Monthly Archives: August 2012

Jera’s Jamboree: Guest Author Talli Roland

I’m a huge fan of Talli Roland’s and am delighted to welcome her to Jera’s Jamboree today.

Photo courtesy of author

 

Talli Roland writes fun, romantic fiction. Born and raised in Canada, Talli now lives in London, where she savours the great cultural life (coffee and wine). Despite training as a journalist, Talli soon found she preferred making up her own stories–complete with happy endings. Talli’s debut novel The Hating Game was short-listed for Best Romantic Read at the UK’s Festival of Romance, while her second, Watching Willow Watts, was selected as an Amazon Customer Favourite. Her novels have also been chosen as top books of the year by industry review websites and have been bestsellers in Britain and the United States. Construct A Couple is her latest release.

 

Want to be a Novelist? A Recommended Diet

 

Writing from home each day, most of the excitement in my life revolves around food. Now, we all know the benefits of cupcakes and chocolate – how they can lift us from the doldrums when things may not be going so swimmingly with our writing efforts.

But what about all those other mood swings we writers experience? What should we munch on then?

I’ve developed a handy-dandy guide to help with just that question.

Stuck on a plot point. If your creative juices aren’t flowing, why not encourage a little saliva? I’d suggest munching on something sour; perhaps some of those super-mouth-pursing penny candies from the corner shop. Or, why not try sucking a lemon?

Bored with the book. No matter how excited we may be when we begin a new project, it’s inevitable that at some stage, boredom will set in. At this point, I’d recommend a bracing bite of a durian. It tastes like feet and I can guarantee you’ll feel alert after eating it!

Restless and anxious. Sometimes, reading over one’s own writing and the thought of showing it to others can be vom-inducing. I’d recommend a lovely cup of chamomile tea, paired with a digestive biscuit. Ahhhh…

When that character just won’t behave! Don’t kill them off with abandon. Instead, I recommend cooking up a piece o’ meat then stabbing it over and over to release frustration. (Note: I haven’t actually done this – yet).

The elusive ‘this novel rocks’ moment. Grab whatever food is handy and stuff your face fast, ‘coz I can guarantee that moment probably won’t last!

Happy eating! Oh yes… and writing.

 

To learn more about Talli, go to www.talliroland.com or follow Talli on Twitter: @talliroland. Talli blogs at talliroland.blogspot.com.

 

Format: Kindle Edition
File Size: 417 KB
Print Length: 308 pages
Page Numbers Source ISBN: 1475081960
Publisher: Notting Hill Press (5 Nov 2011)
Sold by: Amazon Media EU S.à r.l.
Language: English
ASIN: B00642BCX2

Slave to the rich and the rude, cosmetic surgery receptionist Serenity Holland longs for the day she’s a high-flying tabloid reporter. When she meets Jeremy Ritchie — the hang-dog man determined to be Britain’s Most Eligible Bachelor by making himself over from head to toe and everything in between — Serenity knows she’s got a story no editor could resist.

With London’s biggest tabloid on board and her very own column tracking Jeremy’s progress from dud to dude, Serenity is determined to be a success. But when Jeremy’s surgery goes drastically wrong and she’s ordered to cover all the car-crash goriness, Serenity must decide how far she really will go for her dream job.

Available to purchase on Kindle from Amazon.

The next book in the series, Construct A Couple, is now available.

Format: Kindle Edition
File Size: 329 KB
Print Length: 176 pages
Publisher: Notting Hill Press (8 Jun 2012)
Sold by: Amazon Media EU S.à r.l.
Language: English
ASIN: B008A6V1CW

Is any relationship strong enough to survive a string of secrets?

With a great job at a reputable 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 company, 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.


Available to purchase on Kindle from Amazon.

 

Jera’s Jamboree: Review The Forsaken by Lisa M Stasse

The Forsaken by Lisa M Stasse

Paperback: 432 pages

Publisher: Orchard (2 Aug 2012)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 1408318806

ISBN-13: 978-1408318805

Alenna Shawcross is a sixteen-year-old orphan growing up in a police state formed from the ashes of Canada, the US and Mexico after a global economic meltdown.

But when she unexpectedly fails ‘the test’ – a government initiative which supposedly identifies teens destined to be criminals – she wakes up alone on a remote island reserved for the criminally insane.

Terrified and confused, she soon encounters a group of other teen survivors battling to stay alive, including Liam, a boy who will become her love…and her lifeline.

Soon Alenna makes the terrifying discovery that there’s more to the island (and her past) than she could ever have guessed… But who can she trust? And can she ever escape?

