Monthly Archives: January 2012

Secret Squirrel: Have you heard …

 

Secret Squirrel has THE most AMAZING exclusive news to share with readers …

Earlier today, in Wiltshire, Secret Squirrel was following author Mandy Baggot at a discrete distance. Mandy was clearing out her handbag and Secret Squirrel saw something stuck to the empty packet of Smash in the trash.  A mistake for Mandy but not for SS!

… not able to resist snooping, well, need I say more!

*Mandy Baggot has been signed by new US publishing house Sapphire Star Publishing! Mandy’s novel Taking Charge will be published in May 2012*

Secret Squirrel knows you will all join in wishing Mandy the 

she deserves.

Yesterday, cheerfulchic commented on my blog in reference to Mandy  “she’s gone from strength to strength and she’s like a whirlwind!“

Congratulations Mandy :)

 

 

 

24 hours of offers is back!

Last November, throughout the day, I checked in to The Book Depository to see which books were on offer (up to 80% 0ff RRP) and yes, I made a purchase and missed some because I couldn’t make up my mind…

IT’S BACK!!

Thursday 2nd February (only 2 days time!), from 12 noon, for 24 hours only, The Book Depository will have a limited quantity of 24 great books which will be available for an hour or until the stocks run out.

24h offer. up to 80% off. Great Discounts at The book Depository

Did you buy any from the last campaign?  If you did, you’re welcome to share what you brought and leave a link to your review (if you did a review) or comment on what you thought.  Did you buy anything you normally wouldn’t have?  Did you find a new genre for you?  Will you be looking out for a Valentine gift?

I brought Ken Follett’s Fall of Giants (historical fiction) – and only because it was at a ridiculously low price.  It is something I would usually read but being hardcover and 864 pages … not one to be read in bed haha

Feel welcome to come back after the event and leave comments too.

Enjoy!

Shaz

 

Shaz Stars interviews author Mandy Baggot

In the hot seat today I would like to welcome:
 MANDY BAGGOT
Hello Mandy, thank you for letting us have a peek behind thescenes.  Your sun sign is ARIES.

  • Aries is the first of the zodiacal signs and as such represents new beginnings and action.  Despite this desire to be the ‘front-runner’, boredom can set in quickly.  Writing is a long creative journey.  Do you lose interest quickly in writing projects?  Does there need to be something specific to hold your interest?

Wow – that’s a good first question. I never seem to lose interest in any writing projects completely, because I don’t like not seeing things through to an end. But, having said that I have developed a habit of having several projects on the go at the same time all fighting for a place on the computer screen. There are four at the moment, all jostling for position. What helps me hold interest in a subject is some physical inspiration, for example one of my male leads is an ex-soldier turned bodyguard and I find watching ‘Strike Back’ with the gorgeous Richard Armitage definitely gets the creative juices flowing.


  • Enthusiasm and confidence are a part of the Arian energy.  Would you consider this to be a strength in your writing?

I’m deeply enthusiastic about my writing and writing in general but if I’m honest I lack inner confidence. No one would think that but it’s true! Luckily I am quite good at projecting confidence (I think!). I would say I’m determined rather than confident and definitely persistent. Once I get an idea in my head I run with it and order everyone to follow me! I’m bolstered by the support of a lovely network of people, my husband Mr Big, my close friends and the wonderful friends I have made on social networking sites. Their encouragement and belief does help when you want to strangle the postman for bringing you yet another rejection letter.


  • It is said that there is no new thought or action in the world that hasn’t been thought of or tried before.  Arians are pioneers in thoughts and action.  Do you agree with this statement?

I wouldn’t say I was a pioneer because there are so many wonderful writers out there writing in the same genre. What I would say though is my stories are different because they are so dialogue led. When I’m writing its like I’m watching a film with my two main characters on screen. I try and set the scene and tell the story all with dialogue and as little description as I can get away with. I like the partnership to shine through and I find sometimes telling readers how autumnal the tree leaves are holds things up. 


I do like putting things instories that I wish I could say to people. Most of my characters are braverthan me!

  • Arians can tap into an immense amount of energy.  Would you say this has an effect on your writing schedule?

I’m not sure I have lots of energy; I always seem to be tired! But maybe that’s because I try and cram 101 things into my life. I love being busy, go crazy when I haven’t got a project to plan and usually end up burning the candle at both ends a lot of the time. At the moment I write mostly on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays when my youngest daughter is at preschool but I also have to fit in exercise, meetings, shopping and housework into those days too. I’m lucky if I manage a couple of hours a day writing but then again I can usually be found at the computer at 9.00pm doing more and not even really realising it. Writing is definitely not a 9-5 job and that has up and down sides.

  • Objectivity is a word common in the Arian vocabulary.  How do you get into the soul of your characters to give them depth, make them come alive ……… so your readers believe in them?

The only way you can make your readers believe your characters is if you can put yourself right into your character’s shoes. For me you have to forget how you would react to situations and become them, you have to think like them, do things they would do, react to things the way the character would etc. That isn’t to say that I walk around the house dressed in different clothes and pinning my husband to the bed every five seconds (although he might like that!) but I do tend to almost live my life as the character when I’m heavily into a story. Samantha in Breaking the Ice was my favourite character to empathise with because anything that happened to her was a disaster. There was lots of sighing and crying and bewailing everyday ups and downs with her.


