Women's Fiction Archives - Jessie Cahalin Writes

Behind the Scenes of The Stolen Sister by Jan Baynham

Lost letters. A secret Greek love affair. A daughter’s search for the truth. The Stolen Sister by Jan Baynham had me from the very first page. With each chapter, I discovered more secrets and was hooked. Curious to know more about the inspiration for the novel, I was thrilled when author Jan Baynham agreed to take me behind the scenes of The Stolen Sister.

The Stolen Sister by Jan Baynham is a wonderful romantic escape

Thank you for inviting me back to your lovely blog, Jessie.

If your readers are like me, they’ll be interested in the inspiration behind stories. My latest novel, The Stolen Sister, was inspired by a true story I read on a blog. A young American woman travelled to the island of Crete to find answers as to why her mother would never talk about the road accident that killed her father. Her mother shut out the memories, wanting her daughter to suppress them too. When she arrives in Chania as an adult, memories of that awful night start to come back to her. She reads a newspaper article detailing the accident and eventually finds her father’s grave to pay her respects. The ‘what if’s?’ started. What if a young Welsh girl knew nothing about her mother spending time in Crete? What if her mother’s request to scatter her ashes into the sea there was part of a secret she’d kept for over twenty years?

As I read the blogs, a dual narrative story set in mid-Wales and Crete in 1963 and 1984 formed in my head. The character of Greta would be an art student arriving at an art commune in a fictional town based on Chania in the early sixties. Twenty years later, Zoë would be her grief-stricken daughter, shocked to find her mother’s early life was something she knew nothing about. My story would be vastly different, emotional, yes, as the true story had been, but the unravelling of Greta’s secret and Zoë’s search for found family would be very unlike the blog. The inspiration may have been the starting point but my novel is a tale of family secrets, a tragic love story and romantic love, together with sibling relationships, that I hope readers will enjoy.

The famous lighthouse in Chania, the inspiration for the fictional town of Fáros Lim

My thoughts on The Stolen Sister:

I went missing for three days because the story of The Stolen Sister haunted me until I knew the truth. It was wonderful to stay with Zoe as she solved the mystery surrounding her parents and her own identity.

Clues are woven seamlessly into the story, and the dual timeline is so clever and perfectly paced. There is emotion, drama and heartbreak at every twist and turn. Complex dilemmas and issues are handled well, and characters are beautifully drawn. Zoe’s investigation in Greece reveals heartbreaking secrets that will change her life forever.

I was transported to the ‘vibrant colours’ of Crete, experiencing the places and culture from Zoe’s perspective. As Zoe discovered more about her parents’ secrets, I was intrigued as to whether she find her own happy ever after. What a wonderful romantic and emotional escape in which the emotion pulled me into the narrative. The characters will stay with me, and it felt as if I was in the heart of one of the captivating real-life stories in the TV programme Long Lost Families.

A gorgeous story about love, loss and family secrets.

More about the Stolen Sister:

Lost letters. A secret Greek love affair. A daughter’s search for the truth.
Crete, 1963. Young artist Greta Ellis arrives at the sun-soaked port of Fáros Limáni, ready to paint and explore the beautiful Greek island.
There she meets passionate local, Andreas Papadakis, and Greta is swept up in a world of colour, freedom and forbidden love. But when tragedy strikes, Greta is forced to make an impossible choice that will change the course of her life — and her heart — forever.Wales, 1984. After the death of her beloved mother Greta, silversmith Zoë Carter receives a sealed letter that upends everything she thought she knew. Greta’s dying wish is for her ashes to be scattered in Crete, a place precious to her . . . but somewhere she had never spoken of.

Searching through her mother’s belongings, Zoë uncovers a series of letters. Written in Greek and dated the year before she was born, they reveal a passionate love affair. And a tragedy that tore it apart.
Determined to know the truth, Zoë travels to Crete to follow the trail left behind in her mother’s letters. Through the olive groves and whitewashed villages of Crete, she begins to piece together a story of love, betrayal and loss — and discovers that her family was never what it seemed.

