Monthly Archives: February 2012

Secret Squirrel: Newsflash

Secret Squirrel was on holiday last weekend down Bristol way.  While she was enjoying the sun, she heard something that added more sparkle to her day than the sun and a glitter ball combined.

Waiting for confirmation from that overheard conversation, Secret Squirrel can now share the news that Sapphire Star Publishing has signed a Loveahappyending author!

Secret Squirrel couldn’t be more delighted to share with readers that Sapphire Star Publishing has acquired Sophie’s Turn from author Nicky Wells.

Secret Squirrel knows that readers will join with her in congratulating Nicky and wishing her all the success she deserves.

Secret Squirrel signing out until next time …

Jera’s Jamboree reviews: The Lady in the Tower by Marie-Louise Jensen

Lady in the Tower
Spring 1540: “I am afraid. You are in grave danger. Mother, will you run away with me if I can free you?” 

The servants call it the Lady Tower: the isolated part of the castle where Eleanor’s mother is imprisoned after a terrible accusation. For four years Eleanor’s only comfort has been their secret notes to one another.

A chance discovery reveals a plot to murder her mother. Now Eleanor must free her before it is too late. But with danger and betrayal at every turn, she can trust no one. Especially not her father. Eleanor must use all her cunning to survive. For she soon realises that it is not just her mother she needs to save …but also herself.

In March 2011 I reviewed ‘Sigrun’s Secret’  (which I had won in a Twitter giveaway).  Enjoying Marie-Louise Jensen’s  writing style and the genre, when I saw The Lady in the Tower on Kindle offer last year I downloaded it!

The story begins with a prologue.  We are in 1540 and Lady Elizabeth is in the tower.  Then we flashback to 1536 and the reader is able to see the closeness Eleanor has with her mother and the fun the Hungerford’s had as a family.  Lord Walter returns early from a trip to London without his usual exuberance and Lady Elizabeth is taken to the tower by guards for being under suspicion of witchcraft and infidelity.  Chapter Two finds us in the present (Spring 1540) and the story continues to show us Eleanor’s life as it was in Tudor times – the constraints on females, her attempts to rescue her mother from the tower, and also castle life.

This period in history fascinates me.  The idealism is so romantic!  Knights, The Code of Chivalry, the pageantry of jousting/tournaments and the castles. Of course there is the other side – peasant life and lack of freedom  … although I think the fashion romantic too, I wouldn’t want the constraints of dressing fashionably! As we journey with Eleanor, Tudor life comes colourfully alive.  The reader doesn’t get to just experience Farleigh Castle but also London.

Eleanor is such a feisty heroine.  She was only eleven when her mother was imprisoned and with her father away in London for most of the time, had the run of the castle.  Dressing in servants clothes she is able to ride astride her horse and sneak around.  She is taught to joust alongside her younger brother and cousin … a lot of freedom!  That is until Lord Walter returns from London with his prospective wife (yes, his third wife is still alive in the tower) and news of an arranged marriage for Eleanor.  Her exchanges with her betrothed, Philip Ashington (Viscount Stanton), I found quite  amusing and I think show her character really well.  Eleanor is always on her guard and this leads her to misunderstanding motives.

There is an interesting cast of characters at Farleigh Castle for the tournament.  Alongside Lord Walter is his close friend Oliver Cromwell (both advisers to Henry VIII who is also there).  Lots of intrigue and treason!

I have a couple of favourite scenes – one at the lists for the finals in the jousting and also a romantic scene in the park in London (although the beheadings were quite interesting too …)

I love it that The Lady in the Tower is based on historical fact.  The author was inspired by the tale itself and the mystery surrounding Lady Elizabeth’s escape from Farleigh Castle.  She has woven the tale into something believable and very enjoyable.

Although The Lady in the Tower is aimed at a Young Adult audience, if you have a love a history and Tudor times, then this fictional book will interest you.

I am giving the following rating:

Visit the author’s website to find out more about her.  Marie-Louise Jensen also tweets.

Marie-Louise Jensen’s novels on Amazon

Shaz Stars interviews author Patricia Sands

In the hot seat today I would like to welcome:

Patricia Sands

Hello Patricia, thank you for letting us have a peek behindthe scenes.  Your sun sign is  LEO.

  • A typical Leo loves glamorous locations and adventure.  Have you ever researched an idea on holiday?  Or taken a trip purely for research?