  •             One of the negative Arian traits is an irritation at slowness.  When you experience a lull in ideas,something is taking longer than planned or is just not working out to yoursatisfaction, how do you deal with that?

I never have a lull in ideas! I’ve always got loadsof those and never enough time to get on with them! I am a bit of a whirlwindand if something is getting a bit bogged down that’s when my determinationkicks in. I don’t like to leave a job half done so I just persevere until it’sfinished. I get irritated when other people are slow but I understand peoplehave their own timescales on things and it’s always a lot slower than mine! I’mvery impatient but not in a stressy way, in an excited ‘I want things to happennow!’ way.

 


  • To progress and grow in any sphere of life it’s important that we take note of other people’s advice.  Arians are loathe to do this, especially if they disagree.  Do you take note of anyone’s advice in relation to your writing, or do you disregard it?

Hmmm yes, taking advice, what’s that? No, just kidding. I found it really really hard to take advice about my writing at the beginning. That isn’t to say I thought my novels were the best thing since sliced bread and couldn’t be improved I think it probably was the Arian in me that feels a bit weird about being scrutinised. I have got much better at it though and now I welcome advice. I am always asking my readers and website members what they think about things and this is because I really want to know. I like honest opinions because they’re the only ones worth listening to.


But you do have to listen to yourgut too and assess whether the advice is right for you. I disregarded someadvice given to me by a professional who critiqued ‘Strings Attached’. Shewanted me to consider changing the male lead from a pop star to a reclusivenovelist. It just didn’t do it for me. Quinn (my character) was someone I hadspent almost a year with and he just wasn’t a reclusive novelist, he’s ashowman, a brooding hottie everyone fancies, yes it might not be quite asoriginal but at the end of the day I created him. We will have to see whetherthat was a right or wrong decision!

Thank you for your honesty Mandy.

Mandy is a showcased author with Loveahappyending which is an interactive reader/author website.  Visit Loveahappyending to find out more about this brilliant project and how you, as a reader, can support them.

Author Biogrophy:
Mandy Baggot lives in Wiltshire with her husband and twodaughters. She is currently unrepresented and publishes under Youwriteon.comwho are supported by The Arts Council. She has three books in the marketplaceExcess All Areas, Breaking the Ice and Knowing Me Knowing You. Mandy writes inthe contemporary/commercial romantic fiction genre.
Author weblinks:

http://www.mandybaggot.webs.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/mandybaggot


When the going gets tough Freya Johnson gets going! Humiliated by her boyfriend the day she turns 30, Freya boards a last minute flight to Corfu to visit her best friend Emma. Little does she know that this holiday will change her life forever. Enter Hollywood film star Nicholas Kaden whose entourage is stirring up the village of Kassiopi while filming his new movie.

Caught up in a media frenzy, feeling unwelcome and uncomfortable in Nicholas’ movie world, Freya battles with the ghosts of her past and the uncertainty of her future. Can she help Emma? Can she keep her own big secret? And can she find out what Nicholas is hiding before she feels the urge to run away again?



  • Paperback: 482 pages
  • Publisher: New Generation Publishing; 1st edition (1 April 2010)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 1907461272
  • ISBN-13: 978-1907461279
When routine driven box office assistant Samantha Smith meets the stars of ‘Skating on Broadway’ her life is turned upside down. Immediately attracted to the infamous lead skater Jimmy Lloyd, Samantha does her best to deny her feelings. But when all you can do is burst out laughing and hyperventilate every time you’re under pressure, keeping things under wraps is a hard task. When the future of her beloved Civic Hall is threatened Samantha must rise to the challenge to ensure its survival. Constantly scrutinised and criticised by her zany sister Cleo and her brogue wearing boyfriend Jeremy, can Samantha save her job, save the Civic Hall and stop her panic attacks just long enough to give her away her heart?


  • Paperback: 394 pages
  • Publisher: YouWriteOn.com (11 Feb 2011)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 1908147601
  • ISBN-13: 978-1908147608

KNOWING ME KNOWING YOU – BRING ON THE LOVE! Recently single mother Kate is struggling. Clinging on to a career and bringing up her 2 year old daughter leads to nights alone drowning her sorrows in the cheapest white wine she can find. Forced to employ Joel, a male escort, to accompany her to a professionals’ dinner, Kate somehow ends up in the middle of a relationship contest, competing for a £100,000 prize alongside someone she barely knows. With her boss, the Lady Dragon Miranda, desperate for Kate to flounder, her tarot card reading child-minder trying to match-make and her ex-husband making her life a misery, can Kate keep her life on an even keel? And more importantly can she put her trust in a serial dater who used to be an underwear model?


Due for publication 1st November 2011

Caterer George Fraser has a mission. She’s going to prove everyone wrong. Ambitious owner of catering firm Finger Food and black sheep of her family, she’s determined to succeed in business where she’s so far failed in her personal life. Asked to cater for gorgeous rock star Quinn Blake’s after-show party her life suddenly takes a turn for the dramatic. 

Magnetically drawn together, George and Quinn embark on a relationship that no one must know about. But is Quinn everything he seems or is there more to his star life than he’s telling her? 
Things hot up when George is invited to the wedding of the millennium and her integrity very soon becomes compromised. 

