ON THE EDGE by Author Claire Glllies *Virtual Book Tour* *Giveaway*

Notes From a Romantic’s Heart is pleased to welcome Author Claire Gillies and her new release, On The Edge, to the blog. You can find all of the blog stops at Goddess Fish Promotions. Don’t forget to enter the Rafflecopter giveaway. The entry form can be found at the bottom of this post.

Since this is Claire’s first visit to Notes, we thought we’d start with some (nosey) questions.

 

Inquiring Minds Want to Know

 

Is your book based on real-life experience or a figment of your imagination?

Some aspects of the book are from real life. I was in a job I disliked and at a crossroads in my life, I knew I wanted to be creative but didn't know what. I was hitting the age where you're supposed to know what you want to do with your life! So, this is what Cat faces at the beginning of the book and she decides to move to a remote island, pretty much what my husband and I decided to do - live in the Orkney Isles. I can relate to Cat but she is a figment of my imagination!

Is the setting for your book real? If so, have you been there? If it’s fictitious, is there somewhere real that you’ve used as a model?

This place is real. The Orkneys are a cluster of isles off the northern coast of Scotland and I was lucky to call it my home for a time. We moved from the hustle and bustle of Melbourne city life to the other side of the world, it was a huge change - I didn’t really know what to expect! As soon as I landed on the island I was confronted with a horror of “what have I done?!” But in no time, I fell in love with my surroundings and I wanted to capture the feeling of freedom that I felt living in Orkney.

 

If you could trade places with one of the characters from your book, who would it be and why?

Oh I think Jess. I have a soft spot for her (Cat's friend on the island). She has an idyllic life - owning an art gallery by the sea and being an artist too. She’s her own boss, and chose her own path.  She exhibits her work in the gallery and is a big reason why Cat starts to paint again.

Orkney is an inspiring place to live, a lot of artists live there because of the ever-changing light.

If you listen to music while you write, what are the top three songs on your playlist?

I love music, I'm a fan of indie, psychedelic, folk and classical music. But when I'm writing I usually get distracted by singing. I love movie soundtracks, and particularly will go back to Far from the Madding Crowd, Away and Back (TV movie about geese) and Little Women (1994) soundtrack. But right now, I stick on a playlist from YouTube - the Ambient World channel and their music mixes of Downton Abbey, Skyrim and Harry Potter (Dumbledore's office) are my favs. I love to escape in music while writing.

 

About the Book

 

Catherine MacGregor spends life daydreaming her way out of the perils of a dead-end job, and a dwindling love-life. Rather than face imminent redundancy, Cat finds herself giving up her life in the city, and moving to a remote Scottish island for a fresh start.

Unlocking her passion for art, things have never looked better, until the handsome but elusive musician Patrick Flannagan takes to the stage, complicating her best-laid plans.

Cat’s past could be catching up with her at last. Can she unlock her own secrets, and learn to love again, in time to save her brave new beginnings?

 On the Edge is available exclusively on Amazon

The book is on sale for only $0.99

 

Enjoy an Excerpt

 

Maybe she was a terrible friend, and didn’t give people enough time to be themselves?  Johnny was going through a crisis in love and here she was making all sorts of assumptions about what he wanted from life.  She stepped out into the road and at that moment her stiletto heel caught in the cat’s-eye in the middle of the road, making her trip and fall.  It was at that exact moment a van turned the corner, speeding towards her.  Cat stared helplessly at the fast-approaching vehicle; it was too late for her to move, and she closed her eyes thinking this was the moment she would die.  Her mum’s eyes flashed in her mind and then… no pain came.  The van had stopped, just in time, right in front of a cowering Cat who looked up at it, terrified.  Patrick got out of the driver's side.

“Cat...! Are you OK?”

Cat got to her knees and couldn’t help the rage from building inside her.  “What is the matter with you, you could’ve killed me?” She pressed her hands onto the cold tarmac road and slowly got up.

“I’m sorry...” Patrick tried to help her up but she shrugged him off.  “I didn’t expect to see someone lying in the middle of the road...?” He put his hands up letting her compose herself.

“You were driving really fast!” Cat looked at her bleeding knees and wanted to cry.  But she was determined not to cry in front of this individual, that was all she needed.

 

Meet the Author

Born and raised in the Highlands of Scotland, Claire’s homeland continues to be a stream of inspiration for her. A clothing designer too, Claire (Lorna) creates one-off bespoke garments using Scottish tweeds and tartans.

Claire currently splits her time between Scotland and Australia with her lovely Irish husband. She is a cat lover (without the cat) and can be found either drinking coffee, researching the best cake haunts, or watching yet another costume drama!