That’s a timely question Shaz! Are you psychic as well? As we speak, I’m spending 4 months in the south of France where I’m writing my next novel. A good portion of the story is set in this area. My husband and I arrived in Antibes on May 15 and we will be here until the end of September when we’ll return to our home in Toronto. I’m having a wonderful time feeling like I actually live here and if it weren’t for missing our family (particularly adorable grandchildren), we would stay forever!

  • Leonine people set themselves high standards.  When you edit your writing, can this become a problem and cause you frustration?

You’re right about that! I do set high standards in everything I do and sometimes need to be reminded to ease up. As a former schoolteacher, grammar is a major issue with me and I have radar that can spot a typo or a spelling error a mile away. I always like to have a proper editor go through my work as well and find the process extremely worthwhile.

  

  • Leo’s love drama.  A typical Leo will dislike safety.  Do you take risks in your writing projects?

I’m not sure about the drama part ( I love to watch it!) but I am a risk-taker. I do have a comfort zone when it comes to the topics about which I write but within those topics I’m prepared to push the limits. In the final chapter of my novel, The Bridge Club, I address a topic that is controversial as well as current. I was initially concerned that some readers might be offended but I felt so strongly about the subject matter that I knew I had to write about it. I’ve received very positive feedback about it and book clubs have enjoyed the discussion it generates. It’s always nice to discover that the risk was worth it!

  

  • Leo energy generally expresses itself as positive thinking – positive thinking attracts opportunities.  Are you a positive thinker?  Can you share with us a time when positive thinking brought a blessing?

I am a positive thinker through and through. One of my alter egos is Pollyanna Patty and I’m often teased about it! I’m thankful to my Leo energy for this and although I can’t pinpoint a specific example, I feel that I have been blessed through my life as the result of an optimistic attitude. I was widowed at 43 and gained an ever more positive outlook through that devastating experience. I truly believe that every day is a gift to appreciate and give as much to as we possibly can.

  

  • In romance, Leo’s have high aspirations and are idealistic.  Do any of your lead characters fulfil these expectations?

In The Bridge Club several of the characters had experienced very different dimensions of romance in their relationships but that was not the main focus of any of their stories. In my next novel, still untitled, romance is very much at the forefront (spoiler alert) and the main character realizes she is only just discovering romance for the first time in her fifties. At the beginning of the story she thinks her life is pretty much over in many ways and subsequently discovers it is only just beginning. It’s never too late for romance!

  

  • Smaller problems are not an issue for those ruled by the Sun which enables them to see the bigger picture.  Are you able to focus on your writing projects as a whole?  Does this help when you find things may not be going so well?

I tend to be a “pantser” in my writing, rather than a planner but even so I generally have a clear idea of the bigger picture. However part of the fun of writing is seeing where the characters lead you as they begin to take on lives of their own. I’m often very surprised to discover twists and turns in the story. If things aren’t going well, I step away from my writing and go for a walk or play a game of golf. When I sit down at the computer again I’m usually ready to get right back to it.

  

  • The Sun, your ruler, bestows life and light to all.  Leo’s get an inordinate amount of pleasure from helping others enjoy life as much as they do.  Leo’s love to be in the spotlight and to shine!  Do you think this energy motivates your ambition to write?

I’ve been a storyteller all my life through photography. So in that regard, I like to put others in the spotlight but my ego is constantly patting me on the back for the brilliant photo. Does that sound like a Leo? My family and my friends are the most important things in my life and making sure we are all happy and enjoying life to the fullest is what drives me. I’m really not sure what motivates me to write. What I do know is that I love the experience!  (An unexpected side benefit to this adventure of being a writer is the amazing global community of writers that one meets. The amount of information sharing is without measure and the wonderful connections made are priceless.)


Thank you for your honesty Patricia.


Patricia 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:
Patricia Sands lives in Toronto, Canada and is a graduate of theUniversity of Waterloo and York University. With a happily blended family ofseven adult children and, at last count, six grandchildren, life is full andtime is short. Beginning with a Kodak Brownie camera at the age of six, she hastold stories all her life through photography. Her award-winning debut novelThe Bridge Club is a finalist in the Foreword Reviews 2010 Book of The Year(general fiction) and 2011 Next Generation Indie Book Awards (First Novel).Currently, she is working on her next novel.