With celebrity obsessed colleague Marisa in the mix and her beloved Adam spending more time in her life can George keep her secrets and hold on to her ambition, or will love finally get in the way? 



Caught my eye …

If you’re looking for your next read, the Kindle deals below have caught my eye this week.  Two of them I remembered reading reviews for last year (written by trusted book bloggers in my network) and they were on my wishlist.  One of them might help you if you’re flagging in keeping your New Year resolutions …

A Weekend with Mr Darcy by Victoria Connelly

The blurb:

A romance-filled page-turner for any Austen fanatic who’s ever dreamt of spending a weekend with Mr Darcy…

Katherine Roberts is fed up with men. As a lecturer specialising in the works of Jane Austen, she knows that the ideal man only exists within the pages of Pride & Prejudice and that in real life there is no such thing. Determined to go it alone, she finds all the comfort she needs reading her guilty pleasure – regency romances from the pen of Lorna Warwick – with whom she has now struck up an intimate correspondence.Austen fanatic, Robyn Love, is blessed with a name full of romance, but her love life is far from perfect. Stuck in a rut with a bonehead boyfriend, Jace, and a job she can do with her eyes shut – her life has hit a dead end. Robyn would love to escape from it all but wouldn’t know where to start.They both decide to attend the annual Jane Austen Conference at sumptuous Purley Hall, overseen by the actress and national treasure, Dame Pamela Harcourt. Robyn is hoping to escape from Jace for the weekend and indulge in her passion for all things Austen. Katherine is hoping that Lorna Warwick will be in attendance and is desperate to meet her new best friend in the flesh.

But nothing goes according to plan and Robyn is aghast when Jace insists on accompanying her, whilst Katherine is disappointed to learn that Lorna won’t be coming. However, an Austen weekend wouldn’t be the same without a little intrigue, and Robyn and Katherine are about to get much more than they bargained for. Because where Jane Austen is concerned, romance is never very far away…

This is the first in a series of three.

Amanda on One More Page says:

“I don’t think you need to be an Austen fan to enjoy this book. This is a love story about two very different women trying to come to terms with failed relationships and I think you could read it and enjoy it without ever having read the books.”

She rated it 4/5 and you can read the rest of Amanda’s review on her blog.  

Amazon’s price is £1.99.  Click on the picture to visit the Amazon page.  The second in the series  The Perfect Hero is also reasonably priced £0.99.

The Darling Strumpet by Gillian Bagwell

The blurb:

From her beginnings as a humble oyster seller, Nell Gwynn’s dazzling rise to fame has gone down in history. Step into the tumultuous world of Restoration England, and join Nell on her journey from courtesan, to famed actress to King’s mistress in a novel that is as captivating as Nelly herself.She sold her innocence…and captured the heart of a king. London, 1660 Growing up in the bawdy atmosphere of 17th century Covent Garden, Nell Gwynn is little more than a girl when she enters the world of the courtesan. But Nell learns the hard way that to be at the mercy of unscrupulous men is no life at all.With London’s theatres flourishing, Nell seizes an opportunity to change her luck and takes a job selling oranges at The King’s Playhouse on Drury Lane.It isn’t long before Nell takes centre-stage herself and her saucy wit and ambitious temperament soon catch the eye of the young King Charles II. But can she keep him enthralled when the country’s finest Ladies are vying for his attentions at court?Nell Gwynn was a darling of the people and the most famous courtesan of her age. You too will find it impossible to resist her in The Darling Strumpet.

Carol on Dizzy C’s Little Book Blog says: “Well researched historical events feature in the novel  such as The Great Fire of London, The Plague and the rise of the theatres are brought to life in glorious detail through the eyes of Nell. ”  

She rated it 5/5 and you can read the rest of Carol’s review on her blog.
Amazon’s price is £1.99.  As soon as I saw this while browsing I bookmarked … but it wasn’t long before I pressed that button that makes it all so easy :)  Click on the picture to visit the Amazon page.

52 Small Changes: One Year to a Happier, Healthier You by Brett Blumenthal.

The blurb:Whether as New Year’s resolutions, birthday wishes, or daily promises, most everyone vows at some point to make a major life change. But change is easier said than done, especially when it comes to better managing our wellness amidst the chaos of everyday living. Fortunately, wellness coach and award-winning writer Brett Blumenthal has devised a way to inspire and motivate her readers to live healthier and make positive changes in their lives. Although Blumenthal’s method is not a quick fix, it is a surprisingly simple one: make one small change per week, for fifty-two weeks, and at the end of a year, you’ll be happier and healthier. After all, it is the small changes that are the most realistic, instead of trying to overhaul your lifestyle all at once. 52 Small Changes addresses all areas of wellbeing, including nutrition, exercise, stress management, mental wellness, and even the health of one’s home environment. By guiding readers through these changes at an easy, manageable pace, Blumenthal provides an engaging roadmap to lasting results and “a happier, healthier you.”

This intrigued me when I saw it.  I love the thought of making small changes as to my mind, they have a chance of becoming permanent changes … so if your New Year resolutions have dropped by the wayside …  not long published in Kindle format, the reviews on Amazon are very positive.  Priced at £1.99 Click on the image to visit the Amazon page.

