Eternity Jones and the lure of undercover excisemen . . .

14 Saturday Mar 2026

Posted by in blogging, Book review, heroes, heroines, Reviews, Romance, Smugglers, Uncategorized

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SHEY—– Yeah well, Excisemen had needs too…. primarily to keep themselves safe in a landscape riddled with smugglers and wreckers, the premise for the series being..…

So obviously when just about every local was at the capers, why shouldn’t an agent have a sort of facilitator? As for the locals being at the capers????

Fact 1–Smuggling was a profitable way of life.

Fact 2—As was wrecking…. Indeed it became even more popular when the law in its infinite wisdom, similar to that of hamsters, . .

Shey-–deemed it illegal to claim salvage from a ship if there were survivors. . . .

Shey— FACT 3–It wasn’t.

Shey– I don’t say. Neither does anyone else. Tea, brandy, silk and lace came across the Channel in huge quantities and those not involved in the actual smuggling or wrecking were quite happy to provide such weary goods with shelter, something Destiny Rhodes has been happily doing in the first book of Rogues, largely in order to pay for the restoration of the family home.

Fact 4 –In fact in terms of one of the top occupations of your average Cornish man, smuggling was alongside fishing, farming and mining.

Fact 5– Nor was it just confined to the poor and unholy. The Rev. Richard Dodge, in a stunning example of ‘if you can’t beat them, join then,’ is said to have helped his wayward parishioners land contraband on the beach below his church. Indeed, tales of clergymen, mayors and magistrates getting in on the act were not unusual. Indeed one must wonder in Wryson’s Eternity if that was why Squire Squeedger was so happy to assist in a certain arrest.

Fact 6–Putting that aside, in the face of these goings on and the estimated 500,000 gallons of brandy smuggled annually into Cornish coves there were such things as undercover excise-men, this was no makey-uppy on my part.

Shey–Now THAT would not just be making it up. In fact it would be stretching the incredulity of making it up. So to answer your question, although they say beauty is in the eye of the beholder, they were far more handsome, although I must add that would not be hard.

CONTINUING FACT 6– Obviously. I mean giving my heroines flawed but smexy guys is brutal. Undercover excise-men were also involved in intelligence-gathering–I say nothing about how much they’d have found here in the hamster community BUT I daresay one lives in hope– infiltrating communities and in surveillance. Naturally it was very dangerous, as was being a uniformed excise-man–a sort of ‘one slip and you’re it,’ scenario. Indeed an entire boatload of excise-men were found with their throats cut on the Sunken Island near Mersea, in the early 1800’s.

Shey–Oh come on. Hamster Dickens has a point. I mean you wouldn’t want to end up like these guys now would you? Now, before we open the voddie and do the little hamster dance, I want to share this lovely review from the Introverted Bookworm. AND the one she also wrote for M. Jean Pike. No sobbing now . .

Book Reviews: Wryson’s Eternity by Shehanne Moore and Superheroes by M. Jean Pike

As Valentine’s Day was in February, I decided to get stuck into some excellent romance books. I’m a massive fan of Shehanne Moore and Jean Pike’s writing, and these latest releases certainly hit the spot!

Wryson’s Eternity by Shehanne Moore

I had my fingers crossed, hoping that that I’d enjoy the latest instalment in the Cornish Rogues series as much as I enjoyed the first, O’Roarke’s Destiny (see my review here). What surprised me is that I enjoyed Wryson’s Eternity even more! The themes explored really drew me into the plot, as did the author’s incredibly immersive and vivid writing style.

Gil Wryson has lost his memory. When he remembers a cottage in a flashback, he encounters Eternity Jones there, who has fled her abusive husband and is trying her best to get by under difficult circumstances. What follows is a situation full of high stakes chemistry and mounting tension, as these two flawed, three-dimensional characters try to drive each other out.

Those who crave strong, feisty central female protagonists will easily relate to Eternity Jones’s character. I loved the witty banter exchanged between her and Wryson; the sparks just about fly off the page! I’d describe this as a story that is full of romance and danger: two elements that work really well together in holding the reader’s attention throughout.

What I loved was how wonderfully real these characters were, emotionally speaking, and how, layer by layer, they broke through their defenses, which, I think, is what excellent, dynamic romance is all about. Something I enjoy about this author’s particular writing style is her gift for crafting witty dialogue, which heightens the tension and chemistry between the main characters, and Wryson’s Eternity was no exception to this.  

I’d strongly recommend this book to readers who like high-stakes romance with an enemy-lovers trope. The psychological insight that was offered to me as a reader kept me hooked, and, unlike some romance stories, I didn’t feel on the outside looking in, observing these characters from afar; but completely immersed in the unfolding story.

This book certainly got my pulse racing; I couldn’t put it down!

Superheroes by M. Jean Pike

So, the second book I devoured as part of my Valentine’s Day reading was Superheroes. I’ve read one of M. Jean Pike’s books before and was super keen to get stuck into this one!

After a breakup, Abbey takes this as a cue to start living the life she wants, on her own terms. Seeking independence from her parents, she moves to a rented motel room in the town of Redford’s Crossing. She’s friendless and has no partner, but somehow managed to tell her sister that she’s taking a date along to her parents’ twenty-fifth wedding anniversary (oops!). Enter Rory St. George, who offers her a job as a cashier for the store he manages. Abbey agrees, but only if he agrees to accompany her to the wedding anniversary party. What ensures is a moving story of romance, fighting against obstacles, and self-realization that kept me hooked from start to finish.