Author Weblinks:


Author Website:  http://www.patriciasandsauthor.com
Author Blog:  http://www.patriciasands.wordpress.com
Twitter A/c @Patricia_Sands:  http://bit.ly/rbk8i1
Facebook page Patricia Sands:  http://on.fb.me/lvigrm and
Facebook page The Bridge Club: http://on.fb.me/m3NfQY







  • Paperback: 396 pages
  • Publisher: iUniverse.com (25 Aug 2010)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 1450241352
  • ISBN-13: 978-1450241359

For more than forty years, the mantra of the eight women in the Bridge Club has been “one for all and all for one.” Beginning their monthly soiree in the psychedelic Sixties, unpredicted twists of fate weave through the good times and strong friendship they share as the years pass. The constant from one decade to the next is loyal and nonjudgmental support, even when agreeing to disagree is the final solution. From the exhilarating cultural changes of their early times together through the “zoomer” years, their connection never falters.As they celebrate turning sixty (give or take a year) at a group birthday weekend, each woman recalls a challenging time in her life when the Bridge Club came to the rescue. After tossing around ideas mixed with a generous helping of common sense and a large dose of laughter they decide to refer to that time as their “SOS”. Eight chapters document each one’s story.
Everything is put into perspective and the strength of their friendship is truly tested when one of these women faces a life-altering decision. Her choice profoundly affects all members of the group, pushing the limits of their beliefs and values. The unique alliance they share is confronted with a crisis none of them might have imagined.









Secret Squirrel shares …

 

Secret Squirrel made a quick get away today after learning some news that she thought her readers would be interested in …

Author Talli Roland is offering her latest novel, Build A Man, absolutely FREE.  Yes that’s right, from today (Thursday) through to the end of Saturday, you can download Build A Man from Amazon and it will cost you nothing!  See links below for downloading a copy for yourself.  Talli’s goal is to reach as many readers as possible.  So spread the word!

 

 

You can read the blurb and my review here.  I said “Build A Man was a read that hooked me in and in all honesty, I’m looking forward to reading the sequel Construct a Couple.  I can’t wait to see how Serenity’s relationship with her boyfriend works out and if the tension in Build A Man is anything to go by …”

To visit Amazon UK to download your copy click here.

To visit Amazon US to download your copy click here.

 

 

 

 

 

Secret Squirrel is avidly reading Talli’s tweets to see her progress of Construct A Couple - the time is getting nearer … Secret Squirrel can reveal the cover which is gorgeous – what do you think?

With a job at the city’s most respected magazine and a man who’s the perfect match, Serenity Holland thinks she’s laid the foundation for an ideal London life. When a routine assignment uncovers a shocking secret threatening her boyfriend’s livelihood, Serenity decides to leave nothing to chance, taking matters into her own hands. Soon, though, she realises keeping secrets isn’t as easy as she thought . . . and the consequences are far worse than she ever imagined.

Secret Squirrel signing off until next time …

 

 

Jera’s Jamboree reviews: Not Really Mr Smith by Katri Cardew

Not Really Mr. Smith by Katri Cardew

  • Format: Kindle Edition
  • File Size: 310 KB
  • Publisher: Breedles Publishing; 1 edition (13 Nov 2011)
  • Sold by: Amazon Media EU S.à r.l.
  • Language English
  • ASIN: B0067FZB0G

When a strange accident had the family lawyer suspicious, James Geraghty was brought in as a replacement bodyguard for the heiress Aden Barrington. What he didn’t expect was that the job not only entailed him being renamed and joining her menagerie of staff but that she would drag him all over the countryside while she drew trees.


The association with James causes Aden to withdraw from her fantasy world to face the realities of life, except that hers consists of a cousin who might have organised her removal. James finds himself struggling to keep Aden safe while coping with her strange and deadly family. He would be far more confident if her eyes weren’t the colour of honey and her hair a halo of sunshine. James discovered he got much more than he bargained for when he accepted the job of being Mr. Smith because falling in love wasn’t part of the job description.  

 

Not Really Mr Smith begins with the reader becoming familiar with our hero James Geraghty, including the reason why he left his childhood family home to join the military.  Through his connections with the military, James is offered the position to guard Aden Barrington.  When we first meet James, he is a man who has emotional barriers and is guarding his heart.

Aden is a very interesting character.  Something she saw as a child of ten has shaped her withdrawal of the world and she is hiding behind an eccentric artistic temperament.  Her re-naming of people in her life shows an astuteness of the author in seeing underneath everyday personas.  The staff around Aden treats her as if she is still a child but underneath Aden’s ‘mask’ she is very aware … she knows exactly what is happening.