If you decide to purchase any of the above, please consider using the links on the is page.  All profits will go towards future giveaways on Jera’s Jamboree.  The grand total at present is 15p :)

Jera’s Jamboree Book Review: Advent by James Treadwell

Advent

James Treadwell

Hardback: £12.99

  • Publisher: Hodder & Staughton
  • EAN: 9781444728460
  • Published: 2nd February 2012
  • No of pages: 448
  • Format: Royal

For centuries it has been locked away.  Lost beneath the sea.  Warded from earth, air, water, fire, spirits, thought and sight. But now magic is rising to the world once more. And a boy called Gavin, who thinks only that he is a city kid with parents who hate him, and knows only that he sees things no one else will believe, is boarding a train, alone, to Cornwall. When he arrives, there is no one there to meet him.

Advent is the first in a fantasy crossover series about a 15 year old boy whose ability to see things that others can’t connects him to the story of Johannes Faust, the greatest magician the world has ever known (from publishers Hodder & Staughton)

 

This amazing world that debut author James Treadwell has created begins in 1537 where we meet Johannes Faust as he prepares to set sail for England.  The next chapter we meet Gavin Stokes who is on the train that will take him to his aunt Gwen in Cornwall.  On the train he meets Professor Hester Lightfoot (who is a key character in certain events) and we’re introduced to the ghost of Miss Grey … who used to be accepted as Gavin’s ‘invisible friend’ when younger but is not accepted by his family now.  On reaching the lodge where Gwen lives on the Pendurra estate, he finds it empty although the fire is lit and there are signs of recent habitation.  What follows is a quest that intrigues and entrances and is completely absorbing.

The story is told by weaving backwards and forwards in time with one difference – the timeline in 1537 regresses so the further you read on in the story, the more intrigue there is because you have an answer but you don’t know the why or the circumstances.  When we get to the timelines merging into present day is the time when spirit becomes flesh and the world changes beyond recognition.

The environment is perfect for the suspense.  We have Pendurra, which is an isolated estate with woods leading down to the river and the sea.  There is something different about the land and there is gossip and rumours about it’s owner, Tristram Urem.  It is October so the nature around us is bare and stagnant.  During the conflict there is snow but not just flakes drifting down, blizzard conditions that blanket everything.  There is physical endurance that almost goes beyond what a body can bear.

The magic runs throughout Advent.  I loved it that the author goes back to a time when science was parting from magic – whereas at one point they belonged together, man chose to believe only that which he could see.  This is quite a key factor, the absence of magic, not only in 1537 but also in the present world.

Following our hero Gavin through the story, we see him at first as afraid of himself but there comes a point when he experiences a re-birth (symbolised by taking on the mantle of his name).  It is in the depths of his misery with no-where left to go when he finds strength and purpose.

There is a mixture of characters both adult and children although it is the children who are the leads.  The magical beings all portray characteristics that are common in myth.  At one point in the story I was cheering for Corbo but at another, felt totally betrayed!

If you have ever been interested in magic/alchemy/myth you may have come across Johannes Faust and his quest for immortality.  The author uses this in such a creative way and is central to the story.  The author also uses the symbolism of a ring – from time immemorial the hole in the centre has represented a gateway or door and the circle is a perfect expression of infinity – no beginning and no end.  This is cleverly crafted as an integral part of the story.  You may also have read about the music of the spheres … I loved the way Treadwell wove this into the tale.

The ending ties up with a physical place that Gavin mentions only once (if my recollection is correct) but with a different family and the scene is still on a mystical level.  It is so far away from the place we have just left though I can’t begin to image what the connection actually is – why are we there? and does Gavin and Marina appear?  What about Harold? This leaves me with so many questions …   I so need to read the second story!

The language used in Advent is mature and the story gripping and fast paced enough that adult readers will enjoy this world just as much as a teen reader.  If you loved A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness you will love this too!

I don’t think there’s any doubt to my rating – this world has totally blown me away.  I don’t want to read another book yet as the story is still running through my head:

I would like to thank the publishers for sending me an uncorrected advance proof to review.

If you liked my review and would like to purchase your own copy, please think about using the links below to Amazon or The Book Depository.  This will go towards funding future giveaways on Jera’s Jamboree:

Amazon – click on the image

buy the book from The Book Depository, free delivery

Shaz Stars interviews Associate Reader Nikki Bywater

In the hot seat today I would like to welcome:
 NIKKI BYWATER
Hello Nikki, thank you for letting us have a peek behind the scenes into your reading habits.  Your sun sign is PISCES.

  • Pisceans are said to be sensitive to the feelings of others and respond with tact and diplomacy.  Are these traits you apply when you are writing your reviews?

Yes I do apply all these traits when I am writing reviews. I find that because I am sensitive that this almost always helps me to find a connection with the characters in a book. I can see things from all points of view and I am very diplomatic when it comes to writing a review about the book. I think we can take something and learn something new from every book that we read so I work with this in mind. I also want to bring out the best of the book in my review for the author.

  • It is said that Pisces dislike confinement.  Does this affect where you read?