What I liked most about this sweet romance was the contrasting personalities of the main characters, and the way that the underlying Christian theme was subtly and skillfully woven into the central plot.

Faith is something the central characters have in common, and this is a gentle romance, which explores the theme of family dynamics, something that interests me a lot. Rory is under pressure taking care of his mother and sisters, whereas Abbey feels ill-equipped to even look after herself. She’s had a tough tome of things: her ex-boyfriend was abusive, and her parents are controlling, but she’s trying to break free on her own terms. As a reader, I was invested in her journey.

I think this novel would be an excellent choice for those who enjoy thoughtful Christan fiction or romance, as it isn’t afraid to delve below the surface. The narrative is balanced with a light tone, making this an uplifting read for those who enjoy a heartfelt story.

So, that’s it for this month’s reviews! Below you can find links to Shehanne Moore here and M. Jean Pike’s blog here.

Until next time!

On Valentine’s Day, some very special chocolates.

14 Saturday Feb 2026

Posted by in Author Interviews, blogging, Uncategorized, writing

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SHEY—–.Enough….. Valerie Hopkins, pen name Nifty Buckles. What gave you the idea?

Nifty Buckles. The pen name ‘Nifty Buckles’ came to me as a child when I began tap dancing at the age of 5 yrs old. 

SHEY——— Talking being nifty with buckles, here’s a wee song about them.

Nifty Buckles – It is a playful nod to whimsy, folklore, and a bit of old-world charm. ‘Nifty’ evokes something clever and delightful,

while ‘Buckles’ brings to mind antique shoe buckles or belt fastenings—little details that feel timeless and tied to storytelling traditions. My first avatar was of a leprechaun but unfortunately social media sites flagged it as spam so I decided to focus on my nifty buckles shoes. 

SHEY – What drew you to folklore?

AI OVERVIEW

“Hamsters, while lacking ancient, deeply rooted mythological tales, appear in modern symbolic lore as emblems of preparation, resilience, and quiet strength, often linked to hoarding and nurturing small, vulnerable resources MyMythos. They symbolize the wisdom of creating safe, inner havens amidst chaos. Their natural, solitary, nocturnal behaviors have also fueled myths regarding their social needs.”

SHEY—- Do NOT say another word, especially about your social needs.

Nifty Buckles – – I’ve always been captivated by the way folklore captures the human experience—our fears, hopes, joys, and mysteries—through stories passed down across generations. Growing up, I was drawn to myths, legends, and cultural traditions from around the world, especially those with a flare for dance whether folk, square dancing or tap and jazz. It felt like magic. Folklore feels alive; it’s how communities explain the unexplainable, honor nature, and keep wisdom alive. As a writer of folklore, I love researching and reimagining these tales to share their enduring magic with modern readers.

Nifty Buckles —Writing has been a lifelong passion—it’s my way of processing the world, exploring imagination, and connecting with others. From childhood I fell in love with my local Library and became a ferocious reader. There are wonderful children’s and adult literature to share folklore online, putting words to paper (or screen) lets me preserve enchanting ideas and invite readers into magical worlds. 

There’s something profoundly satisfying about crafting a tale that can transport, comfort, or spark wonder in someone else.

Nifty Buckles–Haha, I adore the enthusiasm! 

While hamsters don’t have a prominent place in traditional folklore, Hamsters are known in Dreams and Spiritual Beliefs.In modern spirit animal and dream interpretation systems, hamsters symbolize:
Energy and activity, due to their constant movement and wheel-running.


Nifty Buckles –Preparation and storage, reflecting their instinct to hoard food.

Cautiousness, as they are nocturnal and easily startled.

Being caught by a hamster in a dream may suggest feeling trapped by small, repetitive tasks — a metaphor for the “hamster wheel” of modern life. 

This psychological symbolism is more modern and metaphorical than traditional folklore. 

I‘m game for creative fun. Perhaps a whimsical modern folktale about a clever hamster guardian of hidden acorn treasures, or a cozy tale where a hamster unwittingly stumbles into a fairy ring and becomes a tiny hero. 

If your followers keep asking, who knows—I might just have to write a “Hamster Folklore” someday to give them their cameo!

SHEY–: Please take them and welcome….. Your new book Granny Magic Chocolates is billed as A Cozy Appalachian Folklore Tale. 

Can you tell us a bit about it? 

NIFTY BUCKLES – Yes, Granny Magic Chocolates is a heartwarming, enchanting story set in the quiet Appalachian town of Brindle. It follows a mature  chocolatier Millie Butterbloom, who uses her grandmother’s secret “Granny Magic” recipes—

rooted in traditional Appalachian folk healing and herbal lore—to craft enchanted truffles that mend broken hearts and bring gentle magic to those in need. 

Blending cozy small-town vibes with subtle folklore elements like herbal wisdom and mountain traditions, it’s a feel-good tale about community, legacy, friendship and the quiet power of kindness (with a dash of enchantment).

SHEY — OOOH. Sounds and looks fabulous. Are there any recipes in it?

NIFTY BUCKLES– Yes! The book features a few woven throughout the book, of delightful, inspired recipes tied to Millie’s Granny Magic chocolates and treats. They’re rooted in Appalachian herbal traditions but presented in a cozy, accessible way—perfect for readers who love to bake or experiment with a touch of folklore-inspired magic in the kitchen. 

