might actually be preferable to those drama-filled romantic tales, no matter how entertaining they were to read.

But, like it or not, there is always some external and internal conflict at the start of any real-life relationship. Guy meets girl, sparks fly, attraction is acknowledged, and the beginning of a relationship starts to unfold – sometimes unsteadily, sometimes more smoothly, but usually there are some bumps along the way.

Although conflict in relationships is inevitable, I wonder, sometimes, if we haven't been conditioned by romantic movies and books into thinking that unless there is a lot of conflict in a real-life romantic relationship, then that relationship isn’t all that passionate and exciting. Do some people manufacture conflict that is unnecessary because they find the lack of drama in a relationship dull? Couples who fight, and then make up in a continuous cycle may find it thrilling, but is it really sustainable?

The interesting thing about the internal conflict a hero or heroine experiences in a romance novel is that unless it is resolved, then the HEA won’t be attained – or the HEA may be attained but it’s unclear whether the fictional couple would be able to sustain a long-term relationship beyond page 253 of a book, making the ending of the story unconvincing.

It is often the story after the HEA that is the most intriguing. Have you ever wondered about how Elizabeth and Mr Darcy fared after she moved to Pemberley, or whether Jane ever fought with Mr Rochester after they got married? What is it about a relationship – fictional or not – that sustains it in the long-term? Can a conflict-ridden couple ever change their destructive pattern and live in peaceful co-existence? Does internal conflict ever completely resolve itself in the story of life? 

I’ll be examining these questions in Part Two…

Cover Reveal of The Earl's Lady Geologist

I am so excited to reveal the cover of the first book in my Linfield Ladies Series, The Earl's Lady Geologist. It will be published on 28 Feburary 2021 by Vinspire Publishing.

The Work of Art by Mimi Matthews

The Work of Art by Mimi Matthews
Release date: 23 July 2019

An Uncommon Beauty…

Hidden away in rural Devonshire, Phyllida Satterthwaite has always been considered more odd than beautiful. But in London, her oddity has made her a sensation. Far worse, it’s caught the eye of the sinister Duke of Moreland—a notorious art collector obsessed with acquiring one-of-a-kind treasures. To escape the duke’s clutches, she’s going to need a little help.

An Unlikely Hero…

Captain Arthur Heywood’s days of heroism are long past. Grievously injured in the Peninsular War, he can no longer walk unaided, let alone shoot a pistol. What use can he possibly be to a damsel in distress? He has nothing left to offer except his good name.
Can a marriage of convenience save Philly from the vengeful duke? Or will life with Arthur put her—and her heart—in more danger than ever?

About the Author
USA Today bestselling author Mimi Matthews writes both historical non-fiction and proper historical romances set in Victorian England. Her articles on nineteenth century history have been published on various academic and history sites, including the Victorian Web and the Journal of Victorian Culture, and are also syndicated weekly at BUST Magazine. In her other life, Mimi is an attorney. She resides in California with her family, which includes an Andalusian dressage horse, two Shelties, and a Siamese cat.

To learn more, please visit MimiMatthews.com

My review:

This charming Regency romance is a tender dream of a story that will capture your heart.

Philly comes to London for a season but falls into the clutches of a couple of unscrupulous men whose schemes she is determined to withstand.

Arthur is very much the honourable gentleman who comes to the rescue of a damsel in distress. But Philly’s gentle ways and loving touch also start to rescue him from the darkness and despair which invaded his life after a terrible war-time injury.

And so begins a tender journey of discovery for both Philly and Arthur.

There is some intrigue in The Work of Art - and a twist at the end which I didn’t see coming - but the heart of this story is romance and a lovely, heart-warming one at that.

Highly recommended.

Wedding Season: A Collection of Romance Reads

💍 💍 New Release 💍 💍

WEDDING SEASON: A Collection of Romance Reads is #LIVE!
#OneClick Today!

This summer, ROSA vows to have you falling in love all over again with ‘Wedding Season’, a collection of romance reads from the Romance writers Organisation of South Africa.

All proceeds go to the Athol Williams Read to Rise literacy charity and the ROSA Scholarship Fund.
Don’t forget to say ‘I do’, and order your copy.

Featuring stories by: Romy Sommer, Alissa Baxter, Suzanne Jefferies, Marie Dry, Sharonlee Holder, Sophia Karlson, Tanya Wilde, Natasha Anders, Jo Watson and Ashleigh Giannoccaro

The proceeds of this anthology will go to ROSA and to the Athol Williams Read to Rise literacy charity.

#OnTour with @HEAPRMore
#WeddingSeason, #Anthology, #rosa, #releaseblitz,#bookstagram#bookstagrammer #HEAPR #bookish #bookblogger #bookworm #booknerd#bookshelfie #booksofinsta #booksofinstagram #authorsorinstagram#literarylife

Release of The Truth About Series

I am excited to announce that my two chick lit novels have been re-released as The Truth About Series: The Truth about Clicking Send and Receive and The Truth About Cats and Bees.

