Tag: reading

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Autumn catch-up and giveaway

Caroline James AuthorLeave a comment

Hello lovely subscribers!

We are motoring through November, and I cannot believe that 2024 is slipping away so quickly. I remember getting my driving licence many years ago, as a teen, and seeing that it was up for renewal in 2020. I never imagined I’d get this far! By the time this drops into your mail, I will be recovering from knee replacement surgery, so on a wing and a prayer, I am looking forward to racing around again in the new year.

NEW NOVEL

I am thundering through the final draft of The Cruise Club, which will be published in 2025. So many of you have asked for another ‘cruise’ book, to follow The Cruise, and my publisher agreed. You can expect to see this book online, in bookshops and on a supermarket shelf very soon. There is a new set of characters, taking in the Mysteries of the Mediterranean on the familiar Diamond Star ship, but comedian Dicky Delaney is back, alongside Fran and Sid Cartwright from The French Cookery School.


GIVEAWAY 

I have a lovely GIVEAWAYin this newsletter. To enter, simply comment on my Facebook page (or, for those not using Facebook, email me below) saying why you’d like to go on a cruise. A draw will occur on 15th December, in plenty of time for Christmas. The gift is a personalised box of Lily O’Briens chocolates and a signed copy of The Cruise. 

Good luck!

Caroline James Author Facebook

caroline@carolinejames5683@yahoo.co.uk

CANADA

I travelled to Canada in October to meet my beautiful new granddaughter, Mika Mei, and my lovely Willow, Mika’s sister. It was a great family holiday. Willow and I made a Halloween house and piping took forever, but she loved the result.

Ontario is beautiful in the fall. I enjoyed exploring quaint towns and gorgeous farmer’s markets, and my favourite pastime was browsing antique and vintage fairs.

HALLOWEEN

Halloween is crazy in Canada, and we had two days of trick-or-treating. It is fascinating to see how much effort is put into decorating houses, and the community spirit and warm welcome that the children receive is heartening.

I found this fabulous model of a cruise ship which lit up. I would have loved to have brought it home and styled it as the Diamond Star (from The Cruise), but it weighed very heavy and would have been impossible.

TORONTO ZOO

We went to Toronto Zoo, a wonderful experience, and met Charles, a fifty-two-year-old Western lowland silver-backed gorilla. Charles was very sleepy and, unlike other gorillas around him, didn’t move around. We were terribly saddened to learn that Charles died the next day, and the initial diagnosis was heart failure. Given that the life expectancy of most Western lowland gorillas is between thirty and forty years in the wild, it is a real testament to the zoo for the care he received that this gorgeous creature had such a long and happy life. RIP, Charles – you will be sorely missed.

FREE READ

If you want a quick read, JUNGLE ROCK is currently FREE! But only for a few more hours…. Please snuggle down, put your feet up and enjoy a romp with much-loved characters Jo and Hattie as Jo’s son Zach becomes a contestant in a reality TV show down under.

99P BARGAINS

Don’t forget that THE SPA BREAK and THE FRENCH COOKERY SCHOOL are currently at a bargain price of 99p each in the UK. For later-life comedy and fun, fill your boots with reading!

TALKS

I’ve wrapped up my talks for 2024 and will start again in mid-January 2025. Thank you to everyone who comes to listen to me. I hope I inspire and entertain in some small way. It’s so good to get out and meet everyone.

RECENT RECOMMENDED READS

I’ve really enjoyed these three books. I realised I’d read the Jo Jo Moyes a good while ago but still enjoyed it immensely. Have you got any recommendations? Do drop me a line 🙂 

INTRODUCING ATTICUS…

Christmas is fast approaching, and given that my knee is recovering, we won’t be setting off with Venus and heading to the sun this winter. I shall miss my Christmas day swim in the Mediterranean and enjoying walks with Fred, the Westie, on a sunny beach, but there’s always another year.

I’ve written a book called Atticus Arnott Goes Camping, which tells the story of Atticus, a seventy-year-old who sets off to Spain in his vintage Westfalia Camper with his collie dog called Ness. I love this book and can’t wait to share Atticus’s travels with you in 2025 – watch this space!