At a weekend away celebrating her aunt’s birthday, James’ past becomes his present and this sparks Aden’s feelings.

During the final crises, Aden learns some truths and this releases her from her vulnerability and enables her to face up to reality.

I think  James and Aden’s love is very innocent although soulful!

I have to admit that Katri Cardew’s writing intrigued me as it has an ‘old world’ feel to the rhythm.

Not Really Mr Smith is a story about power and looking below the surface (as well as the romance!).  At £1.92 on Kindle with Amazon, it will give you a few hours of escapism into a world of money … what it is capable of buying and what it is not.

I would like to thank the author for providing me with a review copy in exchange for an honest review.

Katri Cardew’s books on Amazon
You can find Katri on her blog or tweet her.  She also has a Facebook page.

Shaz Stars interviews author Linn B Halton

In the hot seat today I would like to welcome:
LINN B HALTON
Hello Linn, thank you for letting us have a peek behind thescenes.  Your sun sign is GEMINI.
 
You are very welcome Shaz and ‘Hi’ to our wonderful readers! 

Q.  Those born with their sun in the sign of Gemini are said to be restless.  Writing is a long process!  Do you have any strategies that settle your mind ready for writing?  Is there a creative ‘window’ in your day when you know you will be at your most settled and therefore productive?

I like to have everything organised, so that when I sit down to write my mind feels ‘uncluttered’.  The problem is that when I do write I start early, but unless something makes me break away from it I would write into the night!  I will even eat whilst typing… very bad habit!  I’ve waited a long time to be in a position where I can enjoy the luxury of writing, but it is a dual-edged sword.  I love every single second I’m with my characters and a part of the world they create and want me to write.  I just didn’t realise that being a writer wasn’t just about the writing…..laugh!




 Q.     Gemini-born people are intellectual and forever probing people and places in search of information.  Do you find when you are researching you have far too much information?  How do you choose which information you will use and which to discard?  Do you throwaway research that you don’t use or do you save it in case you may need it in the future?

I think I’m lucky in some respects because I’m able to quickly scan masses of information and just pick out what I need.  That’s usually because I know exactly what I’m looking for to start with and that certainly helps.  Again, that’s all down to my ability to be really focussed.  I keep all research so I can go back to it at a later date if I need anything more.  Some research is also of great interest to me, for instance I was researching how to develop one’s psychic abilities and had to include in my story a scene at a ‘closed circle’.  Reading up about chakras etc was fascinating, but I also had a friend who is a spiritualist check it over before I finalised that section of the book.




Q. Gemini’s constantly need new interests and flit from project to project.  Do you have several writing projects you are working on?

I do ‘flit’ because I am enthusiastic by nature.  However, I also have the ability to concentrate on things in great detail.  I would never write two books at the same time, I would always complete each as a separate project.  When I wrote my debut novel ‘Touched By The Light’, it was the start of an intensive 18 month period of writing and I produced five completed manuscripts in that time.  I’m glad I did, because these days I seem to spend my time building websites and writing articles instead of books!



Q. Gemini’s are very sociable and are at their best when they are able to shine in the company of others.  Writing is a solitary process.  How do you balance a need to be with others while you are engrossed in your writing?

Not a lot of people realise that I am actually quite a shy person.  So though I am generally thought of as outgoing, I do love my ‘alone’ time.  So I could happily write for long periods of time with only my own company, and James Blunt singing in the background!  But sooner or later I need to interact with people, because it’s essential – like breathing!



Q. Gemini is a mutable sign (which means change) and Gemini’s are chameleon like, changing their personas to fit with whomever they are with.  Do you take on the personality of the characters in your writing?

I am constantly changing, and the changes are coming much faster now that I have given up what was my main career for over 20 years.  First I developed my hobby and was offered an opportunity to design show home interiors, then my husband and I spent three years renovating two cottages.  And now I’m writing, my guilty pleasure has become my ‘life’s work’.  Once a character is set in my mind, when I am writing about them I become them.  They are in effect writing the story.  When I finished writing my debut novel, the reality suddenly hit me that my characters weren’t actually real people.  I missed them .. (laugh).



Q. A negative trait of the sun sign Gemini is that they can become uncertain of themselves and withdraw.  Have you ever chosen not to do a writing project because you were uncertain of yourself?