SHEY– Where can we get a copy?Granny Magic Chocolates is available now as an ebook (and possibly in other formats—check for updates).

🛍️ You can find it directly through my website: https://www.niftybucklesfolklore.fun/ — that’s the best place for the latest links, details, and any special offers. For more of my work, including other folklore-inspired books like Samhain’s Veil and The Spooky Day of Skip Macdougall, poetry, and children’s tales, head to the same site: https://www.niftybucklesfolklore.fun/granny-magic-chocolates-

One can buy it on Kobo Canada: https://www.kobo.com/ca/en/ebook/granny-magic-chocolates?sId=5c74f4c1-c187-4fdc-b4ca-5bda404f3f2d&ssId=GckBA5tQsraCa8ttSfb60&cPos=1

Payhip: https://payhip.com/b/qk7FL

You can also follow along for updates, folklore snippets, and more on X/Twitter @NiftyBuckles

, Instagram @niftybuckles
, or my site https://niftybucklesfolklore.com/.

SHEY–What’s next for Nifty Buckles?

NIFTY BUCKLES–I’m continuing to weave more enchanting tales—expect more cozy folklore, folk horror, herbal magic, or whimsical children’s stories. I am also thinking of waking up my Nifty Buckles folklore podcast. I took a break after the death of my son, I spent my time in solitude, grieving and reflecting. 

There are always new Interviews,poems brewing, folklore posts, and maybe even another recipe-infused cozy tale on the horizon. 

ALL ABOUT NIFTY.

A little more about me: I’m Valerie Hopkins (writing as Nifty Buckles), an indie folklore author, poet,who is passionate about bringing ancient myths, cultural legends, and fairytales to life. I draw inspiration from global traditions, especially those with a magical or spooky twist, and I love blending them into cozy, heartfelt stories. 

(Fun fact: I’ve been “once chased by Vampire Pumpkins” in my folklore adventures—ask me about that sometime!)

Thank you again, Shehanne—this was a delight! Warmest wishes to you and your lovely followers.

SHEY–A delight to have you here. Thank you so much for taking the time.

As This Year Ends…..

31 Wednesday Dec 2025

Posted by in Uncategorized

≈ 105 Comments

China, United States, India, United Kingdom, Canada, Pakistan, Italy, Germany, Bangladesh,  Spain, Yemen, France,. Brazil, Poland, Jamaica, Australia, Indonesia, Nigeria, Türkiye, Netherlands, Romania, Japan, Vietnam, South Africa, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Kenya, Saudi Arabia, Finland, Afghanistan, Switzerland, Belgium, Sweden, Nepal, Egypt, Singapore, South Korea, Israel, Iraq, Martinique, Mexico, Ireland, Thailand, Costa Rica, Zimbabwe, Philippines, Myanmar (Burma) Malaysia, Kazakhstan, Hong Kong SAR China, United Arab Emirates, Ethiopia, Mauritius, Guatemala, Austria, Taiwan, Somalia, Slovakia, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Ukraine,  North Macedonia, Chile, Trinidad & Tobago, Russia, Peru, Norway, Cambodia,  Greece, Algeria, Oman, Morocco, Bahrain, Portugal, Libya, Benin, Argentina,  Albania, Uzbekistan,  Serbia, Colombia, Senegal, Qatar, Lithuania, Lebanon, Laos, Jordan,  Hungary, Dominican Republic, Bulgaria, Angola, Venezuela, Tanzania, Tunisia, Palestinian Territories, Panama, Nicaragua, Maldives, Macao SAR China, Mali,  Madagascar,  Monaco, Kuwait,  Kyrgyzstan, Iceland, Croatia, Guyana, Guinea, Georgia, Estonia, Ecuador, Czechia, Cyprus, Botswana, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Andorra.

Eternity Jones and the lure of abandoned houses

09 Tuesday Dec 2025

Posted by in blogging, book tour, New book, Romance, Uncategorized, writing

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SHEY. Fact 1– The Dundee Murder House, built in 1815 for a jute merchant and the scene of a double murder in 1980, was NOT the inspiration for Wryson’s Eternity, although its checkered history of semi abandonment since 1980 has led to its permanent abandonment.

Fact 2 No it is not the Dundee burnt house, said to have been abandoned for two decades, but showing little if any sign of occupation for the two before that and recently sold–for the site obviously.

Fact 3– the Dundee murder house on the other hand was bought as student accommodation–football playing ones having been the first to spot there were bodies inside and not live ones either. Not to mention being purchased in 2007 by a local artist with a view to running it as a restaurant.

Fact 4 –10 years and no restaurant later, the house was apparently sold at auction for half the 2007 purchase price. 8 years later it is still sitting as pictured. The murderer meantime is still sitting in Broadmoor Hospital, having confessed his guilt to a priest in Kent– an area he was on prison leave from when he journeyed to Dundee–prior to beating him and his housekeeper to death and being convicted of manslaughter.

Fact 5–Despite again confessing to the double Dundee murder also of an elderly couple, no further action was taken and so technically that case remains unsolved, just as the house remains unoccupied.

Fact 6–The inspiration for Wryson’s Eternity, in which, yes she says she is a housekeeper, was courtesy of a builder who clocked an empty house in London in 1997 and thought, ‘Why not?’ doing all sorts of improvements before moving in in 2011 and applying for adverse possession.