Wherever you are in the world, I hope this finds you safe, secure, in good health and happy. As always, lovely subscribers, thank you for all your support. I love my job, and your kind words and messages keep me going when my mind is blank, and I can’t write another word. Your encouragement means so much and helps me write on. 

As Winston Churchill said, ‘When you find a job you love, you’ll never work again.’ I hope you found yours.
With my love
Caroline xx

BOOKS BY CAROLINE JAMES

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A Writer’s Quest for Inspiration – catch up with Caroline – news and a giveaway

Caroline James AuthorLeave a comment
Sunset on Lake Ontario
Hello everyone! hope that the sun is shining wherever you are in the world, and that your summer is going well. Here in Lancashire the weather is very mixed, with hot sunny days one week and cold damp days the next.

Beautiful Cornwall
I have been on my travels and, in May, set off in Venus (my office on wheels) and headed to Cornwall to research a possible novel. I haven’t been to Cornwall for ages, and it is a gorgeous county. I especially liked swimming in the sea at Bude because the sea pool there, on the beach, is filled when the tide comes in. Cream teas are a must in Cornwall and I was treated to a lovely birthday tea with scones and clotted cream.
In May, I also got an invite to the House of Lords for a luncheon to celebrate the 130th anniversary of the Society of Women Writers and Journalists. It was a great event, hosted by the society’s president, Baroness Floella Benjamin. 

I loved a mixed bag of genres and below are my very recent reads. Steve Cavanagh blows me away, his books are gripping, always contain lots of twists and are meticulously researched. If you like legal dramas, get a copy now. 

I listen on audio at every opportunity when doing housework, driving etc and have been enjoying Marrying the Mistress by Joanna Trollope –  I read this years ago but it is just as good today, as are all her novels.

Shelley Read – new to me but I couldn’t put this down. It is beautifully written and reminded me a little of Where the Crawdads Sing. A stunning book, little wonder this amazing debut has been optioned as a film.

Recent Reads
Canada
I went to Canada in June and had a fantastic trip, travelling from Toronto to Prince Edward County. We stayed in a house on the lake near the town of Picton, and I took the opportunity to swim each day, despite the icy water. The county has great towns, including Bloomfield, Wellington, and Picton, and very arty and hipster places with fabulous shops and eateries. 
The countryside is green and lush, and I enjoyed visiting the breweries offering great food and family activities. Ever the ‘tatt’ hunter, I can’t resist an antique store, and there are some great finds in the many barn-like vintage stores that appear on the roadside. I am heading back to Canada in October and feel a book may be bubbling away in my head, so more research is required!
Writing
My writing has gone well this year, and after returning from Spain in January, you won’t be surprised to hear that a new romcom based on the Costas will soon (fingers crossed) be on the way. Readers keep asking me when I will write a follow-up to The Cruise, and I can say, “Watch this space…” 
Publisher Party
I was delighted to attend my publisher’s annual party at the wonderful Victoria & Albert Museum in London. It is always a great event and a good opportunity to catch up with other authors.


The French Cookery School is receiving fabulous reviews, so big thanks to you all for those. I am told that it is my best book to date. I have to say that I did fall in love with the characters when writing about their exploits in France, especially Fran, a loveable lady from Blackpool who gets far more than she bargains for when she sets off for a gourmet experience at the gorgeous La Maison du Paradis. This book is available at 99p in the UK, so grab that bargain.
THE FRENCH COOKERY SCHOOL
GIVEAWAY
This month’s giveaway is a copy of The Spa Break together with a personalised mug,  personally signed to the lucky entry that is drawn on 28th July. To enter, add a comment on my Facebook page:
 Caroline James Author
Or email me here:
caroline@carolinejamesauthor.co.uk
Just say why you’d like to receive the gift.

That’s all from me. Please keep safe, well and happy.
Spread kindness, embrace joy and have a wonderful summer.

Wishing you all many happy reading hours.
With love to you and yours.Caroline xx
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The French Cookery School book tour continues…

Caroline James AuthorLeave a comment
#ThreeTwoOne quick-fire questions with Caroline James #author of The French Cookery School | @rararesources @0neMoreChapter_ @CarolineJames12

My new novel The French Cookery School is currently on an online book tour and above is an example of posts on the blogs that host the tour. The book is receiving fantastic reviews and I am so grateful to every reviewer and reader who takes the time to post their thoughts.