Perfect for fans of Lucinda Riley, Kate Morton, Dinah Jefferies, Santa Montefiore, Fiona Valpy, Barbara Davis, Angela Petch, Karen Swan or Anita Chapman.

More about Jan Baynham

Originally from mid-Wales, Jan lives in Cardiff with her husband. She started writing when she retired after a career in education. Published by Joffe Books/Choc Lit Publishing, she writes about family secrets and explores how decisions and actions made by family members from one generation impact on the lives of the next. The Stolen Sister is her sixth novel. She enjoys meeting up with other writers, especially members of her local Cariad RNA Chapter as well as when attending talks and workshops.

I have read all of this author’s novels and love discovering the family secrets concealed in the narratives. Discover why so many readers love Jan Baynham’s moving and unforgettable sagas . . .

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘The most compelling, evocative, heart-wrenching book I have ever read.’
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Captivating and emotional . . . A top, top, must-read.’
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘One of the best sagas I’ve read in a very long time.’
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘If you enjoy Victoria Hislop, then give this one a go.’
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘A book about kindness and love, family, belonging, and about forgiveness – and I loved every moment.’
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘A novel that will transport you to Greece, with its sensory delights of sights, sounds and flavours.’
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘The vivid imagery used to paint Greece is stunning and made me feel as if I was there. If you enjoy a multi-layered novel brimming with secrets, you’ll adore this story.’
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Historical fiction at its best.’

Click on the book below for more details about this gorgeous novel.

You can discover more about Jan Baynham and her writing via her blog or visit her Facebook Page.

Eva Glyn’s Letter to Rhiwbina Library

Eva Glyn’s latest novel – The Croatian Island Library – invites readers to escape to the Croatian islands with Ana Meštrović. Ana embarks on a new venture – transforming her beloved catamaran into a floating library. When I asked Eva Glyn about the inspiration for The Croatian Island Library, she sent me a beautiful letter to the library she visited as a child. Perfect!

Dear Rhiwbina Library,

Without you, I might never have become an author. I certainly wouldn’t have read as much as I did as a child. You were such a constant in my life I can’t remember the first time I visited you, but I must have been tiny. I remember the shelves seeming so tall, even in the children’s section. I remember my cardboard library cards – and the frustration that I could only have three, when grown ups were allowed seven.

I think, by the time I was in sixth form, I could borrow more books and I began to devour everything. From Danielle Steele’s international romances with their metallic embossed covers, to Emyr Humphreys’ literary novels set in Wales, and a whole lot of other books in between.

At eighteen I left Cardiff and joined other libraries; Coventry where I was a student, Woking where I found my first job, and later Guildford, Petersfield, Chichester as my career took me away from Wales permanently. But on trips home I still returned to my first love, finding large print books first for my grandmother and then for my mother as her eyesight failed in later life.

I was proud to deliver copies of my first published novels to sit on your shelves. Even prouder when you invited me to give a talk in the upstairs room. My mother was able to come and more than half the audience were friends. I felt that perhaps I was giving something back to you that evening, but the reality is it felt small in compensation for the way you opened a world of books and reading for me.

I’m sorry I haven’t seen you for a while, not since I dropped by to return my mother’s books and card on the morning of her funeral. You’re called a hub now, and because you’re still at the centre of the community, that may well be the right word. But to me you’ll always be Rhiwbina Library, in much the same way as Cardiff will always be home. And I’m sure there’s a new generation of children as thirsty for words as I was. And still am.

Yours very sincerely,

Eva

Eva Glyn giving a talk at Rhiwbina Library

More about Eva Glyn

Eva Glyn writes escapist relationship-driven fiction to whisk you away to fascinating destinations with their own stories to tell.

Set mainly in Croatia, her contemporary novels are more about friendship than romance, the coming together of people through shared interests – especially a love of books – and the opportunity to make fresh starts in their lives.

She has written seven novels for One More Chapter, the most recent being the best-selling The Dubrovnik Book Club, The Santorini Writing Retreat, and The Croatian Island Library which is published in January 2026.

