Monthly Archives: June 2011

Flip by Martyn Bedford

Flip
Martyn Bedford
Synopsis from Walkers Books:

Ever wake up in someone else’s body?


Fourteen-year-old Alex Gray wakes up one morning to discover he’s not in his own bedroom. More surprising is that he doesn’t recognize his hands, or his legs… When he looks in the mirror he gets the shock of his life! How is it possible that Alex has become another boy – a boy who everyone calls Philip? And how have six whole months passed overnight?
A riveting psychological thriller by a brilliant new voice in children’s books.

For readers aged: 12+
~~~~~~~~~~~
I downloaded this for my Kindle at the beginning of May after browsing in Amazon’s Kindle store.
While there are quite a few movies that deal with ‘body swapping’ I had never read a book with a similar theme and was curious to see how the author would deal with the psychology of a fourteen year old boy (based on the recommended reading age of 12+). Also, this story was obviously not a comedy (as the movies I have watched were)!  I was also drawn to this story having worked with this age group in the education environment (both formally and informally) and my youngest son turning fifteen this year.
From the very beginning the trauma of Alex waking up in Flip’s (Philip’s) body and having to become a part of a family, a life, that he has no conscious knowledge of is traumatic.  I felt Alex’s isolation and bewilderment.  I could understand his reluctance through fear of Googling his name in case he found an article on his ‘body’ dying.  Also totally understandable was the need to visit his real family and his close friend David.
Alex has to learn how to survive in Flip’s life (family, friends, girlfriends, school) building lie after lie.  He is so very different from Flip, not only physically but in the respect he has for other people and in applying his intelligence.  The family dog ‘Beagle’ is the only one showing knowledge he is not Flip with his nipping and growling.  How terrifying!  How can you tell people your soul is not that of Flip’s?  How crazy will people think you are?
We journey with Alex, in Flip’s body, through everyday interactions and finally the knowledge of what has happened and where Flip is.  We see Alex slowly merging into a hybrid of Alex and Flip, sometimes Alex not knowing where he ends and Flip begins. 
I couldn’t guess the ending – couldn’t say for sure what the final resolution was going to be until it happened.  I loved it that some parts of Flip’s life had a future.
Flip is easy to read – the way it is written is brilliant.  I was just on the edge of boredom when off we went in another direction so although there is only one focus in the story, the other issues came along at the right time to hold my interest.  I started reading Flip on Friday and finished it Saturday night (and yes, I did have a life in between reading!).
I found Alex’s story very thought-provoking and it’s prompted me to examine my own life – to look at the minutae of everyday existence – and also how I interact with people!  Aimed at readers aged 12+ ……… I would also recommend it for adults of any age!
Wikipedia has this to say about the Science of body swapping:

While swapping bodies remains fictional as of 2011, scientific research points to the possibility of head transplants, a brain transplant or mind uploading somewhere in the future.
Flip was published by Walker 3 March 2011.
You can find out more about the author on his website.

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From Notting Hill with Love … Actually by Ali McNamara

From Notting Hill with Love … Actually

Ali McNamara

Synopsis from Amazon:

She was just a girl, standing in front of a boy …wishing he looked more like Hugh Grant. Scarlett loves the movies. But does she love sensible fiance David just as much? With a big white wedding on the horizon, Scarlett really should have decided by now …When she has the chance to house-sit in Notting Hill – the setting of one of her favourite movies – Scarlett jumps at the chance. But living life like a movie is trickier than it seems, especially when her new neighbour Sean is so irritating. And so irritatingly handsome, too. Scarlett soon finds herself starring in a romantic comedy of her very own: but who will end up as the leading man?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I’ve had this book for some time on my bookshelf.  Having just finished ‘Agent 6’ by Tom Rob Smith (review coming soon) I was looking for a read that would be fun …… as I was browsing,  Katie Fforde’s quote on the front cover caught my eye ‘Sparky, fun and endearing’ so I thought From Notting Hill with Love … Actually would be just what I needed.

I did have fun reading about Scarlett  – but the story is much more than a romantic comedy – with a plot-line running alongside that deals with the issue of parenthood, obligations Vs freedom and perceived debts owing.

The story is written in the first person (from Scarlett’s point of view), which works really well.  It begins in a rather unique way.  The understanding of what has happened before and why Scarlett is house-sitting is portrayed by a conversation with a stranger (Oscar) that she bumps into as she is making her way to the house.  This hooked me in straight away.  It’s not as dull as it may sound – the re-telling by Scarlett is interspersed with Oscar’s endearing mannerisms!

Scarlett’s journey of trying to find her ‘happy ever after’ movie moment is so action packed I didn’t have time to be bored.  Everything begins to fall into place as the story unfolds making you want to read on to find out where you will be led to next.

I loved Maddie’s (Scarlett’s best friend) wedding in Disneyland, Paris.  It was such fun despite the accident and head-to-head between David and Sean (or in fact maybe because of it!).

I thought the way the author compared Scarlett’s emotions with a physical thing was unique and fun in helping her readers understand Scarlett’s feelings.

Another unique part of the story, which threads its way through everything, is Scarlett trying to find her movie moments in real life.  This was quite funny but also poignant at times.

The characters are brilliant – I loved Scarlett, Oscar and Sean all for different reasons.  I probably shouldn’t slate David but he is one of the most boring characters I’ve yet to meet (well he IS supposed to be staid).

I would recommend this book if you were looking for something to lift your spirits and wanted more than a light summer read.  In my opinion, it is such a feel-good book it has the power to lift any gloom (which I’ve needed on these gloomy and grey summer days!).

 

From Notting Hill with Love … Actually was published 19 Nov 2010 by Sphere and is Ali McNamara’s debut novel.

 

You can find out more about Ali McNamara by visiting her website.  You can also find her on Twitter.

The Summer Season by Julia Williams

The Summer Season
Julia Williams

Synopsis from HarperCollins:

Passions flare, secrets unravel and love blossoms in the heart of the summer season.

As summertime flourishes, it’s time for new beginnings…

Heartsease House is in desperate need of renovation. Its owner, widower Joel, is struggling to come to terms with life as a single dad. His plans to refurbish the house and garden suddenly seem like one burden too many.

Mum to twin girls, Lauren’s life is a constant juggling act. When her ex Troy turns up she’s determined to keep her distance while he gets to know his daughters. But it’s a lot harder than she imagined …

Then erstwhile guerrilla gardener Kezzie bursts into their lives with her infectious enthusiasm to restore the gardens of Heartsease. But who is Kezzie? And what is she running away from?

As the warm days of summer draw closer, Heartsease House and its beautiful love-knot garden are transformed. But will Joel, Kezzie and Lauren be able to restore their own hearts?

Kick off your sandals, enjoy a glass of rose and escape into a gorgeous novel this summer with Julia Williams.


