Should he take the red pill?

I stumbled upon something recently. I have to admit that I had never heard of it before. Curiosity piqued, I found myself reading a forum called The Red Pill. Wow, what an eye-opener! It turns out that there’s a well-established men’s movement whose primary objectives appear twofold.

Objective number one: men are to treat females as an homogeneous commodity with which a formulaic game must be played in order to ensnare them and use their bodies.

Objective number two: men must analyse, delegitimise, devalue, disparage and discredit females. This applies to how they look, everything they say and all that they do.

Of course there is much more to it than this and I have simplified things, reducing them to the basic tenets.  As far as I can see, it’s a reasonable summary all the same.

So, what is the red pill? The concept originates in the sci-fi movie The Matrix, in which a choice between red and blue pills is offered. Taking the blue pill means you stay as you are, oblivious to reality. The red pill wakes you up so that you can finally see the truth in everything around you.

You might think that a man who claims to have taken the red pill would surely be a better person for it. Nope. Red-pilled men are expected to be cold, calculating, heartless game-players with a bitterness bordering upon hatred for females, incongruously coupled with automatic entitlement to unlimited no-strings sex. There’s more: it seems that taking the red pill qualifies these men as desirable “alpha males”. Naturally this leads to disdain for all other men, the blue pill “beta” ones left behind.

The red pill has no room for compassion, it places no value in companionship. Love? Forget it!

Are all women really the same? Must men play a deceitful game in order to satisfy their needs? Does every woman prefer an alpha male? No, no and no again.

What is “crazy”?

Is it when you make a bad decision? “I was crazy doing that. I should have known better.”

Is it a mental health issue, maybe psychosis or schizophrenia or something like that? “Don’t listen to her, she’s crazy. Out of her mind.”

Is it the world around you? “It’s a crazy world.”

Is it something to do with personality? “She’s crazy. Sure she’s fun, but you never know what she’ll say next.”

Is it just the natural, healthy variation between people? “Some of the guys here are just crazy.”

What is “crazy”? Can you really tell the difference between the various suggestions I have made? I think they flow into each other, they are a continuum, a spectrum of experience.

 

Loneliness

The hours come first.
Pretending I will heal
Today or tomorrow.
Wounding loneliness.

Days add up.
Seven make a week.
A week alone.
Bitter loneliness.

Weeks pile upon weeks.
Four weeks more
Is another month.
Crushing loneliness.

Months are fragments.
The jigsaw of time
That forms my years.
Burning loneliness.

 

Please don’t let loneliness win. Go out, meet people, make friends.
Yes, it’s hard. Sure, you have no energy and I know it didn’t work out last time you tried.
It’s still not too late. Do it now. This time it will be different.

Above all, be kind to yourself.

Shona x

His Summer Breeze

The summer breeze flows over your skin, softly lifts your hair. Its warm caress is pure and clean. Alive, breathing, it is perfumed with sea, sand and love.

Walk a little while across the yielding sand, feel his hand in yours. Evening drifts in with the wind, enwrapping you in silky orange sunset.

Now pause, turn to face him. The wind teases your hair across your face. Brush it away, lift your eyes to his. Can you feel his arms tighten around your shoulders?

Brush your lips against his. Run your fingers through his hair. Caress him, enwrap him. Will you be his summer breeze?

Be his summer breeze in Coffee In Castillo, the heart-warming summer romance from Shona Silverman.

A Different World

Things change. Life changes.

Yesterday, pretty artist Abbey was married. Today she is single. What will happen tomorrow? The same boring job, surely. Night after night in the tiresome company of her lazy, bickering teenage son and her grumpy, ageing mother. Loneliness under the miserable grey skies of England.

Tomorrow comes and Abbey is right, but only just. She still has that dull job but could not have guessed that it would take her on a business trip to Spain. And how could she have anticipated meeting charming expat writer Lewis there? Suave and handsome, Lewis lives in a different world. His realm is filled with light, warmth and passion. Is there room for Abbey in this place? Could this be her last chance in love?

Things are changing, quickly. Driven by her desire for love, seduced by sunlight and Lewis’ emerald eyes, Abbey braves the challenges of a strange country. She finds herself drawn inexorably deeper into his world. Compelling and charismatic, Lewis is irresistible yet unreachable. The lines of love are drawn in the sand and the battle to capture his heart begins.

Join Abbey in this heartening, nimbly-paced romance. Share her hopes and fears, her sorrow and joy. Leave the chill rain of England behind and experience the exotic heat of the Spanish summer. Laugh with the locals in a little café, mingle with colourful fiesta crowds, walk with Abbey along a lonely seashore.

Will Abbey win Lewis’ love? Can her dream become reality? The answers lie in the sultry world of Coffee In Castillo.

By The River

In the place by the river
We talked for hours.
The others left
So we were alone.

His green eyes caught mine,
Easily I trusted them.
My story spilled out
Along with the tears.

Lost dreams from the past,
Despair for the future.
He took my hand
As I fumbled apologies.

Don’t say you’re sorry,
His green eyes smiled.
We talked for hours
In the place by the river.

 

Hot new summer romance, out now!

Take off with Abbey and fly with her into the sunlit world of Coffee In Castillo, the compelling new romance from Shona Silverman.

Indulge yourself in this dreamy, nimbly-paced page-turner where love and intrigue, hope and desire collide. Leave the chill rain of England behind and experience the exotic heat of the Spanish summer. Explore shady streets on breathless afternoons, sit with Lewis under a star-lit evening sky. Share Abbey’s hopes and fears, her sorrow and joy. Laugh with the locals in a little café, mingle with colourful fiesta crowds, walk with Abbey along a lonely seashore.

Follow Abbey in her quest for true love today. The sultry charm of a Spanish hideaway awaits you so be part of the story right now for just 99p/99c!

Enjoy Coffee In Castillo on your Kindle, or use your iPad, iPhone or any Android device simply by grabbing the free Kindle app.

A Lost Dream

Abbey was always daydreaming. Her mind left the office and slipped away from the grey English skies. It escaped to hot, sunny places where palm trees grew and there were no folders full of papers to analyse. She used to paint beach scenes when she was younger, fantasy-like sunsets reflected in gentle seas whose waves kissed the golden sand. Relax, you’re in Spain now. Half an hour is nothing. Abbey remembered Lewis’ words. Ah, Lewis. She had thought of little else since she got back to England. Imprinted upon her vision, his face haunted her. Like the fragrance of his drifting cigar smoke he was always there, following her, teasing her. Yet she knew so little about him. Abbey sighed. She had not had the presence of mind even to find out his surname, even less his telephone number or address. He was gone now, a lost dream.

Will Abbey find love in Spain? Is Lewis a lost dream? Find out in Coffee In Castillo, the compelling new romance by Shona Silverman.

First Dates

Hey, are you ready yet?

He’ll soon be at the restaurant, anticipating, waiting just for you and no-one else. Of course you’ve been on dates before, lots of them. But those dates didn’t matter so much. At the back of your mind you knew that they were just practice runs, going through the motions. But this one is different, you can feel it. This one is special.

You’re choosing which dress to wear. This is tricky. Sexy or modest? How much should you show, how much should you leave to his imagination? Yes, that one is perfect. A hint of your charms, just the right amount of leg to tease him with.

First impressions do matter, despite what they say. Hair, make-up, perfume. Done. You’re in control now. Should you wear your glasses? Well, you won’t be able to see him if you don’t! Glasses it has to be, then.

Hurry up, the table is booked for 7.30! In a couple of minutes you’ll be on your way there. Head up, shoulders back, it’s time to go. Is your heart pounding yet?

Your Special Moment

The most romantic moment of your life. What comes to mind right away?

Perhaps it was your wedding day, a truly momentous occasion. Was it your honeymoon, a sun-kissed holiday in a tropical paradise? Could it be your engagement, the precious seconds shared by no-one else as he slipped a glittering diamond ring onto your finger?

Do you recall the first time he kissed you, lingering tenderly?

Perhaps he wrote to you – a real letter, lovingly inscribed in the old-fashioned way. Or maybe it’s something as fleeting as a secret smile shared across a crowded room.

Inspire me – tell me about your special moment. I’d love to hear from you so please post a comment. 

Shona x

Sway With Me

His hand lifts mine
And fingertips
Caress my back.

I feel him close
And know his mind,
We sway as one.

A Thrilling Flight

What can be more exhilarating than an adventure like this? Turning onto the runway in the clean morning crispness, hearing the roar of powerful engines, lifting into an azure sky. Rita is Abbey’s mother and she’s never been to Spain before. Let’s join her at the airport.

“The sky was cloudless, a radiant domed heaven ghosted through with the palest aquamarine. Surely it was too weak, too thin and fragile to support anything. Rita sat on a bench, accompanied by a collection of matching luggage. Enchanted, she gazed as silver darts cut upwards through the transparent film, magically streaking aloft on invisible threads spun by modern-day wizards. It was astonishing how much technological progress had been made in the fleeting decades of her lifetime.”

Now read on as the adventure continues in Coffee In Castillo.

The Bizarre Theatre Of Your Dreams

Dreams, the playground of grotesque fantasy. Distorted reflections of your life mirrored in a troubled, stormy ocean. A theatre filled with players that shift, meld and fade. Mingled voices speaking in tongues. You can’t hear their words but still you feel their minds.

Dreams, packed with imperative, reminders of all the things that you have yet to do. Journeys you must make, relationships to heal, broken things that need mending, voids in your life still unfilled.

In dreams, loved ones come to talk to you. A parent that lives on only in your heart comes to comfort you, a lover from the distant past touches your face, friends you can barely identify arrive to heighten the chaos. Sometimes disturbing, occasionally consoling, the ensemble changes as the drama plays out. Time is fluid. Minutes, hours, even years mean nothing.

The backdrop of this theatre is bizarre. Distortions of places that you barely remember or have never even been. Perhaps the house you lived in when you were just a child, a street in a city you have never known, your church or synagogue populated by characters you are sure would never be seen there.

Dreams, half-crazy, surreal, disturbing. Do they seem pointless, no more than absurd distractions sent to cause fleeting distress? Are they no more than discarded snippets of indie cinema, ill-conceived and worthless mind-art produced by some misguided director? Or are they trailers for a compelling movie that you must not miss?

When you wake tomorrow, don’t try to shake off the shreds of your dreams. Hold on to those movie snippets for a moment. Make it your quest to remember your loved ones, to heal relationships and re-connect with friends.

You have the power to take control of your waking hours and you can start right now. Fill the voids in your life, one by one. Seek a little more contentment each day, make your waking world a better place to be. Sail away from the troubled ocean, see your life reflected in calmer waters.

She Sits Alone

She sits alone all day
And looks out of the window.

A window dusted with snow,
quietly waiting for spring.

Spring warms the garden,
yellow daffodils blink in surprise.

Surprised by the heat of summer,
she opens the window and cries.

She cries and her tears fall
with the autumn leaves.

She sits alone all day
And looks out of the window.

Copyright © Shona Silverman 2018

 

 

 

 

 

Romance or Erotica?

Demure or indecent?

Coffee In Castillo is certainly no Fifty Shades Of Grey. Oh no, not at all! There’s a great story-line for one thing. Every character here is compelling, three-dimensional, the kind of person that you quickly find yourself really caring about. It’s less about playing it safe than simply blending the ingredients in perfect proportions. Suspense, intrigue, desire and passion all have their part to play.

This is contemporary romance. The nimbly-paced scenes play out in the modern world with up-to-the-minute values. Abbey is no prude. She knows what she wants and she expects Lewis to deliver, so things may get a little steamy from time to time. That’s only to be expected… and enjoyed!

 

Read Me Anywhere!

Did you know that you can read Amazon Kindle ebooks like Coffee In Castillo on any device? Of course you can use a Kindle, but you can just as easily enjoy your reading on your iPhone, iPad, Android tablet or cell phone. It’s simple to do – all you need is the free Kindle app!

Get the free Kindle app for iPhone or iPad (USA)

Get the free Kindle app for iPhone or iPad (UK)

Get the free Kindle app for Android

 

Green and Blue

A dream, green and blue,
of waves kissing the shore.
Warm breeze-tousled hair,
fingertips touching my face.

I loved him and he loved me,
his jade eyes searching, knowing.
I was happy for a little while
in my dream of green and blue.

 

 

 

A Little Something For You

Today I’ve got a little snippet from Coffee In Castillo for you to enjoy.

  Abbey looked straight at him and felt something odd inside her. What was it that drew her so powerfully to this man? She spent a few moments admiring his face. It was healthily tanned and well-proportioned. The light set into the terrace roof set shards of green fire blazing in his mischievous eyes. ‘Will it be sunny tomorrow? What’s the weather forecast?’ Abbey asked absent-mindedly.

  ‘Weather forecast?’ Lewis laughed softly. ‘Oh, we don’t need to listen to the forecast. It’s June now. It will be sunny every day until September.’ He paused for a minute. He used to live in England too. ‘Well, it will be like that nearly every day,’ he admitted.

  ‘It sounds just perfect.’ Abbey’s envy flickered again. ‘You must love living here.’

  ‘I like it in Spain. If I didn’t then I would not have stayed. But I don’t enjoy it when it’s hot all the time. Luckily you sometimes get a few cloudy days.’ His face brightened. ‘Oh, and of course there are the storms too, especially towards the end of the summer.’

  Lewis enjoyed the storms. Packed with emotion, they quietly waited on sultry afternoons, building and filling. Their towers grew, dark and foreboding, reaching above the mountains and finally descending, rushing down to lash Castillo. He liked the anticipation, then the release. In his books, he loved writing as if he were a storm, erecting a tower of emotion, decorating it with hope and charging it with jealousy. Then he would bring the tower crashing down, unleashing it, sweeping everything away in a tumultuous climax.

  ‘Yes, I like the storms.’ Lewis said quietly as he came back into the real world, to his terrace and the warm night and this beautiful woman. ‘More wine?’

Exhilarating, compelling, the romance continues in Coffee In Castillo.

Love: The Secret Ingredients

You have to make the best of what you’ve got.

I’ve just been making chicken stew and that sounds weird. Why would I make that? Because I had chicken, of course! I also had lots of vegetables, some garlic and a pinch of inspiration. So I’m looking forward to a delicious meal tonight and it will be all the more delightful because I know that I’ve used what I had to hand and wasted nothing. It was easy and quick, too.

We can waste even more of our time, energy and indeed money on people and relationships than we do on food. Just think of all those hours you’ve spent online or maybe in bars or some place like that, searching for the perfect mate. With just a touch of chutzpah I’m going to guess that you’ve invested a lot of resources in those efforts.

Did you find that hot and tasty special someone? I hope you did, but if not then may I suggest something? Take a few moments to reflect on all the people you already know, the ones you see at the office or maybe at your church or synagogue. How well do you really know them? Have you given them a chance to come into your life?

Perhaps it’s time to give Tinder a break and take another a look at the special ingredients that you already have.

 

Yes, judge the book by its cover!

It’s a warm summer evening in Castillo and all your friends are waiting for you in Cafetería de la Luz. Wear something cool. That lovely dress you found at the market in the old town will be just perfect!

Coffee In Castillo boasts a gorgeous new cover, just like the beautiful scenes that unfold within. It’s available now on Amazon, with a special new price of just 99p or 99c so join Abbey on her journey today!

Escape from England’s dreary grey weather. Seek love on the sun-kissed shores of Spain in the latest novel from Shona Silverman. A thought-provoking, roller-coaster ride of emotions that will keep you page-turning as each colourful vista is revealed. Make new friends, discover a world of warmth and passion that you have only dreamed of… until now.

Coffee In Castillo – heartwarming, contemporary romance that you’ll love reading.

I’ve Been There

I have friends, lots of them. I’m lucky and I know it. Some of my friends are male and some are female. Many are straight, others are LGBTX. A few are wealthy, others eke out a living. It really doesn’t matter because regardless of gender, sexuality, wealth or anything else no-one is immune to the cold, heavy hand of depression.

Depression is real, too real. It can be cruel, selfish and destructive. Depression is the heartless thief that steals your hope, your energy, your love. Depression sneaks in through the back door, it creeps up on you and lays that clammy hand on your shoulder. Pressing down, it chills and stifles. Now nothing makes you feel good. There’s no joy. Life has no colour, no taste.

There is fear. Fear of mental illness, fear of the future, fear of the self. And there’s loss, so much loss. Family, success, love, hope: in the fog of depression all these fade to nothing. You need help and companionship, you need a friend but not just anyone will do. You want to reach out but what will you find? Some friends will say “Oh, you’re depressed? Snap out of it!” What use is that? None at all.

You’re in a dark place, a terrible unfeeling world. In this place there is you, miserable and alone. Everyone else is happy and carefree. Don’t be fooled, depression is incredibly common. Those carefree, smiling friends may not be as happy as you believe. Don’t be afraid, connect with someone now. Her eyes will be knowing, she’ll nod sagely. “It’s ok,” she’ll say, “I’ve been there.”

I Love You

“I love you”

Three words I want to hear

Three words I long to speak

 

I tried saying them to myself

But I didn’t believe me

 

Enjoy a free taste of Coffee In Castillo

Today you can join Abbey in Castillo for free! Fly out to Spain with Abbey, meet Lewis in Juan’s little café, walk with them along the beach and through the old town.

Download your free sample of Coffee In Castillo right now and embark on the romantic journey of your dreams. You can read this PDF on any device including your laptop, iPad, iPhone or Android tablet or mobile phone.

I hope you’ll enjoy your free sample of Coffee In Castillo. Be sure to have coffee with Abbey in Cafetería de la Luz whilst you’re there. Will Abbey’s hopes become reality? Will Lewis be everything she dreams of? Could Rita or Luke stand in her way? What roles will Vanessa and Jackie play? There’s so much more to discover and you’re invited to stay on in Castillo as the story unfolds.

I’d love your feedback even if it’s just a few words so please tell me what you think. Thank you for spending time with us in the romantic, colourful world of Coffee In Castillo.

Shona x

What is he thinking?

What is he thinking
behind dark eyes?
You know him well,
or so you believe.

Last time, puzzled,
you dared to ask.
Do you love me?
No reply, of course.

Stop wondering
about his thoughts.
They are just words
you need not know.

Watch him move,
see what he does.
It doesn’t matter much
what he is thinking.

A Terrible Game To Play

It’s a terrible game to play
in a cheap place, noisy and dark.
Leaning closer to hear his words
I felt his smile.

His eyes were green,
I trusted them.
My secrets spilled out,
he nodded, understanding.

I was wrong to trust
the lying eyes.
If he smiles at you, remember
it’s a terrible game to play.

 

 

 

Falling In Love Again

Our life is a journey through love and pain, light and darkness. The path of life twists and turns. What lies around the next corner? We cannot know until we reach it.

We must travel in hope, have courage in the face of disappointment. Some of us are just setting off, others have journeyed long and seen our hopes dashed again and again. Divorce, depression, loneliness may all take their toll but you are still here and it’s far too soon to say “I’m finished.”

Recognise the immense value of all that you have experienced. You have trusted and been betrayed, loved and lost. Was it all for nothing? No, of course it wasn’t. Each event in your life was uniquely tailored just for you. You have a bespoke collection of learning experiences that prepare you for the future, for your future.

Fiction and reality are often intertwined. We dream about our future, imagine how we would wish it to be. Like Abbey in Coffee In Castillo, we realise that unless we follow our hearts and pursue our fantasies then we cannot hope to build the future of our dreams.

So hold your head up high, throw those shoulders back, thrust your chest out. Show the world that you are still in business, ready to face life’s challenges. Please believe me, it is not too late to fall in love again.

 

Love Birds

Hi! Just a quick post this time. I saw some lovely green parrots in the trees this afternoon and they reminded me of something that I thought you’d like to share.

“Freshened from its passage over the sea, a warm breeze played through the terrace of Lewis’ apartment. He was sitting in the shade, a computer propped on his knees. He typed words rapidly on the keyboard, watching them appear on the screen, flowing and melding at his behest. A squawking sound interrupted his thoughts. Tanned face uplifted, his eyes followed a small flock of bright green parrots as they settled in the top of a palm tree. Absent-mindedly, he drew on a little cigar. Its smoke joined the wind, thinning and dispersing as it was carried away towards the hills that lay behind Castillo.”

Read more in Coffee In Castillo.

Shona x

Dreaming of another world

It’s raining in England. Look out of the window, what do you see? Water dripping from the roof-tops, grey houses half-hidden in the mist.

It’s sunny in Spain. What do you see? Palm fronds nodding in the warm breeze, bright apartments bathed in sunlight.

Remember last week, when you were in Spain? You met Lewis in a little sea-front café. It was sunny and the palm trees were rustling in a gentle, warm breeze that caressed your skin. Now look again through that dreary English window, but this time dare to dream.

Writing for Love, Reading for Pleasure

I love writing, it’s as simple as that. It’s what I do every day. With my favourite music playing in the background I barely see the screen in front of me. My fingers flow over the keyboard, words stream out, my characters move, speak, dance for me.

Creating a compelling story, recording bright sun-lit days and warm starry nights is a passion in itself. I get lost for hours when I’m writing and you can share in all of this dream-time. Every twist, each nuance that channels through me into my books is always waiting for you to read.

Writing is a beautiful way for me to lose myself for hours. Reading is its heavenly counterpart and it’s my gift to you. Be my travelling companion, enjoy those gorgeous scenes now. Download your free sample of Coffee In Castillo and get reading right away. You can read the PDF on any device including your laptop, iPhone, iPad, Android tablet or mobile. Like I said, it’s my gift to you!

Shona x

Open your heart to new romance

Coffee In Castillo ~ The heartwarming romance by Shona Silverman

Things change. Life changes.

Yesterday, pretty artist Abbey was married. Today she is single. What will happen tomorrow? The same boring job, surely. Night after night in the tiresome company of her lazy, bickering teenage son and her grumpy, ageing mother. Loneliness under the miserable grey skies of England.

Tomorrow comes and Abbey is right, but only just. She still has that dull job but could not have guessed that it would take her on a business trip to Spain. And how could she have anticipated meeting charming expat writer Lewis there? Suave and handsome, Lewis lives in a different world. His realm is filled with light, warmth and passion. Is there room for Abbey in this place? Could this be her last chance in love?

Things are changing, quickly. Driven by her desire for love, seduced by sunlight and Lewis’ emerald eyes, Abbey braves the challenges of a strange country. She finds herself drawn inexorably deeper into his world. Compelling and charismatic, Lewis is irresistible yet unreachable. The lines of love are drawn in the sand and the battle to capture his heart begins.

Join Abbey in this heartening, nimbly-paced romance. Share her hopes and fears, her sorrow and joy. Leave the chill rain of England behind and experience the exotic heat of the Spanish summer. Laugh with the locals in a little café, mingle with colourful fiesta crowds, walk with Abbey along a lonely seashore.

Will Abbey win Lewis’ love? Can her dream become reality? The answers lie in the sultry world of Coffee In Castillo.

Your FREE taster of Coffee In Castillo

Today you can join Abbey in Castillo for FREE! Fly out to Spain with Abbey, meet Lewis in Juan’s little café, walk with them along the beach and through the old town.

Download your FREE sample of Coffee In Castillo right now and embark on the romantic journey of your dreams. You can read this PDF on any device including your laptop, tablet, iPad, iPhone or Android mobile.

I hope you’ll enjoy your free sample of Coffee In Castillo. Be sure to have coffee with Abbey in Cafetería de la Luz whilst you’re there. Will Abbey’s hopes become reality? Will Lewis be everything she dreams of? Could Rita or Luke stand in her way? What roles will Vanessa and Jackie play? There’s so much more to discover and you’re invited to stay on in Castillo as the story unfolds.

I’d love your feedback even if it’s just a few words so please tell me what you think. Thank you for spending time with us in the romantic, colourful world of Coffee In Castillo.

Shona x

Cafetería de la Luz is waiting for you

The early morning sun casts its low beams through the empty streets and bare markets. Castillo is waiting. Winter has gone, the skies are clearing.

Juan opened Cafetería de la Luz. Tonight he’ll be serving his regulars: Spanish people like Alvarez who live and work in Castillo, English ex-pats who have chosen a new life here. Lewis, suave and nonchalant, will be drinking coffee at La Luz. Perhaps brazen Jackie will join him later in a vain display of wealth and a fog of expensive perfume. Lewis cannot predict the future, no-one can do that. Someone new is coming to La Luz today.

“Abbey parked the little white hire car on the boulevard. It was spring, before the crowds of summer families filled Castillo, and there was still plenty of space. Across the road, a row of shops and cafés faced the sea. Abbey crossed and walked a little way along. Café tables, round, simple and encircled with empty chairs, sprinkled the pavement.”

Like the summer season, Abbey’s journey is just beginning. Join her now in Coffee In Castillo.

The Fireworks Of Passion

“Abbey followed Lewis to the edge of the terrace, to her favourite spot. The sky was deepest indigo blue, a velvet cloth pierced by the youngest evening stars. She felt his arms around her as the first fireworks burst over the town, scattering cascades of glittering flowers. His lips pressed against hers. Fireworks exploded red and green and gold, a cacophony of sound and light that rose to a climax as she melted in his embrace.”

Is this love? Will Abbey’s dreams be fulfilled? Join her in Castillo right now and be part of the story. Feel the warm air of a Mediterranean evening caress your face, hear the cicadas from the gardens under that terrace. Thrill to each twist in Abbey’s adventure, immerse yourself in the sultry romance of Coffee In Castillo.

Shona x

Budget Flight To Spain, No Frills Here!

“The aeroplane lifted up through London’s grey cloud blanket, emerging into bright sunlight that flooded the cabin. Abbey blinked in the sudden brightness. It was time to look forward now, to think of herself for once and try to make something of her life.”

Abbey is on her way back to Spain, travelling in hope. Will her dreams become reality? Find out in Coffee In Castillo, the romantic page-turner from Shona Silverman.

An Authentic Spanish Café

It’s lunch-time in Spain. I’d love to tell you about the buzz on the boulevard in Castillo, the murmur of soft conversation from the diners at the sea-front cafés, the warm Mediterranean breeze washing around the palm trees as gentle waves kiss the golden sand. Abbey discovered all of this and much more, so let’s join her as she arrives in Castillo and her Spanish adventure begins.

“Abbey parked the little white hire car on the boulevard. It was spring, before the crowds of summer families filled Castillo, and there was still plenty of space. Across the road, a row of shops and cafés faced the sea. Abbey crossed and walked a little way along. Café tables, round, simple and encircled with empty chairs, sprinkled the pavement. Abbey entered the first café that she reached.

…around her the other tables were empty, except for one man. She hadn’t noticed him when she hurried in. She sat back a little and tried to watch him without being noticed. He lifted a cup to drink, turning slightly towards her. Had he seen her?”

Who was this man, why was he watching her? The answers are revealed in the sun-drenched scenes of Coffee In Castillo.

The Sun Painted Them

We’re talking quietly on Lewis’ terrace as the sun’s rays trace through the last tendrils of morning mist. The cool air of a Spanish spring morning will soon be gone, chased away by sunlight filtering through the palm trees. What does Abbey see? Let’s join her right now as the scene unfolds.

“The sun painted them with its sugary lemon yellow beams, sliding in low beneath the terrace roof. Lewis rested on the low wall facing her, haloed against the light. Abbey allowed her gaze to drink in the scene. Above smart grey jogging trousers, his white shirt billowed in the breeze that curled up over the gardens below. He caught her watching…”

Things Are Looking Up

Springtime in Spain is a time of renewal, of new hope. The warm wind rustles softly through new leaves on the palm trees, the sun climbs a little higher into the azure sky, thoughts turn once more to romance.

Sunlight caresses Abbey’s face as she makes her way along the boulevard to Cafetería de la Luz. Will Lewis be there, waiting for her? Join her in Coffee In Castillo to find out.

Cafetería de la Luz is open!

It’s 16C in Castillo today. That’s 60F and the weather forecast is for sunshine this week.

Spring is arriving in Spain so Juan and Reina have opened Cafetería de la Luz for the season. If you pop in for a while then you’re sure to meet Lewis, poring over a manuscript with a little white cup of coffee in one hand and a cigar in the other. Abbey will be there later on so don’t rush away. Perhaps you’ll meet Jackie this evening, too!

In spring the sun sets behind the mountains quite early, so do linger and watch the pretty lights of Castillo twinkling across the bay.

Discover Castillo at Amazon today and become part of love’s adventure!

A Beautiful New Book-Cover

It’s a warm summer evening in Castillo and all your friends are waiting for you in Cafetería de la Luz. Wear something cool. That lovely dress you found at the market in the old town will be just perfect!

Coffee In Castillo boasts a gorgeous new cover, just like the beautiful scenes that unfold within. It’s available now on Amazon, with a special new price of just 99p or 99c! Get the ebook right now and join Abbey on her journey today.

Escape from England’s dreary grey weather. Seek love on the sun-kissed shores of Spain in the latest novel from Shona Silverman. A thought-provoking, roller-coaster ride of emotions that will keep you page-turning as each colourful vista is revealed. Make new friends, discover a world of warmth and passion that you have only dreamed of… until now.

Coffee In Castillo – heartwarming, contemporary romance that you’ll love reading.