Although she considers herself Welsh, Eva lives in Cornwall with the man she met and fell in love with more than thirty years ago. She also writes as Jane Cable.

More about The Croatian Island Library:

Where books are borrowed, friendships are forged and secrets uncovered…

As a beautiful summer unfolds in the Croatian islands, Ana Meštrović embarks on a new venture – transforming her beloved catamaran into a floating library.

Joined by crew members Lloyd, a widower whose past threatens to overshadow everything, and Natali, a young mechanic afraid of her own shadow, the newly formed trio all have their own powerful reasons for needing the travelling library to be a success.

As they explore stunning coastlines and visit picturesque harbours, they learn that, sometimes, the most profound changes happen not just in the pages of a book, but in the bonds formed along the way…

Readers love The Croatian Island Library!

‘This story of friendship and self-discovery is peopled by characters you’ll be happy to make friends with’ Maisie Thomas, bestselling author

‘Deeply emotional, utterly enchanting, and wonderfully escapist’ Isabelle Broom, author of The Summer Trip

‘A beautiful heartwarming story, loved the characters and the author truly transports you to Croatia’

Click on the book to find out more:

Readers love The Croatian Island Library

Eva Glyn’s Croatian novels are enchanting and have all earned five stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐from me. I can’t wait to indulge in another escape to Croatia.

Celebrating the release of The Lost Garden with Angela Petch

Bestselling author Angela Petch has written another captivating and magical novel set in Italy. I was privileged to read an early review copy of The Lost Garden and will share my thoughts with you. But first, I wanted to know more about Angela and wondered if this lovely author always dreamed of writing novels. I invited Angela to write a letter to her sixteen-year-old self.

Angela, at 16 years old, playing Jane in Pride and Prejudice.

Here is Angela, aged 19 years, in her beloved Italy. Little did she know her memories would colour her novels in the future.

Dear Lala,

I’m using your family pet name to write this letter from the future.

You’re tall, a book worm and you love sport. English is your favourite subject. Whenever you meet a boy you like, you’re painfully shy and invariably taller than he. Your dream of becoming a professional ballet dancer is dashed by your Russian teacher because of your growth spurt. Be proud of your height: don’t slouch! Carry it well.

It’s time to choose your A-level subjects: French, German and English. (You’d love to study Italian, as you lived in Rome until two years ago). The tragedy of losing your little brother there in a drowning accident will haunt you for evermore but it will make you sensitive to people’s suffering.

Wow! You’ve chosen to study for Special English by yourself and you’ll go on to gain a distinction. You won’t read English at university because you think of it as a hobby. Instead, you choose Italian. If you’d read English as minor, maybe your writing might have started earlier.

This shyness of yours: it will stop you from living university-life to the full. You won’t try team sports until your third year, when you’re immediately selected. As a result, you fail to win your blues. Believe in yourself, Lala!

Your upbringing is sheltered: your father, although very loving. believes in preserving innocence for as long as possible. This protectiveness does nothing for your self-confidence.

I advise you to stand up for yourself; understand your opinions are as good as the next person’s. In the ninth book you will write many years later… Yes! You did it… perhaps you will realise the character of Tina has many of your traits. Tina’s father is over-protective, she is rather naïve, loves to lose herself in music and books and, eventually, through adversity, finds a way to becoming her own person. Like you.

Write what you know! “We don’t know who we are until we see what we can do.” (Martha Grimes, author). At sixteen you already know a lot about Italy. Little do you realise how much information you’ve absorbed and how useful this will be to your writing. You never dreamt you would be a published author one day, did you? If you had spread your sixteen-year-old wings, maybe your writing would be richer now. Maybe…

However, this letter might be totally pointless: the course of our lives shapes us and too many what-ifs and regrets amount to negativity. So, continue along your chosen path and be thankful for the enriching twists and turns. You’ve got this!

With love from one close to you.

My thoughts on The Lost Garden:

A captivating and emotional novel that I will never forget!

This novel had me a secret garden!

The Lost Garden is a story of innocence to experience, set against the backdrop of World War Two Italy and the fall of Mussolini. There is also a clever twist of supernatural in this stunning narrative.