The Forsaken opens with a prologue.  Ten year old Alenna Shawcross witnesses the traumatic event of the police breaking into the family home and dragging her parents off making her a ward of the United Northern Alliance (UNA).

Six years later, Alenna is on a field trip to the Harka Museum, which shows Prison Island Alpha via a camera on the island… where they’re shipped if they fail the Government Personality Profile Test (GPPT) and labelled ‘Unanchored Souls’.  The reader is introduced to the background of the UNA and the political climate they live in.  The next day, Alenna queues up for the GPPT not even worried about the test expecting to pass having been an obedient member of society – and wakes up on the island.

From the moment Alenna wakes up on the ‘wheel’ the reader experiences the terror and fear of trying to stay alive, to survive.  We’re introduced to the warring factions as the drones from The Monk (who appear crazy, drugged and filthy) try to steal her away from Gadya, a hunter from the blue sector.  They make it to the village and we’re introduced to their way of life they’ve made for themselves and the roles they play.  Alenna realises these people aren’t criminals or insane and so begins the thoughts behind the testing and what it really means.  Danger doesn’t only come from the warring factions.  There’s the sickness and it’s not long before we find out about the feelers – mechanical arms that come down from the sky and take the prisoners for what purpose nobody knows.  We experience a quest with Alenna as a small group head off to the grey area where it’s said the planes arrive and depart.

It’s not all about survival though as jealousies and emotions are also a theme explored in The Forsaken through Gadya, Alenna and Liam.  Gadya and Liam have past history, which affects the friendship that Gadya and Alenna form.  There are some pretty tense scenes because of this and when you need everyone on your side …

Other interesting concepts are explored briefly when Alenna realises how the drones see them, the villagers – and how The Monk feels about his devotees.  Philosophical thoughts!

Alenna is a character that we see grow. Narrated in the first person the reader can identify with her character and her thoughts.  Motivated by information she finds out about her parents, she comes through again and again, putting herself into all sorts of jeopardy for others and experiencing intense physical pain.  She is a brilliant lead character that pulls the plot together and involves the reader with her questions.

My favourite scene has to be on the ice of the lake.  This was so tense with the fighting, hardship and death.  It clearly showed the bond between the characters … and there is a big reveal!

When we first set foot on the island, the plot reminded me of the Lord of the Flies.  I had also seen The Forsaken compared to The Hunger Games.  There are similarities but ultimately, The Forsaken is unique as we become more involved with the plot and the characters.  This dystopian world set in 2032 has been so well crafted by the author.  I love it! As well as the action which has a fast pace (and is nerve tingling and page turning) there’s intrigue and surprises too.  For me, The Forsaken was an engrossing read and a truly brilliant start to a trilogy.  There are quite a few scenes that could easily be transferred to a console game and I think it would make an epic movie!  Lisa Stasse is a debut author with talent.  I can’t wait for the next story in the trilogy.

The Forsaken gets the following rating from me, not only for the YA genre but also for adults who enjoy science fiction:

Buy it but be loathe to share your copy … it’s a keeper!

I would like to thank Orchard for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review.
To purchase from Amazon please click here

To purchase from The Book Depository please click here

Also available from all good book stores

You can find out more about the author on her website.  Lisa Stasse tweets and you can find her on Facebook.

Jera’s Jamboree review and giveaway: The Black Shard by Victoria Simcox

The Black Shard by Victoria Simcox

Format: Kindle Edition

File Size: 2330 KB

Print Length: 268 pages

Page Numbers Source ISBN: 1937293149

Publisher: Two Harbors Press (30 Sep 2011)

Sold by: Amazon Media EU S.à r.l.

Language: English

ASIN: B0084AA7RO

Kristina’s stay at summer horse camp is horrible to say the least, and it’s all because Hester and Davina are there as well, making her life miserable. When Hester’s cruel prank goes terribly wrong, it’s actually what sends the three girls back to the magical land of Bernovem.

In Bernovem, Kristina is very excited to see her former friend, Prince Werrien. When he invites her to sail with him on his ship to his homeland Tezerel, putting it simply, Kristina can’t refuse. Reunited with her gnome, dwarf, animal, fairy friends … and best of all, Werrien, things seem like they couldn’t get any better for Kristina. But when Werrien becomes fascinated with an unusual seeing stone, the “Black Shard”, Kristina is haunted by a ghostlike old hag.

Struggling against suspicion, guilt, illness, and ultimately the one who wants to possess her soul, Kristina will see it’s in her weakest moment that she will encounter more strength than she has ever known.

