Tag Archives: The Cheesemaker’s House

Happy publication day, Jane Cable!

27/06/2019Book ReviewAnother You, Apricot Plots, Chindi Authors, Jane Cable, Paranormal Romance, romantic suspense, Sapere Books, Sister Scribes, The Cheesemaker's House, The Faerie Treecarol

Today I am wishing my dear writing friend, Jane Cable, a very happy publication day for her haunting love story, Another You!

I read an earlier version of Jane’s book and so, not only am I super excited for her, I am also delighted to share my review.

The blurb:

Sometimes the hardest person to save is yourself…

Marie Johnson fell in love with The Smugglers pub when she first moved to Dorset with her husband, Stephen. But when Stephen’s wandering eye caused the breakdown of their marriage, and the costs of running the pub started to mount, Marie felt her dreams crashing down around her.

With local celebrations planned for the 60th anniversary of D-Day, Marie is hopeful things will turn around. But she could never have predicted the ways her life will soon be changed forever.

A charming American soldier walks into Marie’s life, but it becomes clear nothing is really as it seems…

Why is Marie suddenly plagued by headaches? Is her American soldier everything he seems to be? Or could the D-Day re-enactments be stirring up something from the past…?

Genre: Romance | Paranormal romance
Published by: Sapere Books

My review:

As I have come to expect from Jane Cable, Another You is a story that makes you think, that makes you question your understanding of what you have read and inspires you to want to read on.

I was fascinated, not just because of the well crafted and intriguing characters but also because of the historical references and the representation of the impact of war. It is well researched, with interesting historical detail throughout.

The characters, like the landscape in which they live, are brought to life well. While there is the question of who the heroine will end up with, I felt the book explored a variety of different relationships between the characters with equal importance.

For me, the central theme was the discovery of self, as the heroine, Marie, as well as others in the story embark on attempting to understand their identity beyond the expectations and issues that have impacted upon their lives.

An enjoyable, interesting read, that turns into a speedy page turner towards the end.

Buy the book here.

About the author:

Jane Cable says, “Perhaps writing is in my blood. My father, Mercer Simpson, was a poet; my cousin, Roger Hubank, a novelist; Roger’s uncle, John Hampson was also a novelist and fringe member of the Bloomsbury Group. And it’s even rumoured that John Keats is somewhere back there in the family tree.

“No wonder that I have always scribbled. But it took me until I was in my forties to complete a full length manuscript. And then another, and another… Writing stories became a compulsive hobby. I could lose myself in my characters, almost live their lives, and I started to long for readers other than my mother and a few close friends to be able to do the same.

“It was reaching the final of The Alan Titchmarsh Show’s People’s Novelist competition in 2011 which made me take my writing seriously. I went to a self publishing conference organised by the Writers & Artists Yearbook and was inspired by the speakers to publish independently.

“My first novel, The Cheesemaker’s House, was published by Matador in September 2013 and tells the story of Alice, who moves to Yorkshire following the breakdown of her marriage and meets her new neighbours from the present and the past. It was a finalist in the Alan Titchmarsh Show’s People’s Novelist competition and won Words for the Wounded’s independent book of the year award in 2015.

“My second book, The Faerie Tree, is a second chance novel also published by Matador. This time the mystery revolves around a couple who meet twenty years after a brief affair only to discover that their memories of it are completely different.

“My latest book, Another You, is OUT TODAY with Sapere Books. Marie Johnson feels her dreams have been shattered, but commemorations surrounding the sixtieth anniversary of D-Day become the catalyst for change she never could have imagined.”

Enjoy your special day Jane, I can already see Another You flying up the rankings! xx

Author Jane Cable is #SharingTheLove

15/02/2019Guest Post#SharingTheLove, Apricot Plots, Carol Thomas, Carol Thomas Author, Carol Thomas Author Blog, Chindi Authors, Jane Cable, Matador, Sharing the Love, The Cheesemaker's Housecarol

As February is the month of love, I have had a host of wonderful romance authors stopping by to share flirty extracts from their novels!

Today, I am pleased to welcome Jane Cable to my blog, who is #SharingTheLove with an extract from her novel, The Cheesemaker’s House … over to you Jane!