~~~~~~~~~~

As soon as I saw the ‘Family Tree’ at the beginning of the book I knew there had to be family history involved and I wasn’t disappointed!  In fact the story begins with Joel’s great, great grandparents Edward and Lily in 1890.  Heartsease House is the family home and Edward had created the knot garden and was quite well-known for his botany and his contributions to the village community.

In the present day, Joel’s mother had inherited Heartsease House from her great Uncle Jack but due to her illness it was impractical for her to live there so Joel and his wife had brought the cottage and moved from London to the Sussex Downs.

Joel knows very little about his family history but as he and Kezzie work their way through a discovered trunk and Edward’s diary, a few secrets come to light.

Besides the journey through the present day grief-stricken hearts, Edward and Lily’s story is also woven through at key points.  Their love story is very poignant.

I liked the way Julia Williams introduces us to her characters by giving us brief details at first …………. where they’re at in their lives but not why.  We are left to infer what may have happened to bring them all to Heartsease.  We get to know a little bit more about their circumstances as the story unfolds until it all comes together for Joel, Lauren and Kezzie.

The thing I did find annoying (which is only in the first part of the story) is where certain things are repeated and quite close together.  For example, Joel’s job is harrowing due to planned cutbacks, which adds to his distressed emotions.  A few times the author tells us the same thing using similar words.  I thought there could be another way to emphasise how exhausted he was at the end of the day – and similarly for Lauren’s grief for her best friend.  This didn’t put me off though as I assumed it was for emphasis in relation to the deep emotions the characters were feeling.

Community spirit is a theme running through which I felt started with the arrival of Kezzie to the village.  Kezzie has the motivation not only to renovate the knot garden but also other important areas in the village.  For me, the community spirit and reviving it was one of the most enjoyable parts of the story.  The tangled emotions and misunderstandings are always a part of this genre so this gave it added interest.  Also, looking back in time to Edward and Lily and relating it to the present day made it a much more interesting read. 

My favourite character has to be Kezzie as I felt that Joel and Lauren were too wrapped up in their separate grief whereas Kezzie had spirit and motivation despite being heart-broken.  I thought Troy’s character was portrayed really well – exuding all that charisma but not engaging with life on a deeper level!

The epilogue had me crying ………………..  I thought it was a great way to end!

I would like to thank Avon Books for sending me a copy to review.

The Summer Season is published 23 June 2011.

You can find out more about Julia Williams on her HarperCollins author profile.

Julia is on Twitter and you she blogs at ‘MANIACMUM‘
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Here We Go by Jessica Strassner

Here We Go
Jessica Strassner

Synopsis from Amazon:

Samantha and Julia have been friends for years. Joe, Alex, and Nick are the men in their lives, and each of them wants to be more than just a friend. 

Samantha doesn’t really give romance much thought until her high school sweetheart shows up unexpectedly at her door after a decade-long absence. As much as Sam would like to put the past behind her, she finds herself suddenly trying to choose between whether or not to give her old flame a second chance or to finally take things to a new level with a good friend. 