This from the wonderful award-winning book reviewer Anne Williams: “This was a book I totally adored…” continued…

The French Cookery School is currently on a limited time deal on Amazon: THE FRENCH COOKERY SCHOOL (FOR ONLY 99P!)

I loved researching and writing this story after being inspired by an actual cookery school week many years ago with the talented celebrity chef Valentina Harris, in the Charente region of France.

In The French Cookery School, while shopping in a market, Fran tries ‘Tourteaux Fromage’ – a type of cake with a burnt top 🍩 Sadly, she didn’t like it.

I was inspired to write this after trying them myself in a market in Chauvigny. I have to say it is an acquired taste …

In The French Cookery School the characters enjoy many outings when away from the kitchen and I thank everyone I met in France last summer who inspired the story. France is a very beautiful country.

Happy reading everyone

With love

Caroline xx

Following French Footsteps
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Following French Footsteps

Caroline James AuthorLeave a comment

Hello, lovely subscribers!

I do hope that your summer is going well.

The winner of last month’s giveaway is Diane McLean, and her goodies are on the way.

Check my Facebook page for news of the next giveaway. 

Summer seems to be passing so quickly this year. After a gloriously hot June where the halcyon days seemed endless, July came in with day after day of heavy rain followed by an equally mixed August. 

Leaving the weather behind, I travelled to France in July to research my new novel. Just a working title so far, but it involves friendships and food, two of my favourite topics to write about. I’ll introduce new characters, and an old favourite may also pop up on the pages. I can say that the story is based in a lovely old house surrounded by fields of sunflowers, and at this time of year, it was such a pleasure to drive through miles and miles of yellow gold. Grown for the oil, which is supposed to be healthier for the French than their rich, creamy butter.

Excellent markets are found in most towns in France, and I found my favourite in Chauvigny. The medieval town also has five castles, so I had a fascinating day mooching around. In Le Mans, visiting the cathedral was a breathtaking and spiritual experience. What a magnificent building it is. More of France in future posts.

I attended The Book Party in Blackpool and met with other others and many wonderful readers and book bloggers. It’s a great event and such fun. The next is in Birmingham in December, so if you are in the area and love anything bookish, look out for that.

In early August, we took Venus (my office on wheels) to Anglesey and almost got blown off the island. More rain for most of the week, and winds made nighttime feel like we were at sea. But it is a lovely island, and Fred had a blast, meeting new furry friends and enjoying lots of walks. 

The Cruise continues to do extremely well and has received thousands of ratings on Amazon in such a short space of time. Thank you sincerely, each and every reader who takes the time to do this. It means a great deal and helps so much. Thanks, too, to all the lovely readers who contact me to say how much they’ve enjoyed the book. I am delighted to say that an audio version is currently being recorded. I can’t wait to listen to that and let you have details. I love audiobooks!

The Cruise

Thanks too to all the readers who send me photos of The Cruise actually on a cruise, or whilst they read on holiday. It makes me smile when I see where my novel is travelling to.

The Cruise

I cut the last of the sweetpeas in the garden today.

This little flower has a beautiful scent and is my favourite summer bloom.

Wherever you are and whatever your summer has brought to you, I wish you good health and happiness and look forward to catching up again soon.

With love

Caroline 

xx

BOOKS BY CAROLINE JAMES

(Don’t forget that many of these books are on Kindle Unlimited and Amazon Prime – bargains too!)

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Happy Halloween!

Caroline James AuthorLeave a comment

Stay safe and have fun if you are trick or treating over the weekend. My pumpkins are ready, and there’s a bag of goodies for any little persons who may call by.

LAKE DISTRICT

It is the gorgeous time of year when the trees are beautiful shades of oranges and reds and living so close to the Lake District, it is a perfect time to visit. I lived in this area for several years and it has been the inspiration for many of my books. In autumn, the crowds are fewer, and the weather is still mild. 

GIVEAWAY 

I have a giveaway today for a copy of my latest novel The Spa Break and a lovely mug to enjoy a tipple while reading this feel-good novel. To enter, head to my Facebook page on the link below and comment on why you like to win. Or you can email me at the address below. Good luck!