The Cheesemaker’s House

“When newly divorced Alice moves to Yorkshire, she meets her neighbours from the present and the past…

My mental image of a Yorkshire builder was a rotund man in a cloth cap who would exhibit a great deal of sucking of teeth when confronted with my barn. I certainly didn’t expect Richard Wainwright to be tall, dark and handsome with a couple of days of designer stubble and a gold hoop in his left ear. But then I didn’t expect a naked swimmer to be reading the lesson in church either. It’s clear I’m going to have to abandon my southern prejudices sooner rather than later if I’m going to fit in here. But I still can’t help feeling we should all be running around downing mugs of tea you can stand a spoon up in, not drinking skinny lattes.

In this aspect of his behaviour Richard doesn’t disappoint. I am already making the second pot when he reappears from his prodding and poking in the barn, drapes his long body against my kitchen doorframe and says “I can do it, but it’s going to cost you.”

“I expect it to cost me,” I grin at him. “It’s a wreck I want to turn into a luxury holiday pad – I know that won’t come cheap.”

He wanders into the kitchen and sits down at the table. “I’ll need to do a proper quote, but I reckon in the region of twenty grand. It’s a lot of money – take you a while to get it back.”

“I’ll get it back when I sell though.”

“Oh, so that’s your game is it; buy – do up – sell – quick buck.” He looks disapproving.

“No. It’s not my game. It’s my insurance policy in case I don’t like it here.”

He stretches back in his chair and picks up his tea. “So why did you come? I’m curious.”

“Well, you mustn’t tell anybody, but I’m on the run from an international drug smuggling cartel and I thought they’d never find me in Great Fencote.”

“Hmm… I wouldn’t be so sure. You don’t know what evil walks the streets of Northallerton. Only last week someone was prosecuted for putting the wrong sort of yogurt pot in their recycling bin – it was all over the papers.” We both burst out laughing.

“Seriously, love,” he carries on, “if you don’t want to say then that’s your business. No-one around here’s going to mind.”

“I was just trying to make it sound more exciting than it is. My husband ran off with his secretary, that’s all.”

“It happens. My wife left me for a pen pusher at the council. Said she’d had enough of muddy boots all through the house. Each to their own, I suppose.” He shrugs.

“The funny thing is,” I continue hesitantly, “that when it happens to you, you feel like it’s never happened to anyone else. When someone else says it, you realise just how common it is.”

“Human nature, love. We’re not cut out to be monogamous. We get bored and we move on, that’s all there is to it. Still, if you get lonely and fancy a shag…”

“Let’s see what sort of builder you are first,” I snap. Maybe a little too tartly, so I put on a smiley face and continue “I want to know if the muddy boots are worth it.”

Richard roars with laughter.

Thank you for sharing your extract Jane, The Cheesemaker’s House is on my to be read list! And as my mother-in-law is a BIG fan I am happy to have gained daughter-in-law points just by knowing you 🙂

Discover more about The Cheesemaker’s House:

When Alice Hart’s husband runs off with his secretary, she runs off with his dog to lick her wounds in a North Yorkshire village. Battling with loneliness but trying to make the best of her new start, she soon meets her neighbours, including the drop-dead gorgeous builder Richard Wainwright and the kindly yet reticent café owner, Owen Maltby.

As Alice employs Richard to start renovating the barn next to her house, all is not what it seems. Why does she start seeing Owen when he clearly isn’t there? Where – or when – does the strange crying come from? And if Owen is the village charmer, what exactly does that mean?

“I desperately want to find out about Owen; a fascinating character… the gift here is to make you want to read on.”
Jeffrey Archer

Publisher: Matador
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Buy the book Amazon UK | Amazon.com

About the author:

Jane Cable has writing in her blood. Her father, Mercer Simpson, was a poet; her cousin, Roger Hubank, a novelist; Roger’s uncle, John Hampson was also a novelist and fringe member of the Bloomsbury Group. And it’s even rumoured that John Keats is somewhere back in her family tree.

She has always scribbled. But it took until she was in her forties to complete a full length manuscript. And then another, and another… Writing stories became a compulsive hobby. She could lose herself in her characters, and longed for readers other than her mother and close friends to be able to do the same.

