15th
Jan
Jan
Today I’m excited to share with you the Cover Reveal of ‘Burning
Embers’ by Hannah Fielding. ‘Burning Embers’ is a contemporary historical
romance novel set in Kenya in 1970. This book got some amazing reviews and it’s
definitely on my TBR list. ‘Burning Embers’ was first published a couple of years ago, now it’s being re-released with a beautiful new cover.
The Book:
Coral Sinclair is a beautiful but naïve
twenty-five-year-old photographer who has just lost her father. She’s leaving
the life she’s known and traveling to Kenya to take ownership of her
inheritance – the plantation that was her childhood home – Mpingo. On the
voyage from England, Coral meets an enigmatic stranger to whom she has a
mystifying attraction. She sees him again days later on the beach near Mpingo,
but Coral’s childhood nanny tells her the man is not to be trusted. It is
rumored that Rafe de Monfort, owner of a neighboring plantation and a
nightclub, is a notorious womanizer having an affair with her stepmother, which
may have contributed to her father’s death.
twenty-five-year-old photographer who has just lost her father. She’s leaving
the life she’s known and traveling to Kenya to take ownership of her
inheritance – the plantation that was her childhood home – Mpingo. On the
voyage from England, Coral meets an enigmatic stranger to whom she has a
mystifying attraction. She sees him again days later on the beach near Mpingo,
but Coral’s childhood nanny tells her the man is not to be trusted. It is
rumored that Rafe de Monfort, owner of a neighboring plantation and a
nightclub, is a notorious womanizer having an affair with her stepmother, which
may have contributed to her father’s death.
Circumstance confirms Coral’s worst suspicions, but when
Rafe’s life is in danger she is driven to make peace. A tentative romance
blossoms amidst a meddling ex-fiancé, a jealous stepmother, a car accident, and
the dangerous wilderness of Africa. Is Rafe just toying with a young woman’s
affections? Is the notorious womanizer only after Coral’s inheritance? Or does
Rafe’s troubled past color his every move, making him more vulnerable than
Coral could ever imagine?
Rafe’s life is in danger she is driven to make peace. A tentative romance
blossoms amidst a meddling ex-fiancé, a jealous stepmother, a car accident, and
the dangerous wilderness of Africa. Is Rafe just toying with a young woman’s
affections? Is the notorious womanizer only after Coral’s inheritance? Or does
Rafe’s troubled past color his every move, making him more vulnerable than
Coral could ever imagine?
And now without further ado the cover of ‘Burning Embers’…
Excerpt:
Though the afternoon sunshine was beginning to fade, the
air was still hot and heavy. Coral was struck by the awesome silence that
surrounded them. Not a bird in sight, no shuffle in the undergrowth, even the
insects were elusive. They climbed a little way up the escarpment over the
plateau and found a spot that dominated the view of the whole glade. Rafe
spread out the blanket under an acacia tree. They ate some chicken sandwiches
and eggs and polished off the bottle of cordial. They chatted casually, like
old friends, about unimportant mundane things, as though they were both trying
to ward off the real issue, to stifle the burning embers that were smoldering
dangerously in both their minds and their bodies.
air was still hot and heavy. Coral was struck by the awesome silence that
surrounded them. Not a bird in sight, no shuffle in the undergrowth, even the
insects were elusive. They climbed a little way up the escarpment over the
plateau and found a spot that dominated the view of the whole glade. Rafe
spread out the blanket under an acacia tree. They ate some chicken sandwiches
and eggs and polished off the bottle of cordial. They chatted casually, like
old friends, about unimportant mundane things, as though they were both trying
to ward off the real issue, to stifle the burning embers that were smoldering
dangerously in both their minds and their bodies.
All the while, Coral had been aware of the need
blossoming inside her, clouding all reason with desire. She could tell that he
was fighting his own battle. Why was he holding back? Was he waiting for her to
make the first move? Rafe was lying on his side, propped up on his elbow, his
head leaning on his hand, watching her through his long black lashes. The
rhythm of his breathing was slightly faster, and she could detect a little
pulse beating in the middle of his temple, both a suggestion of the turmoil
inside him. Rafe put out a hand to touch her but seemed to change his mind and
drew it away. Coral stared back at him, her eyes dark with yearning, searching
his face.
blossoming inside her, clouding all reason with desire. She could tell that he
was fighting his own battle. Why was he holding back? Was he waiting for her to
make the first move? Rafe was lying on his side, propped up on his elbow, his
head leaning on his hand, watching her through his long black lashes. The
rhythm of his breathing was slightly faster, and she could detect a little
pulse beating in the middle of his temple, both a suggestion of the turmoil
inside him. Rafe put out a hand to touch her but seemed to change his mind and
drew it away. Coral stared back at him, her eyes dark with yearning, searching
his face.