The Truth about Clicking Send and Receive: A Romance Writer's Email Adventures (The Truth About Series Book 1)

"It's great to see a chick-lit book set in South Africa, with cultural references we can relate to." Cosmopolitan 

Wrapped up in the dreamy world of romance fiction and flushed with the heady heat of a tropical Durban summer, Angie Wilson is having a hard time separating fantasy from reality. Struggling to choose between a hopeless crush on her gorgeous trust fund manager and a blossoming cyber affair with an enigmatic writer, Angie turns to her zany new friends for advice on love and life. But what does she really want?

A light-hearted romantic comedy.

This book was previously published by Oshun as Send and Receive.

Buy it on Amazon.

The Truth about Cats and Bees: A Secret Blogger's Dating Debacles (The Truth About Series Book 2) 

"Chick-lit great! This book is witty, intelligent, funny, sweet, deep, real and honest."

For jaded Emma Bradshaw, her blog is a way to come to terms with the 'serial datists' in her past - all those unsuitable men who've trampled on her heart and left her swearing off dating altogether. But when one anonymous blog commenter challenges her ideas on men, she can't help but open herself up. What can it hurt? After all, she doesn't even know his name.

The problem is that now she's looking at men differently - including her new boss, sexy author Nick Reynolds. A romance with the boss, especially one who epitomises every 'serial datist' she's ever known, is a no-no on so many different levels. But Emma can't seem to stop herself from considering it.

Which man will win Emma's guarded heart - the tempting boss, or the anonymous online man who understands her better than anyone she's ever known?

"Emma is a serious sassy woman whose sharp wit and tongue portrays her confident nature. " Author Nana Prah

This book was previously published by Ubuntu African Romance as The Blog Affair.

Buy it on Amazon.

The Governess by Mary Kingswood (Sisters of Woodside Mysteries Book 1)

I am delighted to welcome Mary Kingswood to my blog today. Mary writes traditional drawing-room style Regency romances in the style of Georgette Heyer. She has just released the first book in her The Sisters of Woodside Mysteries series, where Mr Edmund Winterton of Woodside dies, leaving his unmarried daughters destitute, and needing to find genteel employment to survive.

A 5-book series, each one a complete story with a HEA, this series starts with The Governess.

The Governess (Sisters of Woodside Mysteries Book 1)

When Mr Edmund Winterton of Woodside dies, his daughters find themselves penniless and homeless. What can they do? Unless they wish to live on charity, they will have to find genteel employment for themselves.

Annabelle becomes governess to the daughters of the recently bereaved Earl of Brackenwood. She has no idea how to teach, but her pupils can learn all they need from books, so how difficult can it be? She’ll need all her ingenuity to cope with the rebelliousness of her charges, and the unwanted attentions of their father. But when her past returns to haunt her, she has to make a difficult decision.

Allan is slowly getting used to life as a widower, but his mother is determined that he must marry again and produce an heir. He is determined that he won’t, although the new governess is just the sort of woman he could fall in love with. But when a face from long ago reappears and stirs up suspicion, he has to consider the possibility that his wife’s death was not natural. What is worse, he himself is the obvious suspect. If he can’t prove his innocence, he may lose everything - his home, his new love and even his life.


Book 1 of the 5-book Sisters of Woodside Mysteries series, each a complete story with a HEA, but read all of them to find out all the family secrets!


Mary has written two other Regency series. The first is Sons of the Marquess, where Lord Carrbridge discovers his finances are in a perilous state. His five brothers must find ways to support themselves. Will they choose careers, or look for rich heiresses to support their wealthy lifestyle?

A 5-book series, each one a complete story with a HEA, this series starts with Lord Reginald.

Her second series is titled The Daughters of Allamont Hall. In this series, Mr William Allamont dies unexpectedly. His will includes generous dowries for his six daughters, but only on condition that they marry in the proper order, the eldest first.

A six-book series, each one a complete story with a HEA, this series starts with Amy. For even better value, you can pick up the box set of books 1-3.

You can find out more about Mary's books, sign up for her mailing list to receive a FREE novella and read sample chapters at her website: http://marykingswood.co.uk/.

Biography

Mary lives in the beautiful Highlands of Scotland with her husband. She likes chocolate, whisky, her Kindle, massed pipe bands, long leisurely lunches, chocolate, going places in her campervan, eating pizza in Italy, summer nights that never get dark, wood fires in winter, chocolate, the view from the study window looking out over the Moray Firth and the Black Isle to the mountains beyond. And chocolate. She dislikes driving on motorways, cooking, shopping, and hospitals.

The lovely lady in her avatar is Archduchess Clementina of Austria (1798-1881), Princess of Salerno, painted around 1839.

Buy The Governess on Amazon.