Caroline James Author Facebook

Email: caroline@carolinejamesauthor.co.uk

Entries by 31st October 2022 when the winner will be drawn.

The winner of the summer giveaway was AMANDA GANNON from FLORIDA

THE SPA BREAK

RIDE THE NIGHT

I’ve been out and about on my bike and enjoyed a recent ‘Ride the night’ in Blackpool. Cyclists arrived from all over the region to ride the sixteen miles back and forth on a traffic-free promenade and enjoy cycling through the lights. It was great fun and attracted what felt like thousands of participants. The sunset was stunning too.

AUDIBLE BOOKS

If you enjoy listening to audible books, why not snuggle down this Halloween with Hattie Goes to Hollywood. It is a cosy mystery with my readers’ favourite character, Hattie, who takes over  her new role as the ‘Miss Marple of the village of Hollywood.’ This book was my first cosy mystery, and if any of you have read it and would like me to write more, please get in touch. There may well be another Hattie mystery coming soon. 

HATTIE GOES TO HOLLYWOOD

FREE AUDIBLE BOOK

I have THREE FREE audible credits for the first newsletter subscribers who email me and say why they’d like to listen to Hattie Goes to Hollywood. So hurry and drop me a line!

Email: caroline@carolinejamesauthor.co.uk

NORTHUMBERLAND

Northumberland on the east coast of England has been calling recently, and I’ve enjoyed a couple of interesting trips. It is a beautiful part of the country, with long sandy beaches, gorgeous castles and quaint and interesting towns. I highly recommend a visit if you have days to spare and don’t forget to try the Lindisfarne mead on Holy Island.

FAMILY

My precious granddaughter, Willow, has occupied my time with some wonderful visits. This precious girl is overcoming so many odds and growing up quite beautifully. Never did I imagine that being a grandmother could be such a joy.

CHILDREN IN READ

Every year the Children In Need charity is helped by fundraising by the wonderful Paddy Heron and his team in an event named Children In Read. Authors contribute signed copies of their novels; everyone can bid in an auction to win a copy. My contribution to Children In Read this year is for a personally signed copy of The Spa Break and a Spa Break Mug. So, don’t be shy; use the link below and place your bid. All proceeds go to this fantastic charity. 

Please place your bid here:

Children In Read – Caroline James

There’s never a dull moment in life, and I want to thank the brilliant team on the cardiac care unit at the Royal Lancaster Hospital, who recently looked after a loved one who is doing well thanks to their care. As the saying goes, you never know what you have until you almost lose it. 

Please keep your loved ones close and stay safe and well this autumn.

Happy reading

with love

Caroline xx

BOOKS BY CAROLINE JAMES

We’re having a heatwave! Giveaway!
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We’re having a heatwave! Giveaway!

Featured Caroline James AuthorLeave a comment

Hello everyone…

July has been very mixed in the UK, and the heatwave with record temperatures didn’t last long!  For a few days it bought the country to a standstill in some areas, but as the month came to an end, the rain fell hard in lovely Lancashire, where I live. Fred, my Westie, despite being brushed and ready, is not keen on getting wet…
 

 GIVEAWAY
 
The newsletter this month begins with a giveaway. Would you like to virtually jet off to Barbados with a lovely feel-good read? 
 

Coffee Tea the Caribbean & Me was Thomson Holidays InFlight Magazine’s recommended summer read, and I am offering a personally signed copy. Simply head over to my Facebook page and comment on why you’d like to win, or you can email your comment to me. Please use the links below:

 
Caroline James Author Facebook
caroline@carolinejamesauthor.co.uk

The winner will be announced on 12th August. Open internationally.
Last month’s giveaway winner was BETHAN DAVIES who is now enjoying her virtual Spa Break and goodies.

MAJORCA
 

I had a trip to Majorca. Puerta Pollensa is a lovely area in the north of the Island, and it was a very relaxing break. But I came home and tested positive for Covid not long afterwards and have been quite unwell in the following weeks. The second time for me with the dreaded virus. I hope you have managed to steer clear, but if not, please take good care and look after yourselves.