Fact 7–The owner did find out by the way before anyone gets any ideas here. But lost at the Court of Appeal in a landmark victory for ‘ the squatter.’ SO Hamstah Dudes watch your cages cos you never know who could snaffle them……..

Let’s face it……. humans aren’t the only ones to find themselves homeless which is why we are not bringing out the voddie, cossack dancing either until I do something I don’t generally do, which is share a link on behalf of a follower in Kabul who runs an animal shelter there, mainly for street dogs, with the plea that any followers would be welcome.

https://panagahamn.wordpress.com/

Carolyn Haynes, the dudes and Molly Marple

19 Wednesday Nov 2025

Posted by in Author Interviews, blogging, Book review, book tour, Carolyn Haynes, Detectives, Molly Marple, Mysteries, New book, Uncategorized, writing

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Carolyn —– Ah yes, Hamster Dickens Mystery—the gripping tale of Hamster Molly with a quill and a dark past. that’s gold, Shey and possibly my next book if the hamsters are willing.

But for now, it’s Molly Marple Mystery—where investigative journalist Molly Cleary’s world unravels after her husband is killed in a suspicious hit-and-run, and her grief spirals into obsession. A mysterious locket appears in her garden — an artifact that cracks open a centuries-old conspiracy buried in royal scandal and protected by modern-day power-brokers. From Los Angeles to Washington, D.C., to the shadows of Europe, Molly follows a trail of secrets that links the present to a 14th-century betrayal with deadly consequences. But the closer she gets to the truth, the more dangerous her path becomes. Powerful enemies are watching. Exposing them could clear her husband’s name — or destroy her.

Carolyn — After years of writing about real life, I wanted to step into the shadowed corners—where emotion becomes story and truth wears a clever disguise. Memoir taught me to find meaning in memory. Fiction lets me set it on fire. I wanted to take the raw emotions of real life—loss, hope, obsession—and build worlds where those emotions could run wild. It’s still truth at the core, only now the boundaries are gone. That’s where Molly Marple Mystery was born… out of curiosity, courage, and a love for secrets that won’t stay buried.

3 Molly Cleary is a modern-day Marple with an edge—driven by the instincts of a journalist, the heart of a truth-seeker, and just enough recklessness to make things interesting. She doesn’t wait for mysteries to arrive neatly on the doorstep; she chases them into the dark, dares them to chase her back, and rips the truth straight out of the shadows.

Carolyn– Let’s just say Molly has a habit of finding trouble—and I have a habit of following her into it. Every time I think her story’s done, she drops another secret in my lap. So yes… keep your magnifying glass handy. Molly’s not finished yet.

Carolyn– Molly Marple Mystery is ready and waiting to pull you in, twists and all on Amazon or Barnes & Noble

📕 Barnes & Noble: https://tinyurl.com/3kcvpvzd

PS. Here’s an editorial review which I’m still reeling over:

“A razor-sharp thriller with a heart—Molly Marple Mystery grips you from the first clue and doesn’t let go. Carolyn Haynes is a master of suspense.”

—Helen Masters

London Book Festival reviewerhttps://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FVCK1HTJ

ABOUT CAROLYN

Carolyn Haynes steps boldly into the mystery genre with her latest release, Molly Marple Mystery—a chilling psychological thriller packed with secrets, suspense, and historical intrigue. She previously captivated readers with two unforgettable memoirs: The Lloyd Haynes Story: A Remarkable Journey to Stardom—hailed by the Tribune as “Superbly Written”—and Bewitched: Secrets from Comedy Genius Sol Saks, praised by the Los Angeles Times as “First-Class.” A proud member of the Screen Actors Guild, AFTRA, and the Authors Guild, Carolyn brings a lifetime of artistic passion to every page. Her creative roots run deep, with formal training at the American Film Institute, CBS Workshops, and the Pasadena Playhouse. Her talent earned her an invitation to study at London’s renowned Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. Behind the scenes, Carolyn collaborated with comedy legend Sol Saks for many years, assisting with books, plays, television projects, and university-level writing courses. As the wife of actor Samuel Lloyd Haynes, she contributed to his screenplays, short stories, and photography, adding her voice to a shared legacy of creativity. Stay tuned for what’s next from this versatile, addictive storyteller. 

FOLLOW Carolyn on  

FB: https://www.facebook.com/lloydhaynesroom222

TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@carolynhaynes34  

LINKEDIN: www.linkedin.com/in/carolyn-haynes-author-14752a100 

BLOG https://thelloydhaynesstory.wordpress.com/

X @carolyngrace505

A Noble and Ancient Family…

03 Monday Nov 2025

Posted by in blogging, book tour, heroes, New book, Romance, Uncategorized, writing

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Just who were the De Scovilles of Wessex…..

Shey–Yes. thank you so much for inviting me here today to my own blog.

Fact 1–The surname Scoville is of  Norman origin originating as a habitational name for someone from a place called Escoville in Calvados, Normandy.

Fact 2–Obviously It arrived in England in the form of two knights who jaunted along with William the Conqueror to do just that. Scovilles, under the later tutelage of one Sir Ralph De Scoville then located themselves in mid-Wessex for five centuries where they did all sorts of things, especially to their neighbors .

Fact 3–Give me time. The county of Buckingham became the inheritance of one Laurence de Scoville–son of Ralph, while his bros soon set up in Wiltshire. Nor were Somerset and Hants immune to the De Scoville invasion, or their neighbors over whom they were sometimes had up in court for causing ‘illegal distresses to.