When Julia’s longtime boyfriend suddenly reveals that he is in love with someone else, Julia reverts to the carefree, reckless behavior of her college days. Julia goes from party girl to pregnant and alone, making Samantha wonder if Julia is the best person to turn to when it comes to seeking advice for matters of the heart.



~~~~~~~~


I downloaded this for my Kindle after looking for something to suit my mood.

I really enjoyed the whole ‘feel’ of this story.  We have four friends who know each other well and follow a part of their journey as romance enters and leaves their lives.  We get to experience a part of their daily living and it’s so well-written and believable that I found it easy to be a part of it all.

You may well be thinking of the well-loved TV programme of ‘Friends’ – and yes, it does have that feel to it.  Personally, I enjoyed watching it the first time round and now the re-runs.  It’s a creation that is never out of date and something we all may have experienced at some point in our lives or even want to experience.  There the similarities end as our four characters have very different personalities and the book has a very different setting.

From the very beginning of reading ‘Here We Go’ the friendship between Samantha, Julia, Joe and Alex is very evident…………  the casual way Samantha overhears Joe’s conversation on his mobile and knows instantly it’s Alex and they are planning their evening – ‘they’ also including the girls.  You know that these four built the foundation for their friendship years ago and they know each other well. 

They are sharing a beachside duplex that’s owned by Julia’s parents.  Samantha and Joe are working together on a weekly magazine feature, Julia is working in her mother’s business and Alex is a teacher. 

The settings are described really well as are the everyday actions of the characters.  I loved the casual way they perched on the railings or sat on the steps that led to the beach.  

I think the clothes the girls wear portray their personalities and where they’re at emotionally. Jessica Strassner has Samantha dressing in drab and old clothes so we know she has been hurt emotionally even before we find out how.  She’s hiding herself from public view! 

Alex and Joe have important parts to play in the story but it’s the girls we get to know well and identify with.  They both have a path to tread and wounds to heal – fears to confront.  Not only do they achieve this through those outside of the friendship but also through being honest with each other. 

I enjoyed the book so much I want to know what happens next – I am left with many questions I want answers to!   ………….. I would love to know what happens to Samanatha – does it work out for her?  Does she continue to make her own decisions?  Does she sell the house? What is Nick’s life like in New York?  What happens to Joe?  Do they stay in the beachside duplex?  Does Julia go back to work?  Can she handle starting her own business alongside being a mother?  Who is invited to the wedding?  What is the next crisis? (because there surely is one!) I hope Jessica Strassner may one day pick up this story again and lead us into the future but even if she doesn’t, I would recommend this book if you’re interested in the theme of friendships, love and finding yourself!

Jessica Strassner is a featured author on loveahappyending.com.

She has just released her second Kindle book ‘The One Who Got Away’ – see Amazon links below.

You can find out more about Jessica Strassner:

 Blog: http://jessstrassnerbooks.blogspot.com/

Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/jessstrassner
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/jessica.strassner#!/pages/Jessica-Strassner/177125162333256

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Where would I be Without You? by Guillaume Musso

Where Would I be Without You?
Guillaume Musso
Synopsis from Amazon:
Parisian cop Martin Beaumont has never really got over his first love, Gabrielle. Their brief, intense affair in San Francisco and the pain of her rejection still haunt him years later. Now, however, he’s a successful detective – and tonight he’s going to arrest the legendary art thief, Archibald Maclean, when he raids the Musee d’Orsay for a priceless Van Gogh. But the enigmatic Archibald has other plans. Martin’s pursuit of the master criminal across Paris is the first step in an adventure that will take him back to San Francisco, and to the edge of love and life itself.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In this story of second chances we have three genres to hold our attention – romance, crime and the supernatural.
At the start of the journey each of the characters are finding their way while carrying their unhealed emotional wounds.  These wounds distort their interaction with the world of emotion.  We follow the characters as they confront their fears and weaknesses through crises to become whole. 
Gabrielle, Martin and Archibald are linked but only Archibald knows how. 
The story is set in San Francisco and Paris.  Gabrielle lives in San Francisco and is studying at Berkeley.  Martin lives in Paris and has gone to San Francisco to improve his English and explore.  They meet on campus in the Berkeley cafeteria where Martin is working to make ends meet.  Their time together during the summer is innocent until the day Martin is due to depart.  Gabrielle receives a letter in which Martin tells her of his feelings.  She makes it to the airport on time, Martin is able to take another ten days away and so follows their ten days of intimacy and love.  Their relationship doesn’t make the long distance. 
The two settings are beautifully described with just enough information and focus that I was able to imagine myself in these two cities without ever having visited them.
Martin qualifies to join the police and we then get to meet Archibald as Martin becomes more and more obsessed with capturing him.  Archibald is an art thief who has been elusive for many years.    It’s during this part of the story that we realise Archibald has been able to manipulate events, even from a distance.