Contessina Ernestina de Montesecco (Tina) inhabits an Italian castle with her over-bearing father. One day, she discovers her late mother’s secret garden, where secrets are hidden, and gains her first taste of freedom.

Reminiscent of the children’s novel – The Secret Garden – I was lost in the gorgeous imagery. The ruined garden reinforced the state of Italy at that time. Like a princess in a castle, Tina is protected from the outside world, until war rages and politics begin to shape her life. As the world changes and the reader walks through Italian history, Tina moves from innocence to experience. But there are many risks… And the countess with a ‘rebellious streak’ certainly does not want to be rescued by a prince!

With a fascist father and ‘wild’ peasant mother, Tina’s identity is full of contradictions until she finds a purpose and courage! Absolutely wonderful how Tina’s late mother’s influence is woven into the narrative.

This was a sweeping story of intrigue, secrets and mystery. I loved the twists and turns and slow burn romance. A completely captivating and emotional novel that I will never forget!

More about Angela:

Angela’s gripping WWII novels set in Italy are published by Bookouture.

Published by Bookouture, Angela Petch is an award-winning writer of fiction – and the occasional poem.

Every summer she moves to Tuscany for six months where she and her husband own a renovated watermill which they let out. When not exploring their unspoilt corner of the Apennines, she disappears to her writing desk at the top of a converted stable. In her Italian handbag or hiking rucksack she always makes sure to store notebook and pen to jot down ideas.

The winter months are spent in Sussex where most of her family live. When Angela’s not helping out with grandchildren, she catches up with writer friends.

Angela’s gripping WWII novels set in Italy are published by Bookouture. While her novel, Mavis and Dot, was self-published and tells of the frolics and foibles of two best-friends who live by the seaside. Angela also writes short stories published in Prima and People’s Friend.

More about The Lost Garden

It hides a family secret that could change the course of the war.

Italy, 1930s. Tina lives in the crumbling castle of Montesecco with only her strict father and their maid, Allegra, for company. She’s never been allowed to ask questions about her mother, who died in childbirth. But the day Tina discovers a hidden, crumbling door, everything changes.

Inside is an overgrown garden. Ivy and roses adorn the stone walls. Fresh water springs from a fountain and the scent of wild herbs fills the air. How did she never know this beautiful place existed? Excitedly begging Allegra for answers, the elderly woman’s face turns pale. ‘You must never mention this to your father. It’s not safe. You’ve found your mamma’s garden.’

The Count believes Tina’s mother died because of the garden: but Allegra refuses to say more. Certain she can feel her mother watching over her, Tina secretly tends to the garden herself. And when war breaks out, Tina’s encounters with local resistance fighters mean the garden becomes a place of refuge, a place of hope – and a place of great danger when Tina must prove where her loyalties lie once and for all…

Will Tina ever discover the truth about her mother? Or was the garden, with all its secrets, never meant to be disturbed?

An absolutely breathtaking and stunning historical novel about the incredible risks people took in wartime, family secrets, loss and love. Perfect for fans of Fiona Valpy and Santa Montefiore.

Read what everyone’s saying about Angela Petch:

‘Absolutely stunning… takes you on a rollercoaster ride of emotions… Captivating… devastatingly heartbreaking… My heart was in my throat and I had tears running down my eyes… DO NOT PICK THIS UP UNTIL YOU HAVE CLEARED YOUR SCHEDULES AS YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO PUT IT DOWN!… I completely fell in love.’ Bookworm86, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Wow… captivating on-the-edge-of-your-seat story… Stunning… Broke my heart… This deeply moving novel pierced my heart… I highly recommend.’ Cindy L Spear, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Emotional, heart-wrenching and unforgettable… Beautifully written… Full of intrigue, emotion, drama and intensity… Touches the heart and will keep readers glued to its pages… Enthralling… Simply superb… Must-read.’ Bookish Jottings

Click on the photo of the novel to purchase the novel.