Fact 4 –I say sometimes because sometimes the Sheriff’s men failed to bring them in for very good reason.

.And I say ‘illegal distress,’ because murder– of a neighbor — and kidnap and imprisonment– of a neighbor’s wife–to force her to marry you, so as to get your mitts on your ex-man’s house and land, would be illegal and cause quite a bit of distress. as would murdering the Sheriff’s posse. Something I gather the lady Descovilles were as adept as the men Descovilles at.

Fact 5–For beleaguered neighbors relief was at hand in the form of a lack of male issue. Coupled with a surplus of guilt ridden males taking up with the church, the name and the family started to die out–something that has dogged the family to this day– the name partly surviving because a woman insisted that her husband to be would also be taking her name, which eventually became plain ordinary Scoville, Scovel and even Scuffle as the family that had once been the highest in the southern counties fell to the lowest, a theme explored by Thomas Hardy in Tess of the D’Urbervilles.

Fact 6– Thomas Hardy did say after all he got the idea of doing that from sitting of an evening in the ruins of Corfe Castle the place where Ralph Descoville died.

Fact 7– I pinched the name to use in Wryson’s Eternity cos my dad’s cousin is buried in the War Grave Cemetery at Calvados, France, a son of that soil without knowing it. His name as was my dad’s was Scofield.. Their grandfather was born in Sandhurst but their his great grandfather, born in a workhouse in Hampshire was a Scuffle/Scoville. Arthur, Scofield, aged twenty one, died, along with several Canadians, when the tank he was commanding was blown to bits in the Battle of Falaise, a battle that was fought in advance of the D Day landings, and the town William the Conqueror came from.

Fact 8 –Hence the dedication to my youngest grandie whose middle name is Scofield after all.

It wasn’t the inspiration for the story any more than Earl Ferrers, Lady Grange or Mary Bowes, but hey…every little helps.

Now you can open the voddie and dance as much as you want. …

Passionate and Utterly Unforgettable.

28 Tuesday Oct 2025

Posted by in Author Interviews, Book review, heroes, heroines, New book, Reviews, Romance, Smugglers, writing

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OR the interview that never was………

Carolyn- A pic of talented, Gutsy, Author Shehanne Moore

Shey: “It were a howling gale that day,” says Shehanne Moore.

Shey: “It were a howling gale that day,” says Shehanne Moore.

Shey–That pic was also taken when we were really gung ho on climbing hills. I wonder we were never killed actually. My motto re hill climbing is the same that I have for writing  and I guess for life… ..I made it up and it goes like this. I see the beginning. I see the end. And in the middle I hope I don’t fall on my ass too much. That is my motto for everything actually. It started with hills, then went to writing books and now it is life itself. Every aspect of it. Cos let’s face it, I think we all hope whatever we are doing we won’t fall on a certain part too much.”

Carolyn: “And that fearless spirit says it all — the gutsy, adventurous heart behind Wryson’s Eternity. Shehanne doesn’t just write passion and peril — she’s lived it.”

Shey: My Mr said to me today..he had just started reading Eternity… you know she is more like you than any character you have written. I thought seriously.. He was lucky he never got thumped actually. So I love what you say about the adventurous spirit that is Wryson’s Eternity. Its taken my breath away xx

Carolyn: Oh, I completely agree with your dear Mr. and you deserve a moment of breathtaking splendor, for the joy you have brought to your readers.

Shey: Carolyn. I am gobsmacked actually at what you are saying. I guess I wanted to write something that might take people a wee bit away from things just now.. But then I wasn’t sure if I was succeeding!!

Carolyn: You can take it from this reader. I was definitely taken away and it was a splendid journey—one I really needed. So, it is my humble opinion you surpassed succeeding. ……

Step into a world of lost love, dark secrets, and redemption. Wryson’s Eternity by Shehanne Moore will stay with you long after the last page.……

By Carolyn Haynes.

: WRYSON’S ETERNITY is a breathtaking mix of danger, romance, and intrigue that keeps you hooked from the first haunting line to the final page. Gil Wryson, a hunted man with no memory of the woman he once loved, meets the fierce and mysterious Lady Eternity Jones—who’s just as dangerous as she is captivating. What follows is a storm of secrets, betrayal, and irresistible chemistry as the two fight both their enemies and their hearts.

The writing is lush and lyrical, filled with sharp wit and emotional depth. Every scene crackles with tension, and the twists keep coming. It’s a gothic romance with grit—darkly romantic, richly imagined, and impossible to put down.

A masterful tale of memory, love, and redemption. Wryson’s Eternity isn’t just a story—it’s an experience that lingers long after “The End.”

I highly recommend this five star read.

ABOUT CAROLYN HAYNES

Carolyn Haynes steps boldly into the mystery genre with her latest release, Molly Marple Mystery—a chilling psychological thriller packed with secrets, suspense, and historical intrigue. She previously captivated readers with two unforgettable memoirs: The Lloyd Haynes Story: A Remarkable Journey to Stardom—hailed by the Tribune as “Superbly Written”—and Bewitched: Secrets from Comedy Genius Sol Saks, praised by the Los Angeles Times as “First-Class.” A proud member of the Screen Actors Guild, AFTRA, and the Authors Guild, Carolyn brings a lifetime of artistic passionto every page. Her creative roots run deep, with formal training at the American Film Institute, CBS Workshops, and the Pasadena Playhouse. Her talent earned her an invitation to study at London’s renowned Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. Behind the scenes, Carolyn collaborated with comedy legend Sol Saks for many years, assisting with books, plays, television projects, and university-level writing courses. As the wife of actor Samuel Lloyd Haynes, she contributed to his screenplays, short stories, and photography, adding her voice to a shared legacy of creativity.