I do like to withdraw into myself when I’m not sure about something and need to plan what I’m going to do next, or how to handle a situation.  But in essence I don’t move on something unless I think I can do a good job, so I’ve never had to ‘withdraw’ from anything.  I just wouldn’t commit in the first place and see that as a good thing.  Know what you can do and what is best left to others.



Q. Gemini’s are able to look at a project from all sides and put forth logical and well-thought out ideas.  This is an asset to team work.  How do you approach teamwork in relation to publishing your work?  What does teamwork mean for you?

loveahappyending.com!  Teamworking at its best – Readers, Authors and hopefully Sponsors!  My favourite saying is ‘no man is an island’, it is the first quote on the acknowledgement page in my debut novel.  But it is the READERS and their feedback that give a writer the heart to keep writing.  As a new author you have no idea whether you will gain a following.  That’s why loveahappyending.com was created – giving the READERS the power to give a new author exposure they can’t get, because they haven’t got a big advertising budget to promote their book.  But our wonderful READERS and ASSOCIATE READERS are in the driving seat here – I can’t wait to see the result!


Thank you for spending time with us today Linn.


Linn 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 weblinks:


Author website: http://linnbhalton.co.uk/

Twitter @LinnBHalton: http://bit.ly/ksXMDS

  • Hardcover: 248 pages
  • Publisher: Book Guild Publishing (24 Feb 2011)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 1846245311
  • ISBN-13: 978-1846245312

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.

If you read my Secret Squirrel feature you will have read recently that Linn has a novel being published by Sapphire Star Publishing … a US publisher.  Follow Linn on Twitter or read her website to be kept up to date with publication.

#Kindle March releases on my wishlist

There are actually MORE than the following five I’d love to read but if I blogged them all …. I’ve ordered them by publishing date.

One Night Only by Sue Welfare

Format: Kindle Edition
File Size: 570 KB
Publisher: Avon (1 Mar 2012)
Sold by: Amazon Media EU S.à r.l.
Language English
ASIN: B0067KS5W2

Funny, sharp and deeply poignant, One Night Only explore the pitfalls of fame, friendship and family secrets – perfect for fans of Katie Fforde and Catherine Alliott.  A heart-warming read that looks at the paths not crossed – if you enjoyed This Is Your Life in its heyday you’ll adore this.Fame and fortune can’t hide the secrets of her past…When fading soap star, Helen Redford, goes back to her old home town to make a TV show about her glittering career she catches a glimpse of the might-have-beens that drove her to leave in the first place. Ex boy friends, old scores to settle, friendships gone sour, chances not taken,and secrets about Helen’s family that have haunted her since she was a little girl. Will Helen be able to put her past to rest?

The synopsis intrigued me – I want to know what happened in Helen Radford’s past that drove her away and how will she deal with the emotions that going back will bring to the surface?  Pre-order price on Amazon £0.99, definitely a bargain!

Sue Welfare on Amazon

The Patchwork Marriage by Jane Green

Format: Kindle Edition
File Size: 625 KB
Publisher: Penguin (15 Mar 2012)
Sold by: Amazon Media EU S.à r.l.
Language English
ASIN: B006ZZDH7C

Ever wanted a ready-made family? When Andi married Ethan she not only got the man she loves but also a ready-made family in his two daughters, Emily and Sophia. Unable to have a child of her own, Andi saw this as a precious gift – her chance to be a mother. If only it were that simple. For this blended family is not a happy family, and the reason lies with Emily. Her vicious anger and fierce resentment towards her stepmother leaves Andi feeling hated in her own home. Her tears, tantrums and expertise in the art of emotional blackmail have Ethan steeped in guilt. With each drama Emily is driving Andi and Ethan further apart. Torn between his troubled teenaged daughter and his beloved wife, Ethan’s desperate to fix this rift before he loses Andi for ever. He just doesn’t know how. With tensions high and everyone at breaking point, Emily comes home with some shocking news. Is this the final crack that will shatter this family for good or can they find a way to mend their broken hearts?