HARPER COLLINS SUMMER PARTY
 

I was thrilled to be invited to the Harper Collins Summer Party. It was a grand affair in the garden at the Victoria and Albert Museum in Knightsbridge, London. I spent the evening chatting with many lovely authors and folks from the world of publishing, including some famous names and celebrities.
 

 
THE SPA BREAK IN PAPERBACK
 

My new novel, The Spa Break, came out in paperback on July 7th, and I thank everyone who has read it. Your reviews are massively appreciated, as are your comments on social media. The book seems to have ticked the box for both young and older readers. If you have yet to visit The Spa Break, I hope your virtual stay will leave you happy and uplifted as you make friends with Bridgette, Emily, Serena and Marjory. They all have life-changing experiences during their stay, and as I am a great believer in coming out of your comfort zone, especially as we get older, I hope their exploits will encourage you too.

THE SPA BREAK

 
 SWIMMING

Covid kept me out of the water, but happily, I am back, and my swims in the local lake and the sea when the tide is high have been such a joy.
 

 
TALKS

I am ploughing through my talks this year and was delighted to be asked to speak in Preston last week. It was a full house and a very lively audience, many of whom stayed to chat afterwards at my book signing. Thanks to everyone who came along on the day.

 
NEW NOVEL

As August begins, I shall be hard at work on my new novel. The Cruise will be published next year by One More Chapter (Harper Collins UK), and I am enjoying creating new characters for you to meet very soon. Would anyone like to read more adventures of Hattie & Jo from the Coffee Tea series? I feel they are just waiting for me to put pen to paper, so they can get up to more escapades. Do let me know. I love to hear from readers.

I hope these months find you well and happy, wherever you are in the world.


With love and happy reading

Caroline xx

BOOKS BY CAROLINE JAMES
 

Your personally signed copy of The Spa Break
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Your personally signed copy of The Spa Break

Featured Caroline James AuthorLeave a comment

To celebrate paperback publication day on 7th July we have a lovely giveaway. Would you like your very own personally signed copy of THE SPA BREAK (plus goodies!) 

To be in with a chance to win a signed copy of The Spa Break, simply click the Facebook link below:

Win a signed copy of The Spa Break

Or you can send an email to caroline@carolinejamesauthor.co.uk commenting why you’d like your very own copy.

The winner will be drawn on 7th July – so why not celebrate with me and enter now!

Good luck!

With love

Caroline xx

The most fun you’ll have all year!

A weekend at the spa will leave four old friends with a whole lot more than they’d bargained for…

The glossy brochure promised a serene experience of total tranquillity and rejuvenation, but what best friends Bridgette, Emily, Serena and Marjory get is a weekend that upends their lives!

There for a girls’ weekend to celebrate Bridgette’s impending seventieth birthday, the spa soon has these spicy sexagenarians realising that there are unexpected benefits to age and experience, and that over the hill certainly doesn’t mean out of the game…in any respect…

THE SPA BREAK

Books by Caroline James

Caroline James Author

Happy Jubilee Weekend
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Happy Jubilee Weekend

Caroline James AuthorLeave a comment

As the weather begins to warm up, we’re heading into a very special commemorative weekend here in the UK as her majesty Queen Elizabeth II celebrates her platinum Jubilee. Flags will be flying all over the country as street parties take place and a whole host of events get underway. Our Queen is an incredible lady, and I wish her many more years of good health and happiness.

GIVEAWAY

To celebrate the occasion, I am giving away two personally signed copies of the best-selling Boomerville books, The Best Boomerville Hotel and Boomerville at Ballymegille. Go to my Facebook page to enter on the link below:

Boomerville Giveaway

Or you can email me at caroline@carolinejamesauthor.co.uk stating why you would like to win the books. 

The winner will be drawn on Jubilee Sunday, and the giveaway is open internationally. The winners of last month’s giveaway for chocolates and a cuddly Fred the Westie were Jill Doyle and Georgie Moody. Congratulations to both.

JERSEY

Following the publication of my new novel, The Spa Break, I recently had my own spa break on the lovely island of Jersey in the channel islands. I stayed at The Club Hotel & Spa, which is in St Helier and a perfect location to visit all the attractions of this pretty island. To my joy, I discovered an outside lido on the beach that had a retaining wall enabling swimming in the clear salty water.