You can connect with Angela at:

Blog: https://angelapetchsblogsite.wordpress.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AngelaJaneClarePetch

Here are Angela’s other books:

The Postcard from Italy

The Girl Who Escaped

The Sicilian Secret

Mavis and Dot

Thank you for visiting Jessie Cahalin Writes Blog. This is the home of Maisie Bloom. Maisie is a newly qualified teacher who becomes an accidental sleuth and falls in love. Step inside A Gift for Maisie Bloom for romance, mystery and a trip to Paris…

Chatting with Clémence Masson from Mistress of the Manor

If you love novels by Alison Weir, Elizabeth Chadwick, Conn Iggulden and Philippa Gregory, then you’re in for a treat. Clara Clayton has just released Mistress of the Manor, and this is the first in the Tapestry Tales series – a new historical series set in an English Manor House. In an interview with the novel’s main protagonist, Cara presents an insight into the compelling novel. It is my pleasure to hand over the blog to author Cara Clayton.

Cara: Good day Clémence. Tell me, does it cause you problems to be so well educated by the monks from Vaudey Abbey? It’s certainly very unusual in this year of 1342.

Clémence: I’m very fortunate that my father is so forward-thinking. But…

Cara: He’s the master mason that helped to build some of Vaudey, here in Lincolnshire, isn’t he?

Clémence: Yes.

Cara: Sorry, I interrupted.

Clémence: He thought I should learn about the heavenly bodies; the medicines of Florence and the herbs that heal the sick; the travels to the far east from where spices come. Oh! There are so many places of interest that I should love to visit — the great cathedrals of France, the art in Italy.

Cara: You sound frustrated to be here.

Clémence: It’s so unfair that I am stuck here, salting the fish and the vegetables to see us through the winter, when there is so much of the world to explore.

Cara: I see from your expression that it’s frustrating.

Clémence: It truly is. I met Sir Ruadhán the other day. He is returned from battles with the Scots. You probably heard that he rescued my sister, who is so devout, and me from a ruffian who would have…, well… he rescued us. He has seen and done so much that is denied to me because I’m a woman.

Cara: His name is unusual.

Clémence: ’Tis Irish and he was named for the berries of the tree we call mountain ash because his hair and beard are fiery red. We played together with others from the village but I didn’t recognise him the other day, at first. He’s… he’s incredible. Way beyond my dreams now, of course. There’s no way I could become his consort. He’s far above me in status despite my father’s position in our small community. Anyway, I heard he has been promised to a young woman of similar noble birth already and she is to arrive for the handfasting any day now.

Cara: What of Sir Ruadhán’s Uncle, Sir Aedric. He can’t be too happy about that either. Word in the alleys is that he hoped to inherit the estate when his brother died and if a son should be born to the young couple…

Clémence: True. He bitterly resents his nephew but he would never have inherited despite him being a twin with Ruadhán’s father. It’s the law of King Edward 111 and has always been so.

Cara: I hope all will be well on the estate when Sir Ruadhán has to return to battle for his liege lord John of Gaunt.

Clémence: Indeed, so do I. He certainly enjoys the wine cellar while he supposedly looks after everything since Ruadhán still hasn’t reached his majority and is away so much.

More about Mistress of the Manor

A compelling new historical series set in an English Manor House! For fans of Alison Weir, Elizabeth Chadwick, Conn Iggulden and Philippa Gregory.

Life is wonderful at the manor … or is it?

1342, Lincolnshire, England

Clémence Masson has always yearned for more than her expected marriage to an apprentice or farmer’s son.

So when an opportunity arises at the nearby Grimsthorpe Manor House to be a companion to a newly-arrived bride-to-be, Clémmie is excited by the opportunity.

The young bride is soon to be handfasted to the lord of the manor, Ruadhán Amundeville, who is recently returned from battles with the Scots.

Ruadhán’s uncle Ulric has been overseeing the estates in the young lord’s absence, and it soon becomes clear to Clémmie that Ulric does not have Ruadhán’s best interests at heart.

But Clémmie does. She has found herself falling for the charming lord of Grimsthorpe.