I find I can read  anywhere where there is peace and quiet and no distractions. I do like to read in the garden on hot summer days. But I am more than happy to read indoors.  I like to light a few candles and to create a relaxed and calm atmosphere and to sit in a nice comfy chair preferably by a window though if indoors.

  • The Pisces sun person has a label of being dreamy and otherworldly.  Reading is the perfect place to allow yourself to be dreamy!  Do you find it hard to readjust to reality after escaping in a novel?

I really can get involved in a novel when I am reading.  Reading is the perfect place for me to escape and be dreamy. I find it so relaxing. I have a little habit that I can not leave a book between chapters! I find it harder to step back into reality if I have not read up to the end of the chapter. I am always daydreaming about what is going to happen next. But if I have read to the end of the chapter usually I can get straight back into reality. When I have finished a book it depends on how emotional the book made me feel if it is a very emotional story then I can daydream about it for hours!

 

  • Pisceans are receptive to new ideas and are versatile.  Does this have an affect on the genres you choose to read?

I like to read a whole variety of books.  I don’t have a favourite choice.  Although I have read a lot of books on the paranormal, I would say I have read just as much of any other type of books too.  I will read anything.  It is not that often I will start reading a book and think I can’t read this.  Some books take me longer to get into than others but generally I am receptive to new ideas.




  •  Although Pisceans are more intuitive than rational, they do have sharp memories and remember even the minutest of details.  Do you write your reviews from memory or do you take notes as you read to help you remember for writing your review at a later date?
I do a little bit of both. I do like to take notesout of respect for the author, that I am giving the best review of their bookand not leaving anything out. I always find certain things will stand out inthe book that I know I will remember and put in the review. Usually I do find Ican remember everything I have read in the book, so my notes are used to doublecheck I have not made any mistakes.

  • Pisceans are very creative (love using their imaginations!).  Have you or do you intend to design any features for your blog?

This is all new to me. My Blog is brand new and I have never done one before. So I am learning the more I use it. I do plan to make it more bright and colourful with more drawings and pictures. I like Angels and dolphins so I am hoping that I can put them somewhere in the design in time. I will most likely have to ask for my children’s help with this!

  • It is said that for Pisces, decision-making is tough and change their minds often.  If you have a pile of books waiting to be read, how do you choose which one to read next?  Do you leave a book unfinished and move on to another one?

I am terrible at making a decision!  So I find the best way to handle this by having some organisation and a plan of action!  I try and think ahead about what would be for the best, so when it came to decide to which book to read next, I always read the book that I have brought or received first!  So the books I have not read are in an orderly pile with any new ones I get going to the bottom of the pile.  So now I don’t have to make a decision, I just always take a book from the top of the pile!

Thank you for sharing with us Nikki.



Nikki is an Associate Reader for Loveahappyending which is an interactive reader/author website.  Visit Loveahappyending to find out more about this brilliant project and how you, as a reader, can support them. 

About Nikki:
Born in Batley West Yorkshire, then lived in the lovely West Ayton in North Yorkshire,then lived in Derby, spent time in America (NewYork). Settled in 1998 in Cheshire with my husband Andrew and children Liam and Chloe. I have worked in television as a TV extra/jobbing actress I like just to have small roles because I love to spend time with my family. My father is the S.A.G.B medium Terry Tasker. So my interest for the paranormal comes from this. I do not have the ability to be a medium myself (Yet) so I call myself more of a paranormal investigator/Researcher. I have also been on the radio with my paranormal work. I also love to read not just books on the paranormal; I will read almost any book “Never judge a book by its cover” I am very happy to have become an associate reader with loveahappyending.com. You will find all the books I have read and reviewed on my blog. If you would like me to read and review your book please contact me.
http://nikkis-books4u.blogspot.com
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Nikki-Bywater-Paranormal-Investigator/187907631233832
http://facebook.com/nikki.bywater
https://twitter.com/#!/NikkiiNola

Novella Review: 5 Reasons to Leave a Lover by Carolyn Moncel

5 Reasons to Leave a Lover – A Novella and Other Short Stories - Carolyn Moncel

In 5 Reasons to Leave a Lover, author Carolyn Moncel offers up a fresh batch of stories based on love and loss. As singer/songwriter, Paul Simon so eloquently suggested in a famous song from the 1970s, there are many ways to leave a lover. However, Moncel’s characters demonstrate that the reasons for leaving in the first place are quite finite. Encounters in Paris` Ellery and Julien Roulet return, picking up their lives where the short story, “Pandora`s Box Revisited,” ends. This time the Roulets are involved in a love triangle, and along with two other couples, must explore how love relationships are affected and splinter due to abuse, ambivalence, deception, cheating and death. This bittersweet collection of tales proves that some breakups are necessary; while others are voluntary; and still others are simply destined and beyond anyone’s control.

I haven’t read ‘Encounters in Paris’ so for me, this is the first time I’ve read about Ellery and Julien Roulet.

Set in Paris, the novella begins with Ellery having slept during the day after an emotional time.  Husband Julien has picked up their children, twins Evie and Maddie from school, and has left the apartment.  Ellery contacts her best friend Lola as she has a need to talk but Lola is not available.

What follows is an emotional rollercoaster ride for all the members of the family due to Ellery finding a love letter written to Julien’s mistress.