Jersey is renowned for its fabulous seafood, with the clean crystal waters of the gulf stream flowing alongside. The restaurants live up to their reputation for fresh fish cooked to perfection. 

There is history wherever you go in Jersey. Evidence of the German occupation of the island during World War II is far and wide, and they celebrate Liberation Day on the 9th of May each year. The coastal walks are fantastic, with many lighthouses, pretty coves and wide sweeping beaches to stroll along. It is a perfect place for a holiday.

I can’t wait for the paperback of The Spa Break to be published on 7th July. There’s nothing quite like holding your book baby in your hands. Don’t forget that it is available as an ebook on all platforms and is currently on offer in some countries. 

The Amazon link is The Spa Break.

Thanks to everyone who has kindly left a review. Reviews mean a lot to an author.

FREE READ

If you’d like a FREE  read this weekend, my novella JUNGLE ROCK is yours from 1st to 5th June. Here’s the blurb, so sit back and relax with a feel-good read …

JUNGLE ROCK 

Handsome young chef Zach Docherty is feeling the heat. Following an exposé in a national newspaper, his fiancée Poppy Dunlop has broken their engagement. Heartbroken at the thought of life without Poppy, Zach drowns his sorrows. When his agent suggests that Zach becomes a contestant in a reality TV show, Jungle Survival, he reluctantly agrees. Plunged deep in the jungle into a bizarre mix of talent and trials, Zach meets glamour model Cleo Petra, and the cameras go crazy. Will Zach survive and be crowned Jungle King? Or will his latest exploits push Poppy further away…

Whatever you are doing this Jubilee holiday and wherever you are, I wish you much happiness.

Stay safe and well.

With love

Caroline xx

BOOKS BY CAROLINE JAMES

Head off to the Spa today!
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Head off to the Spa today!

Featured Caroline James AuthorLeave a comment

PUBLICATION DAY!

Yeah! Finally, the day has arrived, and my new novel, The Spa Break, is out now as an e-book and available on all platforms. The paperback will follow on 7th July.

I want to thank everyone who pre-ordered The Spa Break and hope that as it lands on your e-readers today, you get a chance to enjoy a visit to Sparadise very soon. Emily, Bridgette, Marjory and Serena can’t wait for you to join them!

Thanks too for all the early reviews from advance reviewers. They have been so kind, and I am beyond thrilled that The Spa Break is proving to be a fun-filled read for so many.

http://mybook.to/SBK

The winner of my recent publication day GIVEAWAY, chosen at random, is… drum roll… JILL DOYLE! Many congratulations to Jill, and your gift will soon be with you very soon. Thank you to everyone who entered on Facebook or sent me an email to be included in the draw.

As the online book tours kicks off I would like to most of all thank you, lovely readers, for supporting me in my writing journey. It is exactly 10 years today since I published my first novel, Coffee Tea the Gypsy & Me. In those days, I knew little about publishing and was unable to find a publisher as an unknown author.

I self-published the novel, and to my astonishment, it went to #3 in women’s fiction on Amazon. The rest, as they say, is history. With publishing contracts and several novels later, I am indebted to my publisher, One More Chapter (HarperCollins UK), who approached me to write The Spa Break. 

So, happy anniversary to me and happy reading to you all.

I wish you a safe and joyful Easter,

With love, Caroline xx

BOOKS BY CAROLINE JAMES

Spring news and a gorgeous giveaway
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Spring news and a gorgeous giveaway

Featured Caroline James AuthorLeave a comment

Hello lovely subscribers, thank you for opening this post. Please read on for my spring news and the chance of a chocolate treat and cuddly Westie giveaway.

Spring flowers

Spring is truly glorious in the UK at the moment. The weather is warm, and there has been plenty of sunshine. It is such a pleasure so early in the year. I’ve been getting ready for the release of my new novel, The Spa Break, which publishes on April 15th as an ebook. The paperback will be published on July 7th.  Between writing and publicity, I have occasionally escaped with one or two trips.

BABY NEWS

Willow

A long-awaited trip was, at last, to meet my precious granddaughter, Willow. After a difficult pregnancy and a very traumatic birth followed by life-saving surgery and many weeks in ICU, Willow was finally able to come home to her mum and dad. Meeting this precious child has been monumental for me, and I have to proudly say that she is quite simply adorable. Both parents and daughter are progressing well and love being at home together. 