When Ruadhán leaves for war with the French, Clémmie is left with Emma to deter Ulric’s unwanted advances.

And with the Black Death threatening, all of their lives could be at stake…

Will Clémmie achieve her dream of rising above her station? Could Grimsthorpe hold the key to her happiness?

Or will the darkness surrounding the manor destroy everything in its grasp…?

More about the author

Cara Clayton is the pseudonym for Ros Rendle.

After taking early retirement as a Headteacher, when Ros Rendle had to write many policy documents and also had fun story-writing for children, she moved with her husband and dogs to France. She lived there for over ten years and began writing seriously for adults. She joined the Romantic Novelists’ Association New Writers’ Scheme. This afforded a detailed critique of her first novel and subsequently she was fortunate enough to gain a publishing contract. Ros has eleven historical and romance books published, frequently featuring the French countryside and sometimes even a handsome, enigmatic Frenchman!

The new mediaeval series (first book published 25/07/2025 and two others, so far, to follow), is published under the pseudonym of Cara Clayton.

Now, as well as writing, Ros and her husband are raising a guide dog puppy for the blind and enjoy walking him and their new pet dog.

Mistress of the Manor is receiving great reviews. Readers are enjoying the historical period, romance and intriguing plot. I love to escape to historical novels, particularly when the era is unfamiliar.

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Jessie Meets Patricia Furstenberg

Jessie Meets Patricia Furstenberg

When Secrets Bloom by Patricia Furstenberg is a compelling novel that completely absorbed my weekend, and I invited the author to chat with me. Patricia Furstenberg is a writer of historical fiction inspired by the forgotten corners of the past, where truth and legend entwine.

Jessie: Explain what your current novel is about and what inspired you to write it.

Pat: Jessie, thank you for hosting us on your blog today. It’s a treat to return. And by ‘us,’ I mean myself and my latest historical fiction novel, When Secrets Bloom. It’s a story set in medieval Transylvania, where silence means survival and secrets are often deadlier than blades. It follows Kate, a German Saxon healer, who defies the strict order of her Szekler husband to save a mother and child during a birth gone wrong. That one act unearths suspicion, betrayal, and a chain of events she cannot stop.To write When Secrets Bloom I was inspired by the quiet resilience of women who lived in a time when their words were rarely recorded, their skills often feared, and their loyalty constantly tested. I wanted to explore what it means to be heard. Truly heard, when the cost of truth might be your life.15th century Transylvania, with its mist-veiled mountains and its tangle of cultures and loyalties offered the perfect stage. The story took root many, many years ago. I just needed to mature, as a writer, and to find the right angle. I found it while I was researching medieval medicine and how it was often the very knowledge that saved lives but it also branded women as witches.

Jessie: What themes do you explore in your novels?

Pat: Jessie, I always return to a few threads: unconditional love, war, loyalty, but also the tandem of trust and betrayal. In When Secrets Bloom these come together through the question: A secret can be a shield or a weapon, in the wrong hands.

The book also includes the enduring theme of female strength in the face of systemic suspicion. Kate isn’t loud or rebellious. She’s fiercely loyal and quietly brave. I wanted to show how survival often required not fire, but frost. And, of course, my favorite, history and folklore hum beneath every page. I’m always drawn to the spaces where fact and story blur.

Jessie: Are there any social, historical, or cultural references that shaped your novel?

Pat: Absolutely. When Secrets Bloom draws heavily on 15th-century Transylvania, particularly the Saxon and Vlach settlements, located apart, and the role women played within their respective tight-knit communities. There’s also a whisper of Vlad the Impaler throughout the storyline. Not as the villainous figure many imagine or expect, but as a protector, a strategist, and a man (in his youth) whose trust is both rare and dangerous.

The setting also reflects the religious tensions and political instability of that time, when Wallachians, Hungarians, and Saxons shared borders but not always beliefs. I also wove in superstitions, such as Saint Andrew’s night, when spirits were said to walk, because they add texture and authenticity to the era and much more.

Culturally, this was a time when a woman healing with herbs could be easily branded a witch. And yet without her, no village would thrive. That contradiction, how knowledge could both save and condemn, was central to the story.