I first came across this author on Chick Lit Central‘s one year blogoversary feature last year.  I read The Beach House and loved it.  The Patchwork Marriage sounds as if it’s going to take the reader on an emotional journey …  Preorder price on Amazon of £7.99

Jane Green on Amazon

The Sugar Girls: Tales of Hardship, Love and Happiness in Tate & Lyle’s East End – Duncan Barrett, Nuala Calvi

Format: Kindle Edition
File Size: 5 KB
Publisher: Collins (29 Mar 2012)
Sold by: Amazon Media EU S.à r.l.
Language English
ASIN: B006I1AEYM

Tales of Hardship, Love and Happiness in Tate & Lyle’s East End Factories  ‘On an autumn day in 1944, Ethel Alleyne walked the short distance from her house to Tate & Lyle’s refinery on the shining curve of the Thames. Looking up at the giant gates, Ethel felt like she had been preparing for this moment all her life. She smoothed down her frizzy hair, scraped a bit of dirt off the corner of her shoe and strode through. She was quite unprepared for the sight that met her eyes …’In the years leading up to and after the Second World War thousands of women left school at fourteen to work in the bustling factories of London’s East End. Despite long hours, hard and often hazardous work, factory life afforded exciting opportunities for independence, friendship and romance. Of all the factories that lined the docks, it was at Tate and Lyle’s where you could earn the most generous wages and enjoy the best social life, and it was here where The Sugar Girls worked. Through the Blitz and on through the years of rationing The Sugar Girls kept Britain sweet. The work was back-breakingly hard, but Tate & Lyle was more than just a factory, it was a community, a calling, a place of love and support and an uproarious, tribal part of the East End. From young Ethel to love-worn Lillian, irrepressible Gladys to Miss Smith who tries to keep a workforce of flirtatious young men and women on the straight and narrow, this is an evocative, moving story of hunger, hardship and happiness.Tales of adversity, resilience and youthful high spirits are woven together to provide a moving insight into a lost way of life, as well as a timeless testament to the experience of being young and female.

I love history, love to keep alive the tales of our ancestors and especially love hearing about life in the area that my ancestors once lived.  Can’t wait for this release and at preorder price £2.99 on Amazon, definitely a bargain for me!

Duncan Barrett on Amazon

Welcome To Rosie Hopkins’ Sweetshop Of Dreams by Jenny Colgan

Format: Kindle Edition
File Size: 5 KB
Publisher: Hachette Digital (29 Mar 2012)
Sold by: Amazon Media EU S.à r.l.
Language English
ASIN: B0068PHVT4

Rosie Hopkins is about to face major upheaval.  Her elderly aunt Lilian – feisty, independent Aunt Lily who never talked about her past – needs her help, so Rosie is moving to the depths of the countryside for a few months to look after her. Plus Rosie will be away from Gerard, the man she hopes to settle down with soon, and they’ll miss each other dreadfully… won’t they? Lilian Hopkins has spent her life running Lipton’s village sweetshop, through wartime and family feuds. As she struggles with the idea that it might finally be time to sell up, she also wrestles with the secret history hidden behind the jars of beautifully coloured sweets. And the longer Rosie and Lilian spend together, the more they realise they can learn from each other…

You’ve probably already seen me tweet that I want to read this story!  Before my blogging days I read quite a few of Jenny Colgan’s novels.  I’m drawn to the history, the family connection, will Rosie’s relationship make it with Gerard … and of course the secret.  Preorder price on Amazon £4.49.

Jenny Colgan on Amazon

Jasmine Skies by Sita Brahmachari

Format: Kindle Edition
File Size: 5 KB
Publisher: Macmillan Children’s Books (29 Mar 2012)
Sold by: Amazon Media EU S.à r.l.
Language English
ASIN: B006Z9SM78

On her fourteenth birthday, Mira Levenson is given a very special present – a plane ticket to India, to meet her family. Saying goodbye to her boyfriend, Jide, is hard but they promise to write to each other, the old-fashioned way. As soon as Mira steps off the plane she is sucked into a swelteringly hot world of hustle, bustle, noise and chaos. Nothing is as she imagined it – her cousin Priya is far from the conservative Indian girl Mira imagined her to be – she’s street-wise, stylish and a skilfull Bangra House DJ. In return, Priya is disapointed that Mira isn’t quite the funky, savvy, London Brit-chick she’s been boasting about to her friends. Mira’s letters to Jide describe the new sights, smells and people in Kolkata, but there is one person Mira doesn’t write about. Janu is a carpenter and grower of Jasmine and, from the moment she meets him, Mira feels a potent connection. As she questions her feelings for Jide, Mira is also discovering deep family secrets and beginning to understand the complexity of relationships that have stood the test of time. And, as Mira’s time in Kolkata draws to a close, she must make a decision that will break someone’s heart . . .

