Author Interview: Christina Courtenay

Today I'm joined by Choc Lit author Christina Courtenay to tell us about her latest novel The Soft Whisper of Dreams.

Some dreams shouldn't come true... 

Maddie Browne thought she'd grown out of the recurring nightmare that plagued her as a child, but after a shocking family secret is revealed, it comes back to haunt her - the same swing in the same garden, the kind red-haired giant and the swarthy arms which grab her from behind and try to take her away ... 

In an attempt to forget her troubles, Maddie travels to Devon to spend time with her friends, Kayla and Wes. However, it becomes clear that relaxation will not be on the agenda after a disturbing encounter with a gypsy fortune teller. Not to mention the presence of Wes's dangerously handsome brother, Alex. 

And then there's the fact that Maddie's dream seems to be coming true.

Can you tell us about your latest novel The Soft Whisper of Dreams?  
It’s a contemporary romance with some paranormal and suspense/thriller elements. The heroine, Maddie, finds out she’s adopted and an old nightmare comes back to haunt her. When she visits friends to recover from the shock, she meets dangerously handsome Alex, has a disturbing encounter with a gypsy fortune teller and, terrifyingly, her bad dreams seem to be coming true …

Author Interview: Christina Courtenay

Today it's my pleasure to welcome Christina Courtenay to my blog to talk about her latest book The Secret Kiss of Darkness which was published yesterday.

Can you tell us a little bit about your latest book The Secret Kiss of Darkness? 
It’s a time slip set in Devon, and the heroine in the present has her life turned upside down when she almost bankrupts herself to buy a portrait of a mysterious 18th century gentleman at an auction. Forbidden love, smugglers, romance and a gypsy’s spell!

Where did the inspiration come from for this story? 
It came from a painting I saw in the National Gallery in London, a portrait that was so life-like I was convinced the man in it was going to start talking to me any second. Then I thought, ‘What if he did, how would I feel?’ and the story grew from there. 

Countdown to Christmas Day 11: Festive Fun Q&A with Christina Courtenay plus giveaway

Today's Countdown to Christmas guest is the lovely Christina Courtenay who has completed the festive fun Q&A.  Christina has very generously offered a signed copy of her latest book The Gilded Fan as a giveaway prize for one lucky reader. 

What’s your earliest or favourite Christmas memory? 
A favourite memory – baking Christmas gingerbread cookies with my mother, grandmother and other relatives in a little bakery owned by my great-grandfather. He let us use it once a year for an enormous baking session and it was great fun with its huge oven, sacks of interesting ingredients and slippery, flour-covered floors. All the kids loved it there!

What are you looking forward to most this Christmas? 
Relaxing with my family and hopefully lots of reading

Do you have any family traditions that you always follow? 
Not opening any presents until after Christmas dinner – keeps the excitement going for longer!

Guest Book Review: Christina Courtenay - New England Rocks

Reviewed by Victoria Stone

First impressions, how wrong can you get?
When Rain Mackenzie is expelled from her British boarding school, she can’t believe her bad luck. Not only is she forced to move to New England, USA, she’s also sent to the local high school, as a punishment.

Rain makes it her mission to dislike everything about Northbrooke High, but what she doesn’t bank on is meeting Jesse Devlin…

Jesse is the hottest guy Rain’s ever seen and he plays guitar in an awesome rock band!There’s just one small problem … 

Jesse already has a girlfriend, little miss perfect Amber Lawrence, who looks set to cause trouble as Rain and Jesse grow closer.

But, what does it matter? New England sucks anyway, and Rain doesn’t plan on sticking around …

Does she?

Books Read: Christina Courtenay - The Gilded Fan

    How do you start a new life, leaving behind all you love?

 

It's 1641, and when Midori Kumashiro, the orphaned daughter of a warlord, is told she has to leave Japan or die, she has no choice but to flee to England. Midori is trained in the arts of war, but is that enough to help her survive a journey, with a lecherous crew and an attractive captain she doesn't trust?

Having come to Nagasaki to trade, the last thing Captain Nico Noordholt wants is a female passenger, especially a beautiful one. How can he protect her from his crew when he can't keep his own eyes off her?

During their journey, Nico and Midori form a tentative bond, but they both have secrets that can change everything. When they arrive in England, a civil war is brewing, and only by standing together can they hope to survive ...

Books Read: Christina Courtenay - The Scarlet Kimono

Abducted by a Samurai warlord in 17th-century Japan 

What happens when fear turns to love? England, 1611, and young Hannah Marston envies her brother's adventurous life. But when she stows away on a merchant ship, her powers of endurance are stretched to their limit. Then they reach Japan and all her suffering seems worthwhile until she is abducted by Taro Kumashiro's warriors.

In the far north of the country, warlord Kumashiro is intrigued to learn more about the girl who he has been warned about by a seer. There's a clash of cultures and wills, but they're also fighting an instant attraction to each other. 

With her brother desperate to find her and the jealous Lady Reiko equally desperate to kill her, Hannah faces the greatest adventure of her life. And Kumashiro has to choose between love and honour ...

Christmas Shorts with... Christina Courtenay

The latest author to take part in my Christmas Shorts feature posts is the lovely Christina Courtenay who I've previously featured on the blog.  

Christina has written four historical fiction novels to date including Highland Storms, The Silent Touch of Shadows, which was published earlier this year.  Her fifth book The Gilded Fan is due to be published in February.  

What is your earliest Christmas memory?  
Not sure if it’s the earliest, but the one that stands out the most is me, aged about seven, telling my little brother that I’d just heard my mother on the phone, booking someone she knew to come and pretend to be our Santa Claus.  As my brother was four years younger than me and still believed in Santa, he started howling and I got into trouble for disillusioning him.  

It was a bit mean, but I didn’t realize he would take it so badly and wasn’t intending to upset him!

What is your favourite Christmas tradition?
Lighting the Advent candles – as I’m half Swedish I follow their tradition of lighting one candle for each of the four Sundays before Christmas and it’s a lovely way to count down the days I think.  I also love decorating the tree (it has to be a real one as the scent is so wonderful!)