Jessie: Who is the main protagonist in your novel? Tell us something about them.

Pat: Kate Webber is a healer. A Saxon. A wife. And, unknowingly, a threat.

What I love about Kate is her quiet courage. She doesn’t set out to defy or to change the world. But when a life is at stake, she acts. She’s trained in medicine, not rebellion, but her every choice unearths secrets buried too long. Kate’s past is tied to Vlad Dracula, her former mentor. He taught her to dissect wounds and read minds. How to protect herself. Not for love, but for survival. That bond, forged in trust and silence, is now the thing she dares not speak of, especially as suspicion mounts. Kate is both ordinary and extraordinary. Like so many women of history, her story might have been forgotten. I wanted to give her voice back.

Jessie: Explain how you overcame a challenge with your current novel.

Pat: One of the biggest challenges was writing Vlad’s voice without overpowering the novel, because although he is an unseen presence for much of the book, his influence over Kate is enormous.

To balance that, I wrote 52 quotes attributed to him, one at the beginning of each chapter. These quotes form a private conversation with Kate. Through them, we see not the monster of legend that history left us with, but the man behind the myth: calculating, persuasive, yet deeply shaped by a life of betrayal and exile.

Another challenge was finding the emotional tone. Medieval life could be brutal, but I didn’t want to write a story of only hardship. I wanted beauty. So I focused on light, even in the darkest chapters: be it a crocus blooming out of season, a remembered joke, a cultural idiom, or the way snow clings to a branch before it falls.

My thoughts on When Secrets Bloom:

Set in medieval Transylvania, this book captivated me. Kate is a Saxon healer. Her kindness, wisdom and healing powers save lives, but her role is forbidden in the ancient patriarchal world. This magical narrative is brimming with wisdom and universal messages.

Kate represents the women in history who paved the way for women’s rights. Furstenberg gives the unseen battles of woman a voice in Kate, reminding us of the strategic roles they played through history. Kate’s silent fight is guided by her mother’s wisdom, instinct and a gift she inherited.

The unique perspective of Kate’s mentor, Vlad Dracula, is mesmerising. I enjoyed the exploration of how fear can shape a myth. Like Kate, this man was labelled as evil because he was different, but in this novel, he gave Kate knowledge and strength to battle through her challenges. She explains that her ‘knowledge became my weapon, my mind the blade, he honed.’

I was lost of the darkness of the fifteenth century, willing Kate to be safe. With Vlad Dracula as her mentor and a Szekler husband, she is branded a traitor and put on trial for witchcraft in a barbaric world where boundaries between religion and superstition merge. Shadows, secrets and whispers of betrayal lurk around every corner and ‘fear clings to the walls like damp.’

It was wonderful to escape to another time and another place that was both frightening and familiar. ‘A place of cobbled alleys and high-gabled houses where shutters close faster than lips and secrets…’ The author uses vivid, poetic language to create the dark world, and I noted so many beautiful lines.

Kate’s childhood sweetheart, Iandu, arrives in the novel. They parted with a romantic gesture of hope, but ‘hope wilts when fed on silence’. Can he forgive her marriage to another, and will he help her?

Characters are skilfully drawn with a distinct dichotomy between good and evil, creating a wonderful drama brimming with conflict and tension. A compelling novel where history, myth, superstitions and storytelling collide. A clever novel!

Click on the book below to discover more:

About Patricia

Patricia Furstenberg is a writer of historical fiction inspired by the forgotten corners of the past, where truth and legend entwine. With a medical degree and a heart rooted in Transylvania, her stories often explore resilience, hidden truths, and the quiet strength of women. She is best known for her war fiction Silent Heroes and historical fiction Joyful Trouble. Part of an upcoming book series, When Secrets Bloom is her latest release.

Where to contact Patricia:

Jessie Meets Eva Glyn

Eva Glyn writes stunning holiday reads set in gorgeous destinations. The wonderful characters are relatable and warm. It is always a treat to indulge in one of Eva’s novels. Eva chatted with me about her latest release – The Santorini Writing Retreat.