SHEY —All of Carolyn’s amazing books ate available at Amazon. Not only that but 12% of all royalties are dedicated to local and global charities, and the company is committed to gradually increasing this percentage over time. I’ve read her books and they are compulsive, like sitting down for a chat with a great pal. They are something to sink into.

She was also wonderfully kind to my oldest grandie when he was not very well recently.

You can find her wonderful blog here..

HELLO AND WELCOME!

Eternity Jones and the murderous Earl Ferrers

20 Monday Oct 2025

Posted by in blogging, heroines, New book, Romance, Smugglers, Uncategorized, villains, writing

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Shey –Because this blog is about someone who was named in passing in my latest book. You were not. Named, that is. Not even in passing. Ergo therefore there will now be eight facts on him.

Fact 1– The great grandfather of the noted scientist Louis Pasteur, Laurence Shirley, known as the Right Honorable Earl Ferrers was born in 1720. And was hung forty years later for behaviour that was neither right nor honorable.

Fact 2–Having clocked this early on in their relationship, especially when it came to his drinking womanising and illegitimate children, his wife Mary had already taken the then unusual step of applying for a legal separation which even more unusually was granted.

Fact 3–Lucky THAT lady. It was legally agreed that Mary would receive rental income from estate properties, collected by John Johnson, an elderly family retainer who may have given evidence of Mary’s mistreatment in court.

Fact 4– Whether he did or not, shortly after doing the former, John Johnson was directed by the Earl to his study where the Earl produced his gun.

Fact 5–Not content with this, Earl Ferrers both shot and then proceeded to verbally abuse him while a physician, who the servants had proceeded to fetch, proceeded to ,remove John Johnson, from the firing line to HIS home.

Fact 6– Despite this, John Johnson, proceeding to die the following morning and his family proceeding to wave away the Earl’s lucrative offers of money to shut up, led to the Earl proceeding to be arrested.

Fact 7 — Although there was no doubt he probably was, the Earl’s defence,–which he conducted himself and which was quite good apparently–of insanity, was rejected, largely because he sounded too eloquent.

Fact 8– Dressed in his wedding outfit Earl Ferrers proceeded to make himself the last member of the House of Lords in the United Kingdom when he proceeded to be hung. for murder, having been tried and found guilty in Westminster Hall.

Fact 9–Obviously there’s none, except to say that Eternity does her best in that very place to see to it that the last peer to be hung in the United Kingdom was not Earl Ferrers…….

As to whether or not she succeeds… You’d have to read the book.

What’s a ball without a gown designed by Resa…?

14 Tuesday Oct 2025

Posted by in Author Interviews, blogging, book tour, heroes, heroines, New book, Scottish, Smugglers, Uncategorized, writing

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WRYSON’S ETERNITY By RESA MCCONAGHY

As a huge fan of Shehanne Moore’s spirited, independent female characters in her period romance novels, this book has been long awaited.

“If it is worth having, it is worth waiting for.” –Oscar Wilde

The “Nicking Coat”

Oppressed & beaten by a beastly husband (Baronet Byron Jones), Lady Jones flees. To afford her vagabond lifestyle, she engages in petty thievery, lying, sleeping in forests and dealing with the less than savoury.

I now realize the hat is scripted black.

As she uses her coat like a tote bag for her nicked loot, I figured a man’s frock coat would have large pockets and the roominess required.

Shehanne – I just love the coat and hat. So her. I do love you calling her coat the ‘nicking coat.’ The woman lived rough for a bit.

Resa – Then one day, she haps upon a deserted cottage; where Gil Wryson haps upon her.

Shehanne – And that was it, but she had to like the wee life she’d set up for herself in Pencliff enough not to bolt and go back to the awfulness of life on the road. AND everything…even the way the mail worked and money worked with regard to banks in these days– all the things that made her life so difficult on the run– fitted..

The Ball & the Gown

In terms of defining what Eternity might wear, I looked at the out going Georgian era and the incoming Regency era.

Resa – I was tortured waiting! Was the ball in, or out? Why did you end up putting  the Ball in, and how did it serve the story?

Shey – … Okay Resa, well the simple answer to why I put it in, having decided for her to leave beforehand,  is YOU. Yeah, there you go. I thought about the fact that I’ve a ball or a dance/party, or a feast/dance  in quite a few books and these are tied with pivotal  moments in the plot.  

I also thought if she leaves in the morning  right after saying she’s going, then he is going to find it hard to forgive her–they have somehow come together in the planning and prep for  this ball. But she has  a huge reason to quit while she’s ahead here in terms of news she’s just got. I thought of you and the beautiful gowns you have designed for my ladies down the years and I thought what is a book without a ball and what is a ball without one of your gowns?

My first thought of the ball gown.