The shutters came down. “Don’t, Coral,” Rafe whispered,
“don’t tease. There’s a limit to the amount of resistance a man has.”
“don’t tease. There’s a limit to the amount of resistance a man has.”
“But Rafe…”
A flash of long blue lightning split the sky, closely
followed by a crash of thunder. Coral instinctively threw herself into Rafe’s
arms, hiding her face against his broad chest. She had always had a strong
phobia of thunderstorms. Now she knew why the place had seemed eerie, why there
had been no bird song or insect tick-tocks, no scuffling and ruffling in the
undergrowth. Even though the skies when they entered the valley had not
foretold the electrical storm that was to come, just like with the animals, her
instinct had told her that something was wrong. But she had been too distracted
by the turbulence crackling between her and Rafe to pay attention to the
changing sky.
followed by a crash of thunder. Coral instinctively threw herself into Rafe’s
arms, hiding her face against his broad chest. She had always had a strong
phobia of thunderstorms. Now she knew why the place had seemed eerie, why there
had been no bird song or insect tick-tocks, no scuffling and ruffling in the
undergrowth. Even though the skies when they entered the valley had not
foretold the electrical storm that was to come, just like with the animals, her
instinct had told her that something was wrong. But she had been too distracted
by the turbulence crackling between her and Rafe to pay attention to the
changing sky.
Rafe, too, was shaken out of his daze and turned his head
to see that the sun had dropped behind the mountain. Dense clouds had swept
into the valley and were hanging overhead like a black mantle.
to see that the sun had dropped behind the mountain. Dense clouds had swept
into the valley and were hanging overhead like a black mantle.
“Where did that come from? No storm was forecast for
today?” he muttered, jumping up.
today?” he muttered, jumping up.
There was another tremendous peal of thunder, lightning
lit up the whole glade, and again another crash. Then the heavy drops of rain
came hammering down against the treetops, pouring down through the foliage.
lit up the whole glade, and again another crash. Then the heavy drops of rain
came hammering down against the treetops, pouring down through the foliage.
A wind was starting up. Without hesitation, Rafe folded
the blanket into a small bundle and tucked it under his arm. He slung the
hamper over his shoulder, and lifting Coral into his arms, he climbed his way
up to the next level of the escarpment where a ledge of rock was jutting out
and found the entrance to a cave where they could shelter. Coral was shivering.
She tucked her face into his shoulder, her fingers tightly gripping his shirt.
She was completely inert, paralyzed by fear. They were both drenched.
the blanket into a small bundle and tucked it under his arm. He slung the
hamper over his shoulder, and lifting Coral into his arms, he climbed his way
up to the next level of the escarpment where a ledge of rock was jutting out
and found the entrance to a cave where they could shelter. Coral was shivering.
She tucked her face into his shoulder, her fingers tightly gripping his shirt.
She was completely inert, paralyzed by fear. They were both drenched.
There was no way they would be able to get back to Narok
tonight. Coral knew from her childhood that storms were always long in this
part of the country, and through her panic she prayed that he wouldn’t be
piloting that little plane back in this howling gale. At least here they were
protected from the storm. It was not yet completely dark. Rafe looked around,
still holding her tightly against him. Coral couldn’t herself as she sobbed
uncontrollably.
tonight. Coral knew from her childhood that storms were always long in this
part of the country, and through her panic she prayed that he wouldn’t be
piloting that little plane back in this howling gale. At least here they were
protected from the storm. It was not yet completely dark. Rafe looked around,
still holding her tightly against him. Coral couldn’t herself as she sobbed
uncontrollably.
“Shush, it’s all right,” he whispered softly in her ear.
“It’s only a storm. By tomorrow morning it’ll all be over.” He brushed her
tears away as more fell. “I’m going to have to set you down for a moment,
Coral. I need to light us a fire and get you out of those wet clothes.”
“It’s only a storm. By tomorrow morning it’ll all be over.” He brushed her
tears away as more fell. “I’m going to have to set you down for a moment,
Coral. I need to light us a fire and get you out of those wet clothes.”
The Book Trailer:
Praise for ‘Burning Embers’:
First class – beautifully written with an intriguing
premise and interesting characters.
premise and interesting characters.
– Romancing the Book
Hot, sultry, breathtakingly beautiful and entirely
unpredictable… I think the end analysis of a good read is whether it
lingers, and this one certainly did.
unpredictable… I think the end analysis of a good read is whether it
lingers, and this one certainly did.