There were a couple of twists that I hadn’t anticipated which made me stop and think (mainly because I was confused).  I had to re-evaluate what I already knew.  I love stories that have this effect on me.  Anything that takes me out of the normal confines of my mind can only be a good thing!
When we hit (what I honestly thought was) the final crisis point, I wondered where the story could possibly lead to next ……………….  I wasn’t prepared for where the story took me.  Nothing I’d read before had made me think that I would be reading about the paranormal/supernatural.  It took me a while to adjust to this change but once I did, I thought it was actually a very imaginative way for resolution ……………..  I don’t think it would have been the same in any other way!
The characters are in depth and the plot/sub-plots are brilliant.  The story will hold your attention throughout.  If you’ve been reading any of my review blogs you will know that makes a story a big hit with me.
The quotations at the start of each new section are so apt for what you are about to read.  Lovely to get that ‘extra’ touch in the format of a novel.
Fate brings Gabrielle and Martin back together again.  How can they overcome and forgive the pain of the past to lead them into a future together?
 
Where Would I Be Without You? was published by Gallic Books 4 April 2011.
 

Jenny Lopez has a Bad Week by Lindsey Kelk

Jenny Lopez Has a Bad Week
Lindsey Kelk
Synopsis from Amazon:

Jenny Lopez is miserable. Having spent the summer working in LA, she’s back home in New York, and missing the three key elements in a girl’s life – a roommate, a job and a boyfriend. Jenny formulates a plan; surely someone must need a roommate and surely someone must need a girlfriend? By the end of the day, she has arranged a viewing for a potential roommate, the gay blond aka the Sex God, secured two dates, and work looking after a top supermodel. Things look like they are back on track; everything is going to work out great. If only life was so easy…

~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jenny Lopez is a character from Lindsey Kelk’s I heart novels.  I haven’t read any of these books, which didn’t make any difference to my enjoyment (it is a stand-alone story).  I was fortunate enough to catch the offer from Amazon to download this for free.
Despite this being a short story I thought Jenny’s character came across really well.  She is feisty and funny.  I loved the way she knew her own mind and was capable of dealing with everything that happened in her week. It’s funny in places and also quite sad at the end when her ex, Jeff, appears  ……………. but it leaves you feeling that there is hope for her in moving on in the future.
There’s actually quite a lot packed in and it is fast paced.  Definitely a good read to fill in a couple of hours.
I’d love to know where life takes Jenny next – does it work with Sigge, does he become her significant other?  Does she have a new career working with Erin?  How does it work out with Sadie?  Maybe this is something the author will develop in the future into a new book …………………..
This is a digital download exclusive story in advance of Lyndsey Kelk’s new novel ‘The Single Girls To-Do List’ which is published by Harper on 9 June 2011.



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Touched by the Light by Linn B Halton

Touched by the Light
Linn B Halton
Synopsis from Amazon:
Mya finds it hard to believe that she has just died. She clearly remembers being in a lot of pain and a sense of panic going on around her, then nothing but a bright, comforting light and the pain quickly being replaced by a state of calm and tranquillity. But what now? Mya wants to talk to people, find out how her friends and family are, but there s no one around to help – until she suddenly finds herself chatting to Laurel. 

Laurel has what she sees as the dubious gift of being able to communicate with spirits, and when Mya bowls in, desperate for some answers, Laurel’s life is turned upside down. Her relationship with boyfriend Dan is already in a fragile state, she’ s unsure about her chosen career, and now there’s a bewildered, feisty young spirit getting in the way. As Mya flits around Laurel and Dan’s lives, unable to control how and when she appears, unexpected psychic connections are made and the course of true love takes a detour no one could have predicted.

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I found ‘Touched by the Light’ to be an unusual and thought-provoking novel of love/romance and logically unexplainable connections.
Written in the first person throughout, Mya starts us off on our journey as the scene is set with the theme that flows through the most of the story.  We also see the story from the perspective of Laurel and her boyfriend Dan and also Mya’s sister Sadie and a medium called Grace.
Each new section of the story has a title so at no point was I confused with who was ‘speaking’.
This is a modern love story and Linn B Halton portrays her characters with depth by examining their emotions.  We become involved not only in Laurel and Dan’s relationship but also Lennie’s love life (Lennie is Laurel’s best friend), Grace’s love life and Mya’s family.  We get to identify with the characters through how they express themselves.  In reality, we are usually drawn to other people on a heart level because they provide something we think we lack in ourselves – they are our ‘mirror’ and this theme is quite central to the characters. 
You don’t have to have any previous knowledge or belief in the spiritual world to be drawn into the story.  There are explanations that will enhance your enjoyment!  Even though this is quite a ‘deep’ topic, there are a few fun moments, for example when Mya is frustrated while ‘being’ in Dan’s company.
The writing flows and we are led on to each new level at the right time. There is a balance of emphasis between ‘life after death’ and the romance.  It really is not a heavy read!