 Shehanne -I also thought when it comes to Wryson EVER forgiving her, when it comes to  her thinking, she just might have  got something in the bag, with regard to  ‘the future?’ Him too. ’Well? That ball and what happens at it, then sets up everything in terms of her state of mind as she goes to tackle what she must  tackle. It paves the way for how she is only paying half attention to what she really needs to have her eyes fully on because she’s let something into her life she can’t let in.    

Shehanne – It let me trowel on a bit of passion and anguish and quite a mess, shall we say, regarding what happens next? Things she feels responsible for, secrets she is going to have to keep, things about herself,  she doesn’t know she can overcome.   SO yeah, I think sticking to my original plan would have been wishy washy.

Resa – When her ball gown was first spotted in Gonetta’s, before I read on to any description of the gown, I immediately saw the green one in my mind. 

Shehanne – OOOOHHHHHH… the one Wryson had to pay for from Gonetta’s cos she’d have nicked it otherwise.

Resa – YES, the one Wryson pays for – BUT – it is the image I got in my mind (being a costume designer) before I got to the parts where you describe the gown – a backless cream gown. . Can you believe how different our visions are? What do you think about that? 

Shehanne – I think it is great actually that the visions were different. It said to me that you were really picturing her–and green is a noted color she wears. I imagined  she was drawn to the shop  and it reminded her of past balls, even if the main one she remembers was the night she got pitched into a Turkey oak, after first chucking herself at the man she loved.


--this is backstory before Wryson lands on her doorstep--

It reminded her of not living  hand to mouth on the road. So she wandered in and got herself a fitting with the intention of   dancing  on her own in Dark Falls--which we know she does-- in that gown. 

Alas it defied her nicking abilities. But she probably told herself she could maybe nick the dosh. She’s very good at NOT getting things done too. But being her she probably got fitted for more than one. 

So it was kind of deliberate on my part not to describe the gown at that point, because she is also capable of going there and nicking some other  gown off a rail of made but not paid for gowns.

Resa – I honestly like your gown better. What do you think about that?

Shehanne – What can I say but awwww…. truly, and you know a description can always be changed in a book.

Resa – Well, I am thrilled you had a ball. It is a pivotal bit, and if it was a movie, the big money beauty scene. Of course the carriage bit is the big money stunt scene.

Shehanne – Alas, I always see book scenes as movies. One of my fav freelance regular writing gigs ever was for girl’s comics for DC Thomsons. YOU HAD TO WRITE IN STORYBOARDS. YES!! So many frames per episode, dialogue/thoughts and instructions to the artist only on each frame. Always end with a cliff hanger.

Back in London

Resa – Here are the drawings, for court & carriage! The full skirt outfit would have already been in her closet before she escaped. The other, would be a new dress, the latest Regency fashion.

Shehanne – Yes, I forgot she has a fancy new coat for the court scene, her ‘other’ fellah having had enough of her special one.

Shehanne – It is what I imagined… Fashionable, dressy because she would need to be both and not look like  a ragbag.. There is the bit about Billy having taken her famous coat —obvi she left the cottage in that coat and he would have seen to it that she got some decent clothes  in London, given she is going to vhave to go a court of law. And yes the first illustration there above would have been the kind of dress she’d have worn to balls before and during her marriage to Byron.

Inspirations

Resa – So I was inspired to draw Eternity in a metaphoric sense. I had thought “Hair of flames” because what comes out of her mind and mouth is so fiery, literally, but this came out of me. Did I capture her in that metaphoric sense?

Shehanne –  You have captured her perfectly. You always have the sense of my ladies but she’s off the scale in many ways.

She’s wild, she’s free, she’s guarded, she’s bruised, she’s moody, she’s mouthy.  She walks tightropes when it comes to functioning. She is her own worst enemy, Above all else she is a survivor and it has been of some horrific things. She is really very difficult and you have amazingly captured all of that.  Wryson is of course not in the best of places himself, but even if he was he’d still be emotionally confused by her.

Resa – You recently posted about Mary Eleanor Bowes, the great-great-great-great-grandmother of Queen Elizabeth the Second. At 11, she was left the richest heiress in England, between 80 and 120 million in today’s terms.  Twice married, she was beaten, burned and more by her husbands.

Shehanne – I thought I’d blog a little of some of the inspirations cos I started as I aye do, with no plot just the idea of picking up the woman who makes a very fleeting, at a distance, appearance in “O’Roarke’s Destiny” and setting her in an abandoned house cos I love abandoned houses.

“Suppose she is sitting there and passing herself off as whatever and then Wryson turns up and says it’s his house,” I thought. Then I obvi had to suss it out from there and I also thought at that point of the dreadful hubby and the unhappy countess.

Read about Mary Eleanor Bowes on Shehanne’s blog

Shehanne – Despite a descendant marrying into royalty and giving birth to Elizabeth 2nd, the story is not THAT well known. But it is interesting on so many levels. I primarily used the violent hubby because I needed a reason for Lyon to have a hold on her.

Resa – You built a strong, feisty female character, in a time where women had no rights. It’s inspirational.

Shehanne– You are right re: the lack of rights. I gather that Mary was not sympathized with because of the lovers, because of a lot of things she did and it was quite something that she actually got a ruling in her favor.

About Shehanne Moore

“I christen all my characters with care. I actually love thinking of what their name is going to be.“

A native of Scotland, I believe -About

Wryson’s Eternity is available on Amazon. Just click on the book cover and go there!

Shehanne – I did do a play list for the story… it is a bit long, possibly the longest I’ve done for a book play list.