What I thought:

The author explores the feelings and thoughts of everyone involved.  We get to read about the point of view of Ellery who initially blames herself and then goes on a whirlwind of destruction and unusually the author explores Julien’s point of view who has been torn in two and is unsure if he is making the right decision.  You realise when reading his reflections that he has misunderstood an event … but it is not this alone that has led them to where they are.  His mistress Katrine also has a voice in the novella.  The portrayal of the twins and how they feel is heartbreaking.

I found this story thought provoking and although we don’t have a satisfactory ending, I believe this is a reflection of real life!

The final short story is very poignant and I think reflects traditional values.  It portrays emotions from a man at the other end of a lifespan.  His thoughts show the reader that it is possible for a love relationship to survive hardship and continue and to mourn when love has gone.  Again, I think the author portrays the emotions true to life.

5 Reasons to Leave a Lover has the following rating from me:

I would like to thank the author for providing a copy to review.

About the author

Carolyn Moncel is a media consultant by day and budding short story writer by night, she takes her inspiration from everywhere. Most of her stories are set in places where she has lived: Chicago, Paris and Geneva.

She started writing because she realized that it’s very difficult for her not to tell a story. She comes from a family of storytellers, so she has heard some sort of tale all her life. She tells stories to her family, friends and even her clients. Even her non-fiction, business articles usually end with a moral.

Short stories and novellas are her preferred genres because they allow her to describe brief moments in time and get off the page. She likes to make readers think, but she also like to leave them with a bit of suspense.

Carolyn was featured in one of my Secret Squirrel blog posts.  She is working on a project with her daughter.  To read the post, please click here.

Find out more about Carolyn Moncel by visiting her website where you will be able to connect with her via Twitter and Facebook and read free versions of short stories.

Shaz Stars interviews author Lauren Howell

In the hot seat today I would like to welcome:

LAUREN HOWELL

Hello Lauren, thank you for letting us have a peek behind the scenes.  Your sun sign is AQUARIUS.

Aquarian energy is known for being unconventional and eccentric.  It would appear writing would be a good area to let this energy flow freely!  Are your characters unconventional and eccentric?  Do you use this energy in your writing?

Well, I think most of my characters are pretty normal actually. It’s odd now that I think about it because I’m not really all that normal myself.  There is one very eccentric wizard named Frank who makes a brief appearance.  He’s one of my favourite characters.  And the idea of dragons wearing Chuck Taylors isn’t all that normal, now, is it? I’m sure being a bit unconventional about things does make writing a bit more fun at times!
 

Aquarius is a sign that cares about humanitarian issues (as well as the environment) and can be found acting as advocates for those who are less fortunate.  Do your stories highlight any issues in our society today? 

Hmmm, good question.  They haven’t really been highlighted in‘Rowan’ and I’m not really sure if they will find a place in any of my upcoming books.  I guess it just depends on where the story goes.  But I will say that humanitarian issues are close to my heart and a care a great deal about people who are less fortunate or in a time of need.
 

Aquarius is a fixed sign and ruled by the element air.  In combination this can mean fixed ideas, however, Aquarians can let go of outdated ideas once they’ve been shown evidence that something is not working.  Have you let go of any ideas that were outdated in your writing and replaced them with something more appropriate?

Ha ha . . . well, I started‘Rowan’ when I was pretty young and worked on it on and off very casually.  It started off VERY different from what it is now.  One of the reasons I self-published was because I wanted to do things my own way, not have someone else tell me how to do it (although I will change editing and grammar issues, I just mean, I’m not going to change the whole story because a publisher says it won’t work).  However, when I realized what I had written way back when I was a kid wasn’t going to work with where the rest of the story was going I began to change it into what it is now.
 
 

More ‘head than heart’, Aquarians may be considered to be detached at times.  Please would you share with us how your characters become ‘real’ for you.  How do they grow to develop into complete personalities?

 
I find this question very intriguing because this is one place I am completely opposite of what an Aquarian is “supposed” to be.  I am MUCH more heart than head and sometimes that gets me into trouble.  I allow my heart rule me way too much and am just now learning how to allow my head to take just a tad bit more control.  As for my characters . . . the more I write about them the more ‘real’ they become.  The more I feel for them, the more they tug at me and start to have their own voice.
 

Lewis Carroll is an Aquarian and his ‘Alice in Wonderland’ showcases the Aquarian energy beautifully.  Have you been drawn to writing fantasy adventures?  Do you read any fantasy adventures or does this genre hold no interest for you?

I’ve always been huge on fantasy.  I had kind of a tough childhood and teenage years with the divorce of my parents, bullying, and a whole bunch of other not so fun stuff going on in my life.  Fantasy was the ultimate escape for me and more times than I can remember did I wish I would just find that one wardrobe that would allow me into Narnia or that I had my own dragon to fly away on.  Now, that all of that is behind me, fantasy is just loads and loads of fun.  Though, I still wish I had my own dragon (and visiting Narnia still wouldn’t be so bad).  ;)

Aquarians are thinkers rather than doers.  How do you discipline yourself to catch those ideas and put them into concrete form onto paper?

