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Single parent trope
Readers often want to know what my favourite trope is, and I must admit to having a soft spot for single parent romance. Which is probably why I've written a couple of books featuring single mums - and dads! Single parenthood reflects real life, whether it be a mum who is bringing up the kids on her own, a dad who is struggling because he doesn't see his children every day, or even a dad who is the primary (or sole) care giver. So here are the stories I've written where
Lilac Mills
Feb 12


Romance stories with spring vibes
I don't know about you, but as soon as Christmas is out of the way, my thoughts turn to spring, especially during the seemingly endless dark, dank days of January. I find myself looking for signs that spring is on its way - whether it be the almost imperceptible lengthening of the days, or the tiny new shoots poking through the soil. When I see the first catkins on the trees I get quite giddy - and don't get me started on the cute little lambs! Spring is all about fresh start
Lilac Mills
Jan 30


Uplifting romance books to look forward to this January
January is the perfect time to refresh your TBR with fresh romance novels that promise to captivate your heart and imagination.
Lilac Mills
Jan 1


Jólabókaflóðið - a book lover’s dream Christmas Eve
Discover Iceland’s heartwarming Christmas tradition of gifting books on Christmas Eve – cozy evenings, hot drinks, and the joy of reading.
Lilac Mills
Dec 8, 2025


Christmas and books? It’s a match made in heaven!
Curl up with the ultimate cosy combination this Christmas - books and festive magic! Discover why bookshop romances make the perfect winter read and find your next feel-good festive favourite.
Lilac Mills
Nov 14, 2025


Old books, new baubles, and a knitting disaster
Author reflections on old books, Christmas writing, and a knitting project gone wrong - nostalgia and creativity in equal measure.
Lilac Mills
Oct 26, 2025


Come and meet the locals who might just stroll straight into the pages of a romance novel!
Pub gossip, market-day smiles, and maybe a hint of matchmaking... I’m often asked where I get the ideas for my characters from, and to be honest, I find them everywhere. Behind every pub counter, every market stall, and every cottage door, there’s a little romance waiting to happen - everyday people who could belong in a romance novel. Whenever I’m out and about, especially when I visit the little villages and small market towns that feature in my stories, it doesn’t take m
Lilac Mills
Oct 11, 2025


What's your next romantic bookshop read?
Discover your next feel-good read with this roundup of romantic novels set in bookshops, from cosy seaside stores to festive village shops. Perfect for anyone craving heartwarming love stories and cosy bookshop vibes.
Lilac Mills
Sep 17, 2025


Inspired by Jane Austen
From Jane Austen’s Bath to vintage key shops, explore the inspiration behind Tabitha Locke’s Key to Happiness, an uplifting and cosy romance novel.
Lilac Mills
Sep 15, 2025


The story behind The Tanglewood Village books.
Many villages in Wales have community and friendship at their heart, and I especially love the little market towns in the Welsh Marches (that's what the land along the border between England and Wales is called). The Tanglewood Village series is loosely based on one of them - Crickhowell. Set in a green valley with a river running through it and mountains on either side, it’s a place I would love to live. It has a couple of cafes, a pub or two, a florist and a bookshop. The
Lilac Mills
Sep 13, 2025


Let's get physical - why readers love sports romance.
Let’s Get Physical: Why Readers Love Sports Romance Novels
Lilac Mills
Aug 12, 2025


Cosy Tea Shop Romances to Warm Your Heart.
A selection of uplifting, heartwarming tea shop romantic reads.
Lilac Mills
Aug 7, 2025


Some of my lovely readers from Illinois
I had a lovely online chat with the gorgeous ladies of the Tanglewood Book Club in Illinois. They live in a place called Tanglewood and are reading The Tanglewood Bookshop as their December 2024 book pick. How cool is that!! And look at the fantastic poster they made. They also have a monthly newsletter, and they kindly featured me in that, too! You can purchase your own copy of The Tanglewood Bookshop from all good bookshops. View all Lilac Mills books Want to be notified
Lilac Mills
Dec 22, 2024


Things to do with old books...
Elephant and Pinky Moon was picked up back in 2018 by my publisher Canelo, who gave it a new title and a new cover ( Summer on the Turquoise Coast ) , and I've been left with an old copy that I didn't know what to do with. I had annotated it quite a bit (proofreading and so on) which meant that I couldn't give it away. So I used the cover to make a coaster and the spine to make a bookmark. I painted on a couple of the pages, made bunting for the summer house with some others,
Lilac Mills
Feb 20, 2024


Welcome to the charming village of Foxmore
Tucked away in a hidden corner of the stunning Welsh countryside, Foxmore nestles in the bottom of a pretty valley with a river flowing through it, and is surrounded by tree-clad hillsides with dramatic mountains rising above. I usually do some research before I start writing, which also gives me some inspiration, and I based Foxmore loosely on these places. The high street is Usk in South Wales, and the valley is Dinas Mawddwy, at the lower end of the Snowdonia National Park
Lilac Mills
Jan 26, 2024


I have the most wonderful readers
Yesterday I had a lovely email from a reader who wanted to thank me for "bringing some happiness and fun into an old man's life". Charlie Horner is 87 years young, and yesterday was the anniversary of his wife's death. This is what he wrote: "The mourning period went on and on until one day , a friend gave me a "chick lit" to read , I remember thinking ," that's not my type of reading material ". The friend was a close friend of my wife's and she thought I needed some happine
Lilac Mills
Sep 22, 2023


I love it when foreign readers want to chat!
I've been chatting to Ліра from lirabooksli. She discovered my Tanglewood series after it was translated into Russian by Snowdrop Publishing who is a Ukrainian publisher. They very kindly sent me the box set which were the cutest little hardbacks ever! Here's what we talked about... "Hello, Lilac! Russian readers know you by The Tanglewood Tea Shop , but we know very little about you." Tell us a bit about yourself, please. Where did you study? Who do you work for? I went to u
Lilac Mills
Sep 6, 2023


Why do I write happy-ever-afters?
This is the question Women Writers, Women Books asked me - and this is my answer... Happy Ever After… It’s such an evocative phrase, isn’t it? We are brought up on a diet of it from an early age, usually with the words “once upon a time” at the beginning, and it’s woven into the very fabric of our society. But is it really possible to have a happy ever after? I certainly think so, which is why I write romance. I draw my inspiration from the wonderful women in my family and t
Lilac Mills
Aug 25, 2021
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