I only have one criticism  ……………..and that’s with the paper the book is printed on – it is so white that my eyesight found it hard to adjust to read anything else for a while.
There’s not a lot I can really say about the story itself without revealing any spoilers ……………..  I will say I hadn’t figured on what was actually happening (although I knew something was because of the unusual link between Mya and Laurel) or who really was the link between the characters. 
This love story is all related to how we interact despite the emotional wounds we carry and how through introspection and sharing we have the capacity to become whole.
If you want a love story that has depth and soul then this could quite possibly be the book you are looking for.
I would like to thank the author for sending me a copy to review.
Linn B Halton is one of the driving forces behind the new project at loveahappyending, which is supporting new authors.  Launch date is 29th June.  You can download a recent radio interview.
Linn has her own website where you can find out all about her and the projects she is involved in.

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Working it Out by Nicola May



Working it Out
Nicola May
Synopsis taken from Nicola May’s website:
Ruby Matthews has a plan. Twelve jobs in twelve months, until she finds the one of her dreams…
After an unexpected redundancy, Ruby begins to question her priorities. Inspired by a quote from Kahlil Gibran about loving your work, she launches her mission to find the ideal job.
Her year of gainful (and sometimes painful!) employment includes nannying for clients in the South of France; dealing with embarrassing ailments in a Harley Street Clinic; waiting tables in a buzzy Soho cafe; and meeting the celebs of years gone by in a home for retired actors. And even though love is no longer top of her list, relationships just seem to start happening along the way – which sees her handing out some P45s of her own!
But will any of the jobs, or men she meets, see her dreams come true? Or will Ruby just end up back where she started?
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ruby’s quest to find an ideal career that will leave her feeling fulfilled is fast paced and packed full of characters to hold your interest.  Ruby’s story involves much more than the jobs she tries out and her sexual encounters as we also get involved in the community in Putney (where she lives) and meet the people she meets through her jobs (who become a part of her every day life).
I have to admit that my first impression of Ruby left me feeling that I couldn’t identify with her.  To me she came across as really shallow and being the central character, wasn’t sure how this would affect the rest of the story for me.   Then we get to meet her brother Sam, her elderly neighbour Margaret and she becomes close to a resident in the home for retired actors  …….. where Ruby becomes this very caring and self-sacrificing person.  This made me think that there was more to Ruby than I was seeing on the surface but I couldn’t re-evaluate how I felt because I didn’t like the sexual choices she made when drunk (I was angry that she could make herself so vulnerable) or the way she sometimes showed a lack of respect for the men that came her way.  It wasn’t until I was three quarters through the story that my feelings changed towards her and I liked her for who she was.  Despite my dislike of Ruby for such a big part of her story, it didn’t stop me from enjoying all the different parts that make up her story!  It’s good that a character provokes strong feelings in me whether negative or positive.
There are quite a few characters we meet as Ruby goes through the year but at no point did I lose who was who and why they were a part of the story.  I’ve only realised recently that not all people remember characters/plots as I do.  It was during a discussion between my husband, a friend and myself.  Neither of them read because they put a book down and when they next pick it up they’ve forgotten what they’ve read before (and so magazines are their preferred choice of reading material).  I am assuming that if you’re reading my review then you are a book reader but if you do get lost with characters, the characters that matter (I think) will stay in your mind because we meet them again and again.
Gorgeous George, a gardener who is a resident in Ruby’s road, is the man who really captures Ruby’s feelings.  Although they both feel the same, life takes them off on different paths.  Instead of a boring hello each time their paths cross in the mornings on their way to work, Nicola May has George holding a different item of gardening paraphernalia and they exchange witty banter.  This made me chuckle. 
There is plenty of humour scattered throughout the pages and I found myself laughing out loud at some of the antics.
I love it when things go full circle and tie-in and there’s plenty of that in Ruby’s different jobs.  Nicola May has some characters Ruby meets in one job surfacing in another ……………….. and her previous love interests crop up while doing another job and she finds resolution.  This makes the story whole as opposed to twelve different stories for the twelve different jobs.  A clever concept!
I enjoyed reading about the different jobs and thought the one Ruby chose to take further was perfect for her seeing as she had such a natural flair for it!  
This is a perfect book for a summer’s day or even for a day of snuggling up while the rain taps on the window.   It will give you a much-deserved refreshing break from the stresses and strains of life.
I would like to thank the author for sending me a copy to review.
You can find out more about Nicola May on her website.
Nicola is a featured new author on loveahappyending.com.  I am delighted to have been chosen to be one of her Associate Readers.  Check out her page and also read about this exciting project and how you can support authors as a reader.
A perfect beach read