 
Geez, this is a HUGE problem for me. Ha ha.  I’ve had so many ideas in my life that I’ve never followed through with, really great ideas, including really great books.  Some of them, unfortunately, are lost, some will probably remain with me forever.  Being “only” 27 I’m still working that whole discipline thing out.  I tend to not be so good at it, lol.  I blame it on my age but, unfortunately, I think it might just be my personality, lol – I’ll figure it all out eventually, until then I just leave the ideas in my head, I figure the really great ones will stick around (and they have for the most part) and the other ones probably weren’t worth much to begin with.  Every now and then I will jot one down in my notebook if I get overly excited about it. But even that doesn’t always work to my benefit because sometimes I lose those notes.  For example . . . I have a sticky note around here somewhere with something about a zombie apocalypse that I had a dream about (after all don’t dreams make best sellers??) but I don’t currently have a clue to where it is at.
 

Aquarians like a fast paced and varied work environment, changing jobs regularly before they finally settle into one career (which usually has to include being able to use their creativity/thinking skills).  Are you still working alongside your writing?  Would you like writing to become the career you settle in?

 
Pegged again.  I hate work,  for the most part.  I hate the so called 9-5, they make me miserable and depressed.  My last job was working as a helpdesk analyst answering phones and helping people with their computers.  I liked it at first but then it just really got on my nerves. Now, I just write, or, I try to at least.  If I had a choice of a dream job it would be a treasure hunter/explorer/paranormal investigator or a big cat trainer.  I’m going back to school in the fall to be an anthropologist, as far as I can tell that’s as close as I’ll get to becoming an explorer, but at least, if I do it right I might not have to work behind a desk for a while.  That’s one of the reasons writing suites me though, is that I can be whatever I want to be.
 

Group endeavours are attractive to Aquarians.  Apart from Loveahappyending, do you belong to any other writing groups?

No I do not.  I’ve got enough online activity right now to last me a life time and there is nothing currently in my local area to join in person (not unless I want to start a writing group with a bunch of cows in the middle of a corn field).  I was attracted to LAHE because they found me first. J  I thought that was quite an amazing coincidence that I couldn’t ignore.
Thank you for spending time with us today Lauren.

Lauren is a showcased author with Loveahappyending which is an interactive reader/author website.  Visit Loveahappyending to find out more about this brilliant project and how you, as a reader, can support them.


Author Biography:
I like reading, writing, gaming and just about anything else that makes life fun. As I said I’m going back to school to study anthropology and among my obsessions are anything to do with fantasy, tigers, cryptozoology, the paranormal and just all around mysteries of the world, post apocalyptic books, shows, and movies, moleskine notebooks, sharpie, and the color orange.
Author weblinks:

Author Website: http://laurenhowell.wordpress.com/
Facebook laurenhowellwriter: http://on.fb.me/m4qtwL
Twitter A/c @lm_howell: http://bit.ly/kA9iSQ
Goodreads: http://goodreads/lauren_howell





  • Paperback: 184 pages
  • Publisher: Createspace (2 May 2011)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 1461134315
  • ISBN-13: 978-1461134312

Jake, a dragon wearing orange chucks, shows up in Kelly Foster’s living room disguised as a human.  When he starts going on about a lost sword, a magical pendant and Stonehenge being the gatekeeper to the lost city of Atlantis, Kelly feels a little more than skeptical.  But when Jake tells her it could all be the key to finding her father, Kelly doesn’t hesitate to jump on board.  Swept away to the world of Rowan, she picks up a band of followers along the way, Henry, Tyler, Sky, and Caesius.  Will they help her find her father or will someone more sinister cause their paths to go in opposite directions.  Will Kelly do what she came to do then go home?  Because the fate of Rowan is up to her.









Caught my eye …

Four good Kindle deals have caught my eye this week ...

The first book, well, if you haven’t seen this on the social media networks this week you MUST have had your eyes shut!

Before I Go To Sleep by SJ Watson

Winner of the Galaxy National Book Awards 2011 in the Crime and Thriller category, it’s also a pick on Richard & Judy’s spring book club, plus the TV Book club (4).   Tesco Books blog are also holding a Q & A session with the author  Before the social media frenzy, this book had already caught my eye so  imagine my delight when after watching the Kindle price I saw it drop to £2.70 (still correct at the time of this post).  Of course I brought it :)

 

The next book that caught my eye was on Lins Healy’s blog ‘The Littlereader Library’.

A LIFETIME BURNING by Linda Gillard

Lins has a review, an author interview and a giveaway (closes 31st January).  Lins’ review is amazing – she has given it 5/5.

This is how she sums it up “It’s an absorbing, brave and unforgettable book, from a talented writer. The dialogue flows easily; the characters are so well drawn that they leap from the page; they are loved, rejected, damaged, hopeful, damned and loved again, and they grow and change through the timescale covered in the novel. As a reader it makes you think, question and ponder, and though you may not like some of the characters and their actions, they are nevertheless compelling. A thoroughly riveting read. “

Go and have a read!  At the time of this post, the Kindle copy is £0.88.

  The third book was on Amazon’s 12 Days of Kindle promotion and is still £0.99 (at the time of this post)

The Dress by Sophie Nicholls

Meet Ella and her mother Fabbia Moreno who arrive in York, one cold January day, to set up their vintage dress shop.