Claire's Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Instagram

 

Enter the Giveaway

 

Claire Gillies will be awarding a signed copy of the book. (International) to a randomly drawn winner via Rafflecopter during the tour.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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As always, it’s been my pleasure hosting Claire today. Please come back again tomorrow for another author, book, and giveaway.

Nancy

THAT ONE SUMMER by Author Madelaide James

 

Notes From a Romantic’s Heart is excited to welcome good friend and author Maddie James, writing as Madelaide James, to the blog. Madelaide’s new release, That One Summer, is the first book in her new Tuckaway Bay Series.

Genre: Women’s Fiction/Romance

 

About the Book

 

Lia Langston left Tuckaway Bay twenty years ago, leaving behind an attractive job offer and the young man she’d fallen in love with that summer. The breakup hurt them both, but she was expected back home in Chicago where a new job was waiting, one her father had pulled strings to help her land. While Lia wasn’t thrilled with the idea of jumping from beach life into Corporate America, as a new college graduate, she knew the family expectations.

She meanders through life—marriage, a child, divorce, career—yet there is one constant. She never misses a summer trip back to the beach with her college girlfriends. By the time beach week rolls around each year, she is more than ready to shake off her troubles, unwind, and unplug with the girls. And every summer, Lia wonders if she might run into Zach Allen again.

She doesn’t.

Then Zach steps back into her life, catching her totally off guard. Suddenly, Lia must face the twenty-year-old consequences of her leaving. Will this be the year to make amends with the young man she left behind?

 

Read an Excerpt

 

Lia reached for Grace’s hand. “Oh, Aunt Grace….”

But she waved Lia off. “Now, see what you did? You left, and I had to go on and live to be an old crabby woman, still running this inn. But I’m tired now, and well….”

She sat back in her seat and closed her eyes. Lia watched the older woman as she drifted off to sleep. Suddenly tired too, she relaxed against the sofa back and closed her eyes.

Waves crashing against the shore outside filtered through the silence, and Lia suddenly felt a bit of peace as her mind drifted.

“You broke him. You know that, don’t you?”

Lia shook herself. Aunt Grace stared at her, leaning forward in her wicker chair. “I’m sorry. I think I may have gotten lost in a daydream.”

“Or memories?”

“Perhaps. Yes.”

Grace nodded, as if she understood exactly what Lia meant. “You broke his heart, girl. Please don’t break it again.”

Her gaze caught Grace’s and held. “I would never do that,” she whispered. “I didn’t mean to back then.”

“I hope not.”

“Aunt Grace.” Lia scooted closer to the edge of her seat. “I loved him. I wanted to be with him, but he and I didn’t want the same things and the timing was all off. I had pressure from my parents to get back to Chicago and job offers were waiting there. I was young and confused and….”

Grace put up a hand. “You’ve had twenty years to think about it, Lia. That’s all that matters, and I hope you have. Did you make the right decision? Who knows? But the past is the past. What’s important now, is what you do next.”

Suddenly, Ron’s voice was in Lia’s ear. What have we been doing for the past six years, Lia, if we are not moving this relationship forward?

And Alice’s. I know the primary reason your marriage failed was because Grant wasn’t Zach. And it’s why you and Ron haven’t married, too.

Had she been shoving away the truth all these years because she was trying to make a life out of a years-old mistake?

“I have to go.” Lia stood, looking down at Grace.

“Do what you think best, dear.”

“Can I get an Uber out here?”

Grace nodded. “Damn newfangled technology that I don’t understand—but yes, so they tell me.”

Lia was grateful. “I’m sorry to leave so abruptly. Please tell Zach I’ll see him later.” She turned and headed for the door.

“Lia?”

She turned back. “Yes?”

“Is that all you want me to tell him?”

Nodding, she said, “Yes. He’ll understand. I have some things to figure out and I need to do it alone.” Then she rushed back and gave Grace a hug. “Thanks for being hard on me. I could always count on you to not pull punches. Thank you for opening my eyes.”

Grace squeezed her hand. “Go figure out your life, Lia. It’s the only one you have.”

 

Meet the Author

 

Madelaide James is the women’s fiction pen name for bestselling romance author Maddie James.

While Maddie dabbles with cowboys and small town happily-ever-afters, Madelaide explores the complicated relationship journeys of women and their lives, loves, friends, and families, and tackles those problems through story. She figures she’s lived long enough to bring some of her own life experiences into the mix.

Maddie has published over 50 romance titles worldwide. Affaire de Coeur says, “James shows a special talent for traditional romance,” and RT Book Reviews claims, “James deftly combines romance and suspense, so hop on for an exhilarating ride.”

 

Website ~ Blog ~ Newsletter Sign Up

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It’s been my pleasure hosting Madelaide James (aka Maddie James) today. Please come back again soon for more authors, books, and even a few giveaways.

 

Nancy