I enjoy reading about different cultures other than my own and this interests me on many levels.  Mira, living a life in London and then visiting her roots to find it’s not what she expected.  Family secrets again! and of course the romance.  Preorder on Amazon £3.58

Sita Brahmachari on Amazon

Are you looking forward to any March releases?  Do any of mine attract you whether for the same or different reasons?  Please feel free to share in the comments.

Kindle March releases on Amazon

Jera’s Jamboree review: The Book of Summers by debut author Emylia Hall

The Book of Summers by debut author Emylia Hall

Hardcover: 336 pages

Publisher: Headline Review (1 Mar 2012)

Language English

ISBN-10: 0755390830

ISBN-13: 978-0755390830

Beth Lowe has been sent a parcel.

Inside is a letter informing her that her long-estranged mother has died, and a scrapbook Beth has never seen before. Entitled The Book of Summers, it’s stuffed with photographs and mementos compiled by her mother to record the seven glorious childhood summers Beth spent in rural Hungary.


It was a time when she trod the tightrope between separated parents and two very different countries; her bewitching but imperfect Hungarian mother and her gentle, reticent English father; the dazzling house of a Hungarian artist and an empty-feeling cottage in deepest Devon. And it was a time that came to the most brutal of ends the year Beth turned sixteen.

Since then, Beth hasn’t allowed herself to think about those years of her childhood. But the arrival of The Book of Summers brings the past tumbling back into the present; as vivid, painful and vital as ever.

 

In the prologue we meet Beth’s mother, Marika.  She takes down the book to read on a night of snow and escapes to the sun-filled days.  The reader knows she feels ambivalent “For when she turns the pages she is a time-traveller.  When she turns the pages she is bound in chains.”  On being called back to Marika’s life in the present, the reader is made aware that between the pages is everything that is lost to her.

Chapter One builds a picture of Beth’s life now.  How her father was when she was a child and the terms of their relationship now.  Her father is going to visit her, it’s not a planned visit so is totally out of character for him … we get a deeper glimpse into their relationship in the now as Beth prepares for that visit.  His purpose is to give her the parcel with the Hungarian stamps.

In the second chapter we get to know Marika and the first family journey to her homeland in Hungary.  It is the first time she has been back since she left with her own parents when she was ten.  The author shows the reader how Beth’s mother belongs and is in her element.  Beth and her father, David, are outsiders.  The juxtaposition of both lives is fascinating!  Hauntingly poignant when your roots are in a different country and you still belong to that land … how can you live a life that’s so far removed?  Heart-wrenching choices.

 

While Beth is sitting in Victoria Park, London, the reader journeys alongside her into those six summers of visits to Hungary interspersed with moments of reality.  We are completely immersed in the world as it was at that time.  Those sun-drenched summers are portrayed with life and zest.  Beth often compares herself to her mother as she tries to find her own place of belonging. The writing is evocative and the author uses figurative language to draw the reader’s imagination (I loved Hall’s writing style).  As each year Beth is older, the author captures exactly the growth of the child from the innocence of the early days to the hedonistic teenager.

It is such a vibrant world.   I experienced a different culture and so was also able to expand my own horizons.  It is clear that the author has spent time in Hungary and has drawn on her own experiences.

The other characters – Zoltan, her mother’s partner; Tamas, the boy next door;  were very real to me.  Emylia Hall magically weaves their personalities from their actions – we are shown rather than told, which if you are a regular reader of my blog, you will know I love!

I didn’t see the crisis coming!  Of course we know something brutal happens from the synopsis but not only was I so caught up in the experience of those Hungarian summers, I would never have been able to predict what was coming.  There is only one clue to what it could be but the author cleverly drops this in at a very emotional moment when the reader isn’t concentrating on the why, only what is.  I was stunned.  I cried.  I think this shows how emotionally involved I was in this world!

The sadness of the book coming into Beth’s life is the timing.

“How would it have been, if things had been different?” Beth asks her father.

The beauty of the book is that it unlocks Beth’s soul and allows her to reclaim a large part of her childhood that had previously been lost.

“Sometimes if you don’t go backwards, you can’t move forwards”  Marika once said when she was trying to explain why she’d returned to Hungary.

The truths and honesty her father shares with her also allow for the healing to take place… so alongside the bone-aching sorrow is the chance to become whole.

There is only one possible rating I can give to The Book of Summers as it has touched me so deeply:

Buy it but be loathe to share your copy ... it's a keeper!

I predict The Book of Summers will become widely read both at an individual level and with book groups.  I will certainly be looking out for other novels by this author.