Jessie: Explain what your current novel is about and what inspired you to write it.

Eva: The Santorini Writing Retreat is about the power of friendship – even new friendships, especially when they’re forged in times of trouble.

I had originally envisaged the book as a writers’ circle, but when my editor suggested it should be a writing retreat I had excellent reference material, having been on several in Spain led by Rosanna Ley.

Jessie: How did you approach writing your current novel? For instance, did you plan each chapter, did you research?

Eva: The short answer is like no other I have ever written. The idea that it would be a retreat rather than a writing group changed so much. And along with it the idea that I’d be leaving Croatia behind for the first time.

All this happened over lunch with my editor last June, and as soon as I got onto the train back to Cornwall I set to work developing the characters. By the time I got home I had the setting (originally Sicily), five main characters with outline arcs, and the secret which would propel the plot forward.

Roll forward a month and the publishing director approved the idea, but wanted it set in Greece – and finished by Christmas. This meant I needed to write smarter and faster than ever before, which meant loading a scene by scene plan into my software and sticking to a strict daily word count. The aim was to finish the first draft by the time I visited Santorini in October to retrofit my research, and I made it just in time.

Jessie: Where is your novel set? Share one quote from your novel that captures the setting.

Eva: The book is set on a writing retreat on a farm in a quiet, rural part of Santorini away from the tourist crowds:

“Rather than being perched on the caldera, The Retreat House was on the island’s gentler slopes, away from the dramatic expanse of water which had once been the volcano’s heart. Below her were olive groves, vineyards and empty fields of cracked earth, dusty grey in some places and almost red in others in striking contrast to the silver green of the trees. The hum of cicadas filled the air, punctuated now and then by the bleats of the goats who wandered between the low mounds of russet-fringed vines. How idyllic was this?

Closer to hand, the courtyard blazed with pots full of colourful flowers and scented herbs that made her heart sing. Nearer still, the richly coloured bougainvilleas which were beginning to wind their way around her balcony rails fluttered in the gentlest of breezes like so many butterflies.”

Jessie: Explain how you overcame a challenge with your current novel?

Eva: With my Croatian novels my friend Darko helps me with the language and cultural aspects of what it is really like to live in the country. In Santorini, I had no-one, and as our week on the island went on I was still scratching my head, so I overcame my natural reticence and asked the hotel manager, Kyriakos. He was brilliant and has continued his support right through the whole process.

More about Eva Glyn

Eva Glyn writes stories of friendship and love in sunny, Mediterranean settings. A travel-holic herself, she aims to take the reader with her through the pages, with all the sights, sounds, tastes and smells of her chosen destination. She also writes as Jane Cable, with haunting romances set closer to home.

To find out more, follow Eva on Instagram: @evaglynauthor or on Facebook: Eva Glyn, Author

More about The Santorini Writing Retreat

Bestselling author Jessica Rose needs to escape from a terrible secret that’s robbed her of her creativity. Could leading a retreat on a gorgeous Greek island be just what she needs?

Coming home to Santorini was never in Zina’s plans, but now she’s determined to make her new business a success.

And then there’s Karmela, who just wants to write her book and make her mother proud.

In the heat of their Greek island paradise, these new friends find the courage to shape their own stories, and write endings they can all be proud of…

Eva Glyn is a wonderful writer and The Santorini Writing Retreat has received high praise from readers, with one reviewer saying:

‘It’s a multi-layered story, deep but not heavy, tackling serious issues that many will identify with. I loved it. I have said it before, but Eva Glyn’s writing is assured and with each book, she gets better and better.’

Eva Glyn’s stories are always unique and I can’t wait to savour every word.

Category: Women’s Fiction

Behind the Scenes of The Stolen Sister by Jan Baynham

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Eva Glyn’s Letter to Rhiwbina Library

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Celebrating the release of The Lost Garden with Angela Petch

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Chatting with Clémence Masson from Mistress of the Manor

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Jessie Meets Patricia Furstenberg

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Jessie Meets Eva Glyn

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