– A Bookish Libraria
It warmed every corner of my heart.
– Cocktails and Books
Hannah Fielding created a backdrop for this story
that held me spellbound.
that held me spellbound.
– Unwrapping Romance
An epic romance like Hollywood used to make…
– Peterborough Evening Telegraph
A truly compelling and romantic tale that you won’t want
to put down.
to put down.
– Go City Girl
The kind of romance that makes you sigh dreamily…
– Bookish Temptations
Interview with Hannah Fielding:
Tell me about who Hannah Fielding is.
To quote Anais Nin: “If you do not breathe through
writing, if you do not cry out in writing, or sing in writing, then don’t
write.” I do all that.
writing, if you do not cry out in writing, or sing in writing, then don’t
write.” I do all that.
Writing is a very big part of who I am – but it is not
all of me. I am a wife and a mother. I am a traveller and a lover of nature.
Sometimes, I am a property developer: I renovated our rectory in Kent and our
house on the south coast of France.
all of me. I am a wife and a mother. I am a traveller and a lover of nature.
Sometimes, I am a property developer: I renovated our rectory in Kent and our
house on the south coast of France.
More than anything, I am a romantic. Not a hopeless one,
though – an eternally hopeful one!
though – an eternally hopeful one!
Did you always want to become an author?
Pretty much. My grandmother was a published author of
poetry and my father published a book about the history of our family, so
writing runs in my veins. I guess I always knew that one day I would follow in
those footsteps and forge my own path in that field – a subconscious dream
which finally came true.
poetry and my father published a book about the history of our family, so
writing runs in my veins. I guess I always knew that one day I would follow in
those footsteps and forge my own path in that field – a subconscious dream
which finally came true.
What do you love most about being an author?
I love the process of writing – being all fired up with
an idea and spending countless hours lost in my story. Sharing the story is
always a little scary, but I really love connecting with readers who’ve enjoyed
my books, and knowing that I brightened their day a little.
an idea and spending countless hours lost in my story. Sharing the story is
always a little scary, but I really love connecting with readers who’ve enjoyed
my books, and knowing that I brightened their day a little.
What is the best thing that happened since your book
‘Burning Embers’ came out?
‘Burning Embers’ came out?
I think the first reviews that came through of my debut
novel where the best time for me. After so many years of dreaming of writing,
to know that people were not only engaging with my story world but also loving
it was simply amazing.
novel where the best time for me. After so many years of dreaming of writing,
to know that people were not only engaging with my story world but also loving
it was simply amazing.
Tell us about your books. How did you come to the idea of
writing them?
writing them?
I get ideas from many sources – especially the arts and
nature. For Burning Embers, it was a trip to Kenya coupled with a glimpse of an
ocean cruiser against the night sky. For The Echoes of Love, the mystery and
beauty of Venice sparked my imagination.
nature. For Burning Embers, it was a trip to Kenya coupled with a glimpse of an
ocean cruiser against the night sky. For The Echoes of Love, the mystery and
beauty of Venice sparked my imagination.
I am never short of ideas for passionate love stories set
in exotic places, only the time to write them all!
in exotic places, only the time to write them all!
Where do you go to write your books?
In winter I write indoors in my office, at a big wooden
desk loaded up with tea and dictionaries, overlooking the back lawn where
sometimes I see wild rabbits hopping about. In summer I write outdoors when I
can – in the gazebo in Kent, or on the terrace in France – because I love the
smells and sounds and sights of nature. If I want a change of scene, I take my
notebook to a garden overlooking the sea, a meadow carpeted with wildflowers or
a café bustling with people where I can find the description for one of my
characters.
desk loaded up with tea and dictionaries, overlooking the back lawn where
sometimes I see wild rabbits hopping about. In summer I write outdoors when I
can – in the gazebo in Kent, or on the terrace in France – because I love the
smells and sounds and sights of nature. If I want a change of scene, I take my
notebook to a garden overlooking the sea, a meadow carpeted with wildflowers or
a café bustling with people where I can find the description for one of my
characters.
What are your future plans in writing?
My next book will publish in April of this year. It’s the
first of a fiery trilogy set in Andalucia, Spain, spanning three
generations of a Spanish/English family, from 1950 to the present day. It is
the passionate story of the de Falla family, some of whom have roots in
England, and their interaction with the gypsies. A tale of love, treachery,
deceit and revenge a rumbling volcano, set against the fierce and blazing
Spanish land, which is governed by savage passions and cruel rules.
first of a fiery trilogy set in Andalucia, Spain, spanning three
generations of a Spanish/English family, from 1950 to the present day. It is
the passionate story of the de Falla family, some of whom have roots in
England, and their interaction with the gypsies. A tale of love, treachery,
deceit and revenge a rumbling volcano, set against the fierce and blazing
Spanish land, which is governed by savage passions and cruel rules.