I read this uncorrected proof as part of The Real Readers programme (please see sidebar).

Emylia Hall on Amazon

You can keep up to date with Emylia’s news on her blog.  You can find out more about her by reading her profile on the publisher’s website, Headline.  Emylia also tweets.

I highly recommend you watch the book trailer:

The winner of my one year blogoversary giveaway is …

 

Thank you for all your wonderful comments on my one year blogoversary.  It’s great to be a part of such a network – a sense of belonging :)

I loved all your party memories and why they were important to you.  My 18yo (@samuelsparrow on Twitter) read your comments, went away and thought about them and chose the winner because this particular comment stuck in his mind.

Kirsty

 

Thank you for taking part everyone.  There will be more giveaways so keep reading :)

Shaz

x

 

Jera’s Jamboree Reviews: Sleeping with Paris by Juliette Sobanet

Sleeping with Paris by Juliette Sobanet

Format: Kindle Edition

File Size: 485 KB

Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited

Sold by: Amazon Media EU S.à r.l.

Language English

ASIN: B005TNM736

Sleeping with Paris won first place in the Women’s Fiction category of the 2010 Washington Romance Writers Marlene Awards and was a finalist in the 2010 Valley Forge Romance Writers Sheila Contest.

 

***

Charlotte Summers is a sassy, young French teacher who is two days away from moving to Paris with the love of her life and from fulfilling her dream of studying at the prestigious Sorbonne University in France. But when she discovers her fiancé’s online dating profile and has a little chat with the busty red-head he’s been sleeping with on the side, she gives up on committed relationships altogether and decides to navigate Paris on her own.

Determined to stop other women from finding themselves in her shoes, Charlotte creates an anonymous blog on how to date like a man in the City of Love—that is, how to jump from bed to bed without ever falling in love. But, with a slew of Parisian men beating down her door, a hot new neighbour who feeds her chocolate in bed, and an appearance by her sleazy ex-fiancé, she isn’t so sure she can keep her promise to remain commitment-free.

And, when Charlotte agrees to write an article for a popular women’s magazine about her Parisian dating adventures—or disasters, rather—will she risk losing the one man who’s swept her off her feet and her dream job in one fell swoop?

 

Sleeping with Paris begins with Charlotte’s last day at work.  She’s said goodbye to everyone and has decided to stop off at Jeff’s office with a bottle of champagne.  He’s not there, so checks her emails on his computer while she’s waiting.  Up pops a chat box from Brooke, which leads Charlotte to look at the computer history and she discovers Jeff’s online dating profile.

Not being able to pass up on the opportunity of studying full-time at the Sorbonne in Paris, she finds herself alone in a dormitory, in emotional turmoil and decidedly unsure if she’s made the right decision.  Having set up a blog to chart her and Jeff’s Parisian adventure, she decides to edit its purpose and instead, gives advice to all the women who’ve been cheated on by sharing how she is dating like a man.  The popularity of the blog escalates and further on into the story the reader realises it has some dire consequences for not only her friends but also her own family.  The resulting article for US magazine, Belle, also turns her world upside down.

Charlotte has a need to fill the emotional vacuum left by Jeff and I must admit to feeling sad that she hadn’t experienced life ‘solo’ … without a relationship.  Of course as the story progresses we come to understand why and we see her grow and develop.  She’s not the only character who is broken underneath a mask of coping and living the wild life.  Sobanet gets into her characters psyches and creates a story that fits their profiles.

I loved the camaraderie of the friendships and the cultural influence of France.  It is clear that the author has spent time in Georgetown, Paris and Lyon, which adds depth to the background.

Throughout the main part of the story we see Charlotte wavering in how she feels about Jeff, which fits perfectly with the grieving cycle of healing.  Her confusion is real and the reader identifies with what she is going through.  This draws you in.  Her growing feelings for Luc are blindsided by her decision to ‘date like a man.’  It is only at a crisis point that she comes to a realisation … but is it too late?

Sleeping with Paris is a chick lit that is adventurous and thoughtful.   I am giving the following rating:

Buy it and spread the word

Juliette’s second novel ‘Kissed in Paris’ is now available to buy on Amazon.

Juliette Sobanet’s books on Amazon

I would like to thank the author for sending me a copy to review in exchange for an honest review.

Check out up-to-date information on Juliette Sobanet’s blog ‘Chocolate for Writers’ (also links to follow Juliette on Twitter and Facebook).