AFTERNOON TEA

Betty’s in Harrogate

My ever-thoughtful other half treated me to a weekend in Harrogate and afternoon tea at Betty’s tearooms. Betty’s is a popular and quite famous institution that began over 100 years ago when a young Swiss baker and confectioner, named Fritz Butzer, dreamed of opening his own business and left his home to travel to England. He had no money, no job, couldn’t speak English and certainly had no idea of the extraordinary legacy he was about to create. To dine at Betty’s is to step back in time and experience superb food in elegant surroundings with exemplary service. Afternoon tea can be booked in the Imperial Room, where piano music is played, and uniformed staff attentively cater to your every whim. We started with a glass of bubbles and had a delicious tea with dainty sandwiches, scones with jam and cream and divine little cakes. A treat indeed.

GRANGE WALKS

The beach at Grange

We’ve enjoyed some bracing walks locally in these early months of the year. On a windy day, this is the beach at the head of the bay near Grange in Lancashire. Fred, our Westie, adores this walk and will run forever along the sand. 

The derelict lido today and an artist’s impression of how it looked in the 1950s

Grange-over-sands (as it is known)was an isolated fishing village until the Victorian era when the railway arrived. Then it became a popular seaside resort. With spring water available and bracing sea air, one of the first sanatoriums in Britain was set up near Grange for those suffering from tuberculosis or breathing difficulties. In the 1930s, a lido, initially filled with salt water, was located overlooking the bay, but it closed in 1993. Today, there is a campaign to restore and re-open this fabulous art deco structure. As a ‘Friend of Grange Lido’ I will be one of the first to dive into the pool when it re-opens.

LAKE DISTRICT

Heading into the Lake District in Cumbria on a chilly Sunday, we found the hills laced with snow and lake Ullswater inky dark and deserted, with no leisure boats or steamers. Ullswater is 9 miles long and the second largest lake in the area. It is my favourite lake. When I owned a hotel in Cumbria, I spent many happy hours walking with my collie dog around this beautiful stretch of water. 

The Lake District

LANCASHIRE

My next novel, The Spa Break, is set in what is now my home county of Lancashire, in an area called the Trough of Bowland. It is classed as an area of outstanding natural beauty where there are hills covered in heather and magnificent views as far as the eye can see. With grassy banks to roam over, sheep graze idly, and a river meanders alongside a remote twisting road.

The Trough of Bowland

The spa in the The Spa Break is named Sparadise. It is a luxurious retreat set in mature gardens by a lake, where four mature friends, Bridgette, Emily, Marjory and Serena, spend a weekend celebrating Bridgette’s big birthday. comments are favourable, and advance reviewers describe the book as uplifting and funny, the story that encourages us all to come out of our comfort zone, no matter what age.

The Spa Break ladies

THE SPA BREAK – coming soon…

You can grab a bargain and pre-order The Spa Break at a reduced pre-publication promo price by clicking on the link below:

THE SPA BREAK

GIVEAWAY

Receive a gorgeous box of luxury chocolates and a cute cuddly ‘Fred the Westie’ – a dog in The Spa Break. To be in with a chance to win this lovely gift, simply go to my Facebook page and say why you’d like to win. If you don’t use Facebook, you can email me too.

Please use the links below.

Click this link: Giveaway on Facebook

or

Email Caroline at: caroline@carolinejamesauthor.co.uk

The winner will be announced on publication day, April 15th 2022 and entries are invited from wherever you live.

Covid still rages globally and I find reading the perfect anecdote to the frustration and bewilderment of current world events, especially the horrors unfolding in Ukraine. I hope that reading brings you much pleasure too. I send my thoughts and prayers to everyone suffering at this difficult time.

As the clocks go forward in the UK and the nights get lighter I wish everyone celebrating Mother’s Day on 27th March a very happy day. Until next time, wherever you are and whatever your day-to-day brings you, I wish you good health, happiness and peaceful and fruitful life.

Stay safe,

With love 

Caroline xx

BOOKS BY CAROLINE JAMES