Category: Blog

‘Edie put on her mac and her favourite bucket hat. Her great-nephew, James, had once declared that she looked like an acid house stoner in it.

She’d assumed the part of innocent and slightly dotty old auntie for his sake and pretended to know nothing of such things. In fact, she was quite partial to a bit of Primal Scream. But James didn’t need to know that.

She merely told him it served its purpose and neglected to mention that it was highly likely she knew more about acid house stoners than he did.

She also failed to mention that she liked the way its bright green colour brought out the best in her eyes, when they weren’t hidden by the brim. At her age it didn’t do to admit vanity still reared its ugly head occasionally.’

Have you read Meeting Annette Grey yet? It’s short and sweet. Just like Edie.

I’ve just finished the description of Frank’s story and wanted to share it with you. It might get tweaked a bit before publiction but here it is:

The past is only a phone call away.

It’s the Easter break and Frank O’Hare plans to spend it painting big, bold sunsets. Until he gets a call that changes everything.

His useless brother, Martin, has gone missing, although he’s been seen in Glasgow by hopeless Cousin Finn. Under orders from the family, Frank’s on a mission to retrieve the runaway and send him back to Belfast. But when Martin makes off with Finn’s campervan, Frank is dragged into a road trip through the Scottish Highlands with nothing more than an overnight bag, an ancient phone, and a whole heap of memories.

But not all trips are fun, and not all memories are good.

As the challenges get harder, so too do the memories. Frank is transported back to a time when, along with Finn and Martin, he and Billy Mac were the Band of Brothers, four young eejits trying to stay away from the kind of trouble that shapes your life forever.

All he wants to do is get home and avoid calls from his disappointed ma and his bossy sister. The trouble is, Martin seems intent on getting the gang back together again. But Billy Mac is conspicuously absent, no one wants to talk about it, and Frank would rather the Band of Brothers stayed in the past where they belong.

Because people change. Things happen. And some words are best left unsaid.

What do you think?

Right, now back to the writing.

My new mini novel, Meeting Annette Grey is available today, in case you’re interested. It’s also available for free in Kindle Unlimited if you’re signed up to that.

It’s only a diddy one so it won’t take you long to read, but I hope you like it.

DISCOVER FOUR UPLIFTING NOVELS IN ONE GREAT-VALUE BOX SET – OUT NOW FOR £5.99 OR FREE IN KINDLE UNLIMITED.

The Netta Wilde Series Box Set, books 1 – 3 is out today and includes a bonus novella:

‘Wonderful series. So good you will want to read them again and again!’

Immerse yourself in the sadness, humour, love and laughter of three extraordinary women who refuse to be beaten by their pasts.

Finding Edith Pinsent is on sale for 99p this August in the UK. Grab your copy before it’s too late.

Hello lovely people.

If you’re an ebook reader in the UK, you might be interested to hear that Being Netta Wilde is on sale at 99p for the next week.

Tell your friends. 😉

A LONELY WOMAN. A SINGLE DECISION. A SECOND CHANCE AT HAPPINESS.

Ever wished you could be who you used to be? Meet Netta.

Netta Wilde was all the things Annette Grey isn’t. Netta Wilde was fun and just a little bit rebellious. She had friends who loved her. Friends she would love to the end of time.

Annette Grey is an empty, broken woman who hardly knows her own children. Of course, it’s her own fault. She’s a bad mother. An unnatural mother. At least, that’s what her ex-husband tells her.

The one thing she is good at … the one thing that stops her from falling … is her job.

When the unthinkable happens, Annette makes a decision that sets her on a journey of self-discovery and reinvention. Along the way, her life is filled with friends, family, dogs, and jam. Lots of jam.

Suddenly anything seems possible. Even being Netta Wilde again.

But, is she brave enough to take that final step when the secrets she keeps locked inside are never too far away?

If you like moving, heartwarming and uplifting page-turners, you’ll love Being Netta Wilde.

Educating Kelly Payne has gone out into the world today…

How to learn about love … the hard way.

Kelly Payne wants only two things in life.

To stop being stupid and to stop loving Will Grey. But how do you make yourself smart when you hate education, and how do you stop loving when your heart doesn’t want to?

Her friend Geraldine says reading makes you clever, so Kelly begins with Pride and Prejudice. Inside, she finds an old postcard that might just change her life. Suddenly Kelly’s imagining all kinds of possibilities. And when the beautiful, cherry-lipped Marcus asks her out, she even dares to dream of a happy ending without Will.

But old doubts have a habit of dragging her down, and when long buried secrets resurface, Kelly finds herself questioning all the truths she held dear. Then along comes Obie, Man of Misery, and life is instantly more annoying.

Kelly is about to learn the hard way, there’s more to education than books and learning, and everything she thought she knew about love and loneliness was completely wrong.

Because happy endings don’t belong in real life. And there’s no man in the world like Mr Darcy, is there?

If you like funny, moving and uplifting page-turners why not try rooting for Kelly Payne?

Exciting news. The publication date for Educating Kelly Payne has been brought forward to 28th April.

If you’re an ebook reader, you can order it now and have it to read as soon as it comes out. It will also be available on Kindle Unlimited and paperback from launch day.

If you’re a member of my readers’ club, you can take a sneaky peek at the first three chapters.

If you’re not a member yet, you can join here

How to learn about love … the hard way.

Kelly Payne wants only two things in life.

To stop being stupid and to stop loving Will Grey.

But how do you make yourself smart when you hate education, and how do you stop loving when your heart doesn’t want to?

Her friend Geraldine says reading makes you clever, so Kelly begins with Pride and Prejudice. Inside, she finds an old postcard that might just change her life. Suddenly Kelly’s imagining all kinds of possibilities. And when the beautiful, cherry-lipped Marcus asks her out, she even dares to dream of a happy ending without Will.

But old doubts have a habit of dragging her down, and when long buried secrets resurface, Kelly finds herself questioning all the truths she held dear. Then along comes Obie, Man of Misery, and life is instantly more annoying.

Kelly is about to learn the hard way, there’s more to education than books and learning, and everything she thought she knew about love and loneliness was completely wrong.

Because happy endings don’t belong in real life. And there’s no man in the world like Mr Darcy, is there?

Here at Hope St Press we’ve been beavering away at some new covers for the Netta Wilde series.

What do you think?

And they’re looking good. Here are a just a few…

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Gripping.. And life changing

Beautifully written about topics that must resonate with many… Helped me find my own way back.. Can’t wait for the fourth.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Another Cracker!

I laughed and cried and devoured this book, as I did the first two. The characters come to life in the pages and I love them all. Thank you for another wonderful book, keep them coming please.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ A cracking story by a brilliant storyteller.

Hazel Ward is an extremely talented storyteller. Geraldine’s story (like all the best ones) combine humour and pathos and is sympathetically told. There’s never a need to skim bits because the books are hugely entertaining and never ‘dip’ in the middle. The characters are wholly believable and thoroughly engaging. Highly recommended.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ So Powerful.

It was such a powerful read that totally consumed me. I did not so much read the book – I ‘lived’ it. This was my first book by Hazel Ward but I want more, more, more! Her story and style really resonated with me. Saving Geraldine Corcoran was a marvellous read.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Another great story a brilliant read third in series.

Geraldine and Kelly had me hooked couldn’t wait to turn the page.

Saving Geraldine Corcoran

One shameful secret. One hidden letter. Two unlikely guardian angels.