Meanwhile, I’m working on a book set in Greece. I know
that captivating country and its people well – I have good Greek friends. I
bought my wedding dress in Athens and my husband and I honeymooned on Rhodes
Island. Greek mythology was part of the literature course I read at university
and Greece is not far from Alexandria, where I grew up.
that captivating country and its people well – I have good Greek friends. I
bought my wedding dress in Athens and my husband and I honeymooned on Rhodes
Island. Greek mythology was part of the literature course I read at university
and Greece is not far from Alexandria, where I grew up.
What is your favorite book?
The Far Pavilions by MM Kaye. I first read it in the
1980s, and since then my copy has been well-thumbed. MM Kaye has been an
inspiration to me in my writing, because, like me, she was a traveller at heart
and she wrote wonderfully descriptive stories set in exotic locations that
really transport you to far-off lands. The Far Pavilions is like an
Indian Gone With the Wind – epic, moving, romantic, sweeping. If
you’d like to know more about this writer and book, you can read a blog post I
wrote on the subject at http://www.hannahfielding.net/?p=1523.
1980s, and since then my copy has been well-thumbed. MM Kaye has been an
inspiration to me in my writing, because, like me, she was a traveller at heart
and she wrote wonderfully descriptive stories set in exotic locations that
really transport you to far-off lands. The Far Pavilions is like an
Indian Gone With the Wind – epic, moving, romantic, sweeping. If
you’d like to know more about this writer and book, you can read a blog post I
wrote on the subject at http://www.hannahfielding.net/?p=1523.
What would you advice to new aspiring authors?
Write from the heart. Be true to yourself and don’t
compromise to please the market. Markets change, fads come and go; your work
will remain.
compromise to please the market. Markets change, fads come and go; your work
will remain.
About the Author:
Hannah Fielding is a novelist, a
dreamer, a traveller, a mother, a wife and an incurable romantic. The seeds for
her writing career were sown in early childhood, spent in Egypt, when she came
to an agreement with her governess Zula: for each fairy story Zula told, Hannah
would invent and relate one of her own. Years later – following a degree in
French literature, several years of travelling in Europe, falling in love with
an Englishman, the arrival of two beautiful children and a career in property
dreamer, a traveller, a mother, a wife and an incurable romantic. The seeds for
her writing career were sown in early childhood, spent in Egypt, when she came
to an agreement with her governess Zula: for each fairy story Zula told, Hannah
would invent and relate one of her own. Years later – following a degree in
French literature, several years of travelling in Europe, falling in love with
an Englishman, the arrival of two beautiful children and a career in property
development – Hannah decided after so many years of yearning to write that the
time was now. Today, she lives the dream: she writes full time, splitting her
time between her homes in Kent, England, and the South of France, where she
dreams up romances overlooking breath-taking views of the Mediterranean.
Her first novel, Burning Embers, is a
vivid, evocative love story set against the backdrop of tempestuous and wild
Kenya of the 1970s, reviewed by one newspaper as ‘romance like Hollywood used
to make’. Her new novel, The Echoes of Love, is a story of passion, betrayal and
intrigue set in the romantic and mysterious city of Venice and the beautiful
landscape of Tuscany.
vivid, evocative love story set against the backdrop of tempestuous and wild
Kenya of the 1970s, reviewed by one newspaper as ‘romance like Hollywood used
to make’. Her new novel, The Echoes of Love, is a story of passion, betrayal and
intrigue set in the romantic and mysterious city of Venice and the beautiful
landscape of Tuscany.
For more information about Hannah
Fielding and her books please visit her website, Goodreads, Facebook and Twitter.
Fielding and her books please visit her website, Goodreads, Facebook and Twitter.
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Maureen is a mom, wife, nurse, and Ravenclaw living in the Netherlands. She spends her days juggling mom-life, reading, blogging, planning date nights with her husband and working as a nurse. Maureen also is a big Anglophile, loves cooking, Gilmore Girls, Bridgerton and Harry Potter.. Always! Facebook | Instagram
I like the bottom part of the cover, but I never really like covers with faces on them
Missie @ A Flurry of Ponderings
Most times I also definitely not like covers with faces on them. But this one looks kind of mysterious and it doesn’t bother me. But the bottom part is definitely the best part of the cover! 😉
Thanks for stopping by!!