Escaping to live on a Caribbean island, Zeeta and her two best friends reflect on their turbulent lives, loves and the decisions that shaped them.
Growing up Zeeta always strove to be the perfect daughter and be everything her parents hoped. Unfortunately, she soon realised that she’d never be good enough, it’s her brother who holds their love. Thankfully, she can always turn to her lifelong friend Sheila —a boy-mad teenager whose love of the opposite sex will follow her into adulthood with a rollercoaster of consequences. Determined to make something of her life Zeeta continues to be a model student and earns a place at cookery college where good qualifications should pave the way to a career and security. But getting the job she wanted proved impossible. However, a chance meeting on her train to work with Peggy —a vibrant and successful career woman— who offers Zeeta an exciting new job in London changes the course of her life forever.
Happily enjoying her new independence, and friendship with Peggy, Zeeta finally feels like life and luck is on her side. And so whilst at a work conference when she unexpectedly meets her childhood friend Martin Zeeta wastes no time throwing herself into a whirlwind romance. And when Martin proposes marriage she doesn’t hesitate but love never did run smoothly and all too soon Zeeta’s bliss leads to disaster and heartbreak. Reeling from events, on the rebound and emotionally unready, Zeeta quickly falls into a second marriage. But her second husband has a dark side one with a depraved sexual appetite. Trapped and afraid it is only with the help and support of her two best friends, Sheila and Peggy, that Zeeta will find the strength to finally emerge free and independent.
A story of life, love and friendship, Sun, Sea and Sex by Greta Horwood is the perfect next read for fans of commercial women’s and romantic fiction .
My thanks to blog tour organiser Rachel Gilbey and Clink Street publishing for inviting me to take part in the blog tour for Sun, Sea and Sex.
Special thanks to author Greta Horwood for sharing her character spotlight on my blog today. Get to know Zeta in greater detail here, then why not go onto read, Sun, Sea and Sex which can be purchased from Amazon.
Zeeta was a late war baby so her early life was ‘difficult’, rationing and the short supply of other goods were so much part of her life. Her father in was in the RAF, but he never saw action, he was valued on the ground, he repaired and got planes flying again. Her mother was an armature winder in a war factory.
Her parents were always busy, so often left by herself, Zeeta read books. She learnt so much from books. Her all consuming passion was horses. She would have loved to ride. Reading books and dreaming was the next best thing.
There was a big age gap, between her brother and herself. From the moment he was born; she knew he was the child her parents wanted – a son. She wanted to do well to please her parents, it was a struggle. She gave up trying to please them, nothing was good enough, and so she worked hard for herself.
She had two friends at school. Sheila was her confidant and lifelong friend. Sheila was boy mad, Zeeta thought herself strange because boys left her cold, she was afraid she would never be able to love. Her other friend Andrea had horses. A friend with horses meant she could get near to a real live one. Trips to Andrea’s house led to her being allowed to stay. Andrea’s brother became for her, a true brother, a good friend, but she enjoyed his kisses, she realised later in life.
Staying with the Trents showed her a proper family, a home filled with love and laughter. She loved her time there.
Going to cookery college led to job opportunities, but even better she made a friend, Peggy, who offered her a well-paid job. This gave her the opportunity to leave home. At last she was going to have a life, how she enjoyed planning.
Zeeta changed. She now could do almost, all the things she dreamed about doing, and she could become a new person. A change of hairstyle and a few new clothes saw her blossom as a woman.
A chance meeting at a business conference led to a whirlwind romance and marriage. She had found someone who loved her, a new experience, she revelled in his love. She loved him with all her heart.
She compared every man against Martin, her husband, but later realised what she had, was not normal in every relationship.
She endured hell with Graham, her second husband, married in haste, regretted at leisure. She blamed herself.
She survived Graham with the help of Peggy, her boss and now very good friend.
A visit from Andrea’s mother led to a reunion with Ben, Andrea’s brother. Zeeta had vowed, never to become involved with another man, he could be another Graham and there was no way she could face that again.
A kiss from Ben made Zeeta realise that the brotherly kisses, Ben gave her, years before, meant more that she realised. She kissed him back. This kiss made her a woman again, it made her realise she wanted Ben to kiss her again. His kisses led to a relationship, but Ben was recovering from a woman who wanted marriage, but not him. He was hurt, he needed time to heal. Zeeta needed time to see what she wanted. So waiting was best for both of them.
Zeeta realised she wanted Ben’s love, she needed Ben’s love. It would heal her. They lived together, they were happy. They had two sons. The boys cemented their loving relationship.
After Ben she decided not to open her heart again, but an unlikely friendship led to a sexual one. Dexter, was her son’s age. She loved him like a son. An accident led to him declaring his love that led to sex and more sex, he could not get enough. Zeeta was surprised. Then rejection. Hard to take. It rolled back the years. She became a child again rejected by her parents. It was not a good place to be in. Over the years, she and Sheila planned to get away together, that time had come. They moved to a Caribbean Island.
Author Bio
Retired and living in Great Horwood, Buckinghamshire Greta Horwood is the pen name for Patricia Rudkin. An active member of her community, Patricia has worked as the secretary for the Village Hall management committee, arranged village fetes and fundraising events and worked as the caretaker for Great Horwood Village School. Along with her late husband, she also used to run a youth club called Great Horwood Sports and Activities Club. And up until last January she was a weekly contributor to the Buckingham and Winslow Advertiser and Great Horwood Village News. Patricia is also Membership Secretary and Welfare Officer for the Blue-Pointed Siamese Cat Club Committee and life member of the Seal Pointed Siamese Cat Club. She fund raises for cat welfare, via eBay for both clubs. Her other interests include Genealogy.
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