Resa– It’s a fab Play List. If anyone cares to listen just click on the enhanced drawing of Eternity on the right, and it will take you there!

From Shehanne’s Play List!

I have read all of these fab Shehanne Moore Books.  Just go to an Amazon anywhere, to find them!

LINK TO RESA’S ACTUAL POST.

Wryson’s Eternity

ABOUT RESA MCCONACHY

About

Eternity Jones, the unfortunate Lady Grange and Billy Barkitt….

06 Monday Oct 2025

Posted by in Author Interviews, blogging, book tour, heroines, highlanders, New book, Romance, Scottish, Uncategorized

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http://charliezero1.wordpress.com/

Fact 1–It is said that to  understand Lady Grange, one must first understand that when she was 10, her father was hung for murdering the judge who had ruled against him in an alimony lawsuit.

Fact 2–Wig, or no…. In 1707,  she married Lord Grange, younger brother of the sixth earl of Mar who’d led the failed Jacobite uprising against the Crown in 1715, alternatively known as the attempt to restore the crown to the son of the deposed James 7th of Scotland. and 2nd of England.

Fact 3–Allegedly the marriage took place after she held a gun to his head.

Fact 4–in 1732 having had  enough of her fiery temper and drinking, not to mention her threats to blow the gaff about his dicey and treasonous 1715 connections because of an affair he was having, he had her beaten, gagged, forcibly removed from  her home—not his, since they had been living separately for two years at this point–and, with some teeth missing from her jaw,  whisked off on a tour of the Scottish Islands, lasting several years.  

Fact 5–The imprisonment of the longest duration began and ended on Hirta the largest island of the St Kilda, archipelago the island at the edge of the world,–35 nautical miles (65 kilometres) west-northwest of North Uist and uninhabited since 1930 when the then population of 36 was ‘evacuated.’ An island it took days in an open boat to reach and a place where no-one spoke English.

Fact 6–While Lady Grange availed herself of the joys of living in this….

without becoming Lady Ga Ga, her husband held a funeral for her in Edinburgh. This just might help explain why none of her many children lifted a finger to help her during the 10 years she was on St Kilda, spending her days sleeping, drinking whisky and walking the wild, windy shores. Equally Lady Grange had removed all her children from her will some years previously.

Fact 7 –in 1738 a letter she wrote to her lawyer, Thomas Hope of Rankeillor– who had no idea she was being kept as she was— was smuggled off St Kilda possibly by Roderick MacLennan, the island’s minister who felt sorry for her. The stir the letter caused was sensational, which in turn caused Lord Grange even more sensationally, to get his friends to block Thomas Hope from getting a search warrant. However Thomas paid for a boat and twenty armed men. By the time he reached St Kilda, Lady Grange had been sent back on her travels. She died in Skye in 1745–co-incidentally the same year as the second Jacobite rebellion, and the place Charles Stuart, the grandson of the deposed James 7th of Scotland and 2nd of England– the ‘Bonnie Prince’ — escaped to, in a boat rowed by Flora Macdonald, a journey immortalized in song ——unlike Lady Grange’s—-

Talking imprisonment, Flora, not in any way a Jacobite supporter–she felt sorry for him–was imprisoned in London for aiding his escape. Ironically for Lady Grange, soldiers were sent to St Kilda to search for Prince Charlie in the aftermath of the defeat of the Jacobites at the battle of Culloden in 1746 . . .

Fact 8– Already allegedly buried– but not– in Edinburgh, she was allegedly buried in Skye in the Trumpan churchyard, although equally allegedly a third burial was held at Duirinish Skye, where a large crowd gathered to watch the burial of a coffin filled with dirt and stones, for some strange reason…..

Fact 9–Of course there is no fact 9, just the disclaimer that my book, the forthcoming Wryson’s Eternity, the 2nd in the Cornish Rogues series was not inspired by Lady Grange. But Eternity does have a lawyer, she keeps in touch with, of financial necessity, a Billy Barkitt of

A man she was once in love with.

For whom the timing was wrong.

—‘Decent as a nun’s drawers, their backside too. About as interesting into the bargain,’-

Shey—- Right now? That would be telling. But I leave you with the song from the Wryson’s Eternity playlist that in the end is Billy Barkitt’s. ‘Easy Come. Easy Go.’ By a great and underrated Scottish band too. Taken from the When the Night Comes Down album.

Can the man with no past have a future?

Let me forget you ever lived …

When it comes to the woman he loved, handsome, hunted, ‘rogue’, Gil Wryson has done just that, even forgetting his own name, until he crosses swords with a mysteriously brash woman who has stolen his house—at least he thinks it’s his house. But so long as she doesn’t steal his heart, surely he candeal with the fact she’s not only unlike any woman he’s ever known, she’s hell-bent on betraying him to the man who is hunting him?

Let me die if I cease to remember you …

Despite stealing other people’s houses, clothes, food, money, identities and children, Lady Eternity Jones draws the line at thieving hearts.  Once she swore never to forget her first love.  Now she has, her memories are of one thing only. Her abusive, murderous husband.  So if survival means suffering a cocky, darkly tortured mess of a man in ‘her’ home, in order to get her hands on his secrets, she’ll do it.

It’s a lot more than maybe. There’s no maybe with a corpse …

But Gil Wryson isn’t the only one being hunted. When the race is against time and time is running out,he needs her to help him remember. But does she need him to help her forget?

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