The flamboyant Fabbia wants to sell beautiful dresses to nice people and move on from her difficult past. Ella just wants to fit in. But not everyone is on their side.

Will Fabbia overcome the prejudices she encounters? What’s the dark secret she’s hiding? And do the silk linings and concealed seams of her dresses contain real spells or is this all just ‘everyday magic’?

Among the leopard-print shoes, tea-gowns and costume jewellery in Fabbia’s shop are many different stories – and the story of one particular dress.

This is a full-length novel for lovers of vintage and readers of contemporary romance/fantasy.

I downloaded it and author Talli Roland gave it 5 stars on Goodreads

My final book (which is actually two!) …

I had already reviewed Raven but it caught my eye because it’s free on Kindle and the second in the trilogy is reasonably priced!  AND the second DECEMBER MOON was one of my top 10 fiction reads for 2011.  December Moon is priced at £0.77 at the time of this post.


Raven (The Raven Saga) by Suzy Turner

After the inexplicable disappearance of Lilly Taylor’s parents, she has no choice but to move to Canada where she unravels some frightening yet intriguing family secrets…
Her whole life had been based on a lie. Lilly had grown up in a loveless home with a father who she had barely ever seen and a mother who was… well, not very motherly.
After they mysteriously disappear without a trace, Lilly is sent to Canada where she finds a whole new way of life. A life filled with love and people who care for her. But that’s not all she discovers, Lilly also finds out that she isn’t who, or what, she thinks she is.

Lilly has a very special ability and it’s just a matter of time before her true self starts to shine. And when it does, her life will never be the same again.
Raven is a fantasy novel for children and young adults set in the beautiful province of British Columbia.


December Moon (The Raven Saga) by Suzy Turner

On her 15th birthday, December Moon discovers she is the descendant of a family of witches, kept in the dark her entire life in an effort to protect her. But when Lilly, her best friend, finds herself in danger from one of the world’s most evil vampires, December will do everything in her power to stop him. December Moon is a fantasy novel for children and young adults set in BC, Canada.

If you read any of them, I would be interested to know how
you get on!

Book Review: Reaching for the Stars by Janice Horton

Reaching for the Stars

Janice Horton

From the author’s blog  :

Reaching for the Stars is about a Scottish celebrity chef called Finn McDuff who is media stalked and disillusioned after winning his third star and losing his third wife. He decides he’s had enough of all the food campaigns, the TV cookery shows, the constant frenzy surrounding his private and, after giving up all his accolades and closing down his restaurant, he disappears.  With the enfant terrible of the kitchen missing, two rival newspapers, having lost their media meal ticket, compete against each other to whip up further public curiosity in the missing chef.  Love him or hate him, everyone is out looking for Chef McDuff.  Who will find him first and whose side will you be on…?

The foundations are laid in the beginning when the reader is introduced to ambition driven Finlay McDuff and his situation in the setting of The Balmoral Hotel.  Wife Gina has given him an ultimatum, which coincides with being awarded the three golden stars and so we find him alone and nursing his wounds.

Raine Sanderson and Ross Campbell are in competition at The Thistle newspaper.  With only one journalist place available, they are the last of the interns with only one more challenge – an interview with the elusive McDuff.  Raine finds him first but then finds herself in a predicament.  Portray a different side of him than the public are aware of and lose the job … or keep her integrity.  Her choice works out well and soon after her victory, Ross becomes employed at a rival newspaper.    While they are in competition to provoke the public attention (and so keep their papers in circulation), Anna James contacts McDuff.  Anna is the daughter of McDuff’s former mentor – is her plea for help straightforward or does she want revenge?

McDuff hands back his golden stars in the hope of luring Gina back and amidst the shock of the catering world and agent Sam, goes into hiding.

What I thought:

The author has created a very believable world from the celebrity status of McDuff and all that entails to the world of the journalist.  Janice Horton has used a real life event (the Icelandic volcano erupting) and woven it into a part of the story that creates tension.  I thought that was brilliant!

The characters are also believable.  I identified with them all.  It’s not only the leads that are three-dimensional but also those on the periphery of the story too.

One thing that did surprise me was McDuff’s mental state when he was in hiding.  I was expecting him to be out of the public eye limping along.  Instead, there is another dimension to the story that deals with mental/emotional health, which Janice Horton writes about really well.  I enjoyed the role Lady Craigmuir had while he was in hiding.

I could also readily imagine the madness the media provoked when McDuff shut down his restaurant and left, whipping up the public into a frenzy of trying to hunt him down!

There is much to hold the readers attention throughout Reaching for the Stars. The tension between Raine and Ross as they compete with each other, the intrigue from Ann James’ motivation and the friction between McDuff and Gina.  Oh and I can’t finish my review without mentioning the romance … but which characters fall in love?

Action packed and fast moving I am giving Reaching for the Stars the following rating:

I would like to thank the author for providing me with a Kindle copy to review.

If you wish to purchase a copy for your Kindle, at the time of my review,  Reaching for the Stars is 85p on Amazon UK and $1.33 on Amazon US

Mid-December 2011 I was honoured to take part in Janice Horton’s virtual book launch for Reaching for the Stars.  Janice shared with readers her preference for researching and how it applied to Reaching for the Stars.  You can read the post here (apologies in advance – the formatting did not import well from Blogger).