It was reaching the final of The Alan Titchmarsh Show’s People’s Novelist competition, with The Cheesemaker’s House, in 2011 which made her take her writing seriously. The novel went on to win Words for the Wounded’s independent book of the year award in 2015.

Jane’s second book, The Faerie Tree, also published by Matador, is a second chance novel revolving around a couple who meet twenty years after a brief affair only to discover that their memories of it are completely different.

Jane is over the moon to have recently signed a contract with Sapere Books for two novels to be published in 2019. The first will be a re-issue of her novel Another You, which disappeared when Endeavour Press went into liquidation. The second is a new romance slipping back to World War Two, set in the Lincolnshire heartland of Bomber Command.

Discover more about Jane Cable here: Twitter | Facebook | website

I am hugely grateful to all of the wonderful romance authors who have stopped by my blog #SharingTheLove.

***I hope you’ve enjoyed reading the extracts as much as I have and* that *in amongst them you’ve been able to discover some new romance reads. xx***

Carol Thomas writes contemporary romance novels, with relatable heroines whose stories are layered with emotion, sprinkled with laughter and topped with irresistible male leads. Discover more here.

Remember, Remember … Bonfire Night Memories with Jane Cable

04/11/2018Guest Post, Writing & Reading5th November, bonfire night, Carol Thomas, Carol Thomas Author, Carol Thomas Author Blog, Firework night, Jane Cable, Matador, romance, romantic suspense, The Cheesemaker's House, The Faerie Treecarol

Continuing the celebration of a special bonfire night in my novel The Purrfect Pet Sitter, I am delighted to welcome fellow Chindi and Apricot Plots author, Jane Cable to my blog to share her bonfire night memories. Jane made the move from West Sussex to Cornwall in 2017 and reflects on her first bonfire night in Cornwall.

Cornwall does winter really well. When the tourists go home the celtic heart of the county seems to re-emerge; firework displays followed by Christmas lights – community events in just about every town and village – chasing away the darkness in a way that even our distant ancestors would recognise.

In the past I’ve dreaded the short days but here it seems different. Here people seem more in touch with the land, the sea and the sky. That’s not to say it’s talked about – it just kind of is.

Last year was my first bonfire night as a Cornish resident and it also marked the time of year when we take back our beach house in Porthtowan, which we let to holidaymakers from Easter to the autumn half term, and make it our own again. So it was particularly special to wrap up in coats and scarves and walk down the hill to the low sand dunes behind the beach, knowing we were back in the village for winter.

The whole village – and more – turned out. The bar nearest the beach was overflowing and there was total traffic chaos, but we found a place on the edge of the dunes and waited. All around us children played with sparklers and glo-sticks, families mingling as we waited for the main event.

Photograph by Blue Six Photography

The firework display itself was spectacular; multi-coloured rockets launching from the beach, illuminating the cliffs and filling the sky before sparkling down to the waiting waves. It was spell-binding, breath-taking – all the more because we were home.

Your Cornish bonfire night celebrations sound perfect, Jane. Thank you so much for sharing them and I hope this year’s celebrations are as spectacular. x

About Jane Cable:

Jane writes romance with a twist of mystery and has recently signed a deal for two timeslip novels with Sapere Books. Find out more at www.janecable.com or follow Jane on Twitter. Jane is also a member of the Chindi Authors and Apricot Plots. She has published two previous novels with Matador:

The Cheesemaker’s House

“I desperately want to find out about Owen; a fascinating character… the gift here is to make you want to read on.” Jeffrey Archer

Genre: Romantic Suspense | Publisher: Matador
Buy the book.

The Faerie Tree

How can a memory so vivid be wrong?

In the summer of 1986 Robin and Izzie hold hands under The Faerie Tree and wish for a future together. Within hours tragedy rips their dreams apart.

In the winter of 2006, each carrying their own burden of grief, they stumble back into each other’s lives and try to create a second chance. But why are their memories of 1986 so different? And which one of them is right?

With strong themes of love, grief and family relationships, The Faerie Tree is a contemporary women’s novel as gripping and unputdownable as Jane Cable’s first book, The Cheesemaker’s House, which won the Suspense & Crime category of The Alan Titchmarsh Show’s People’s Novelist competition. It is a story that will resonate with fans of romance, suspense, and folklore.