 

The Black Shard is the second in a trilogy in a magical adventure for the YA genre that begins with The Magic Warble (you can read my review here).

Kristina is at the Tranquil Trails Horse Ranch (owned by Hester’s family) for summer camp.  Davina and Hester are also at summer camp and neither girls recall the magical world of Bernovem.  Still up to high jinx, they talk Kristina into going for a horse ride when they should be mucking out the stables and cleaning the tack.  It’s the prank that they play on the ride which leads to Kristina falling down a ravine … and being caught back in Bernovem.

Kristina bumps into Prince Werrien right away.  It’s his birthday and at the celebrations we get to meet the old characters.  I thought this was a brilliant way to re-introduce them.

Prince Werrien has found some items hidden away in the palace and he shows Kristina.  One of the items is a shard broken from the seeing stone, another is Bernovem’s Book of Prophecy (the front section is still missing and now the back session is missing too) and another the golden goblet. Kristina finds out they will be travelling by sea to Tezerel with the court.

The reader finds out where the back section of Bernovem’s Book of Prophecy is – and also intrigue from a serpent who has creatures working its will.  The first hook for me was the mosquito … what would it be injecting and who would it inject and what part did it have to play?

During the travelling the reader has quite a few adventures and we’re introduced to new characters/creatures while periodically glimpsing the serpent and what it’s up to.

In the Black Shard we find out more about the history of Bernovem.  We learn about the Rainbow Tree, the Great Spirit Yolen and how the Zelbock’s came into existence.

Kristina and Prince Werrien’s romance is stronger (now that they are two years older) and the insecurity and anxiety Kristina feels around him is a reflection of how teens are in real life.

I think there is more of the element of the spiritual with good and evil in this second book.  I enjoyed how Simcox presents this for the YA genre.

The adventures are well paced and the magical world enchanting.  The story just flows.  Once again we have drawings interspersed throughout the story.

I had quite a few surprises at the climax – which I loved!  We are left on a cliff-hanger, not knowing where or how Prince Werrien is while Kristina is starting off on a new adventure with a wizard to find Azaril (who has the front section of the book of prophecy) into the forsaken land of Jalmara.

I would love to see this trilogy made into a movie or TV series.  I think it would be amazing!

Buy it and spread the word

You can find out more about the author on her blog, like The Magic Warble Facebook page and The Black Shard Facebook page or follow Victoria on Twitter.

The Magic Warble and The Black Shard is available to purchase through the authors website or Amazon Kindle format £1.95 for The Magic Warble and £1.92 for The Black Shard.  Alternatively you can enter the giveaway!

Victoria Simcox has generously offered to giveaway to two of my readers both e-books in this trilogy.  To enter, complete one of the following (don’t forget to leave me a comment saying what you have done).

Giveaway is open Internationally and closes 3rd September midnight (BST).

Good Luck

Jera’s Jamboree review: Silenced by Simon Packham

Silenced by Simon Packham

Paperback: 192 pages

Publisher: Piccadilly Press (1 Jun 2012)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 1848122101

ISBN-13: 978-1848122109

“At first I thought there were technical problems – something wrong with the sound system – because when I opened my mouth I couldn’t hear a thing. But it was more serious than that…I was completely dumb.”

 

Chris loses the power of speech completely when his best friend dies in a car crash. Why? What terrible secret is he hiding? And can he find his voice before it’s too late?

 

Powerful and original, this is a thought-provoking new thriller by the author of “coming 2 gt u” and “The Bex Factor”

 

When Piccadilly Press tweeted for any bloggers interested in reading Silenced, I read the synopsis and quickly tweeted back.  Along with the intrigue of finding out what Chris’ secret was, I was also interested in the selective mutism aspect.

We find out from a newspaper article that Facebook tributes for 15 year old Declan Norris are flooding in.  We’re then transported to 8 months after the crash and Chris has gone to visit the site of the accident for the first time.  He’s chatting to Declan and the reader feels there has been a resolution of some kind.

Starting from the morning after the crash until we’re back to 8 months after crash at the same scene, we become involved in the St Thomas school community dealing with their grief and specifically, Chris’ healing journey.

Narrated in the first person, we become a part of Chris’ pain and guilt. He can speak up until 5 days after the crash when at the memoriam at school, he is unable to perform his part.  It only takes a few more weeks before CAMHS become involved (the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service).  I work with our local CAMHS so for me, Chris’ sessions brought this service to life for me!  Despite all the support available for Chris, he still remains mute.  As the story progresses we get to know more about his friendship with Declan and come to understand that Chris isn’t