Hi ,

Do you ever feel like you need a fresh start, a new beginning with a clean slate? This month we've got Leaving the Past Behind - an all genre giveaway for romances which start a whole new life. If you've not got your free copy of Strand of Faith, the first in my Choices and Consequences series, where both Leonie and Prospero, my main characters start a new life, you can get it through this giveaway. (Or just click here).

We've also got a update on Bookshop (remember them from last time?) where buying a book will not only support independent bookshops, but now could also result in donations to food banks and community centres.

Don't miss our regular peek Behind the Scenes, with a sneak extract from a short story that links Trader's Child and Cloth of Grace. Hope it whets your appetite, but I'm afraid it'll be next year before it's out!

In other new beginnings I'm getting ready to launch the Choices and Consequences box set, which will include all four books. It's going to be at a seriously discounted price for the pre-order period so watch out for my announcement about the release date soon. In the meantime, I'd appreciate your views on the cover - I've got two options, so please scroll down and let me know which you like best.

And now, the giveaways and competition - and don't miss out on the eReader competition because the prizes are better than ever this month and there's only a few days left.

Leaving the Past Behind : this giveaway is an all-genre one, but all stories have a strong romantic element where the characters’ romance leads them in an entirely new direction. This giveaway contains prequels, samples, short stories, novellas and novels and some may contain some erotica. But you can be sure that all relationships and sex are fully consensual. The books are available until 16th December so grab yours now.

Christian ebooks - coming up in December we have a Christian ebook giveaway. Watch out for this one in a couple of weeks.

If you need something to read your free books on, here's the link for the monthly eReader giveaway. But this month, it's not just an eReader giveaway. The Grand Prize includes a Kindle, a gift card to the book retailer of your choice, a wearable blanket and a reading light.

That's not all - there are three second prizes of a Kindle Fire, and nine third prizes which include mugs, coasters, a reading light and a choice of T-shirts.

So enter now - someone (several someones) has to be the lucky winner!

Last time, I told you about Bookshop - a new way to buy physical books and support independent bookshops at the same time. Now, you can also help provide books to good causes including food banks, homeless shelters and community centres. For every book purchased from a specific list between now and 21st December, Penguin will also donate a book to where it's needed most.

And there's some great books on this list - you're bound to be able to sort a least some of your Christmas shopping here!

If you've read the full Choices and Consequences series, you may remember that Perry orders a new bow for Leonie. This extract is from when that bow is delivered.

Leonie reached into the box, almost reverently lifting out an exquisitely carved longbow. She twisted and turned it in her hands and then turned to look at Emmet. “You brought this for me? Did you know it was for me?” She spoke in Trader. Perry glanced towards Andrew. “What’s she saying?”

“Of course,” Emmet answered in the same language, his words fluent. Andrew translated telepathically for Perry as Emmet continued. “I kept your bow safe for you. It’s in my waggon. But you’ve outgrown it and this is a much better bow anyway. There are arrows, too.”

“He’s clearly little better at the common language than you are at Trader,” Andrew finished.

Leonie put the bow back down and flung herself at Perry. “Thank you so much,” she breathed. “It’s beautiful. How did you know?”

“How did I know what? That you wanted one? I know you, my Wildcat.”

Leonie bounced back to the box, lifting the bow out once more and reaching for the string. She braced the bow against her leg and strung it in one easy movement.

“Am I the only one slightly scared by just how quickly and efficiently Leonie did that?” Andrew asked Perry.

Perry’s eyes flicked towards him, full of mischief. “I’m terrified.”

I'll be back in a couple of weeks with more news for you. In the meantime, stay safe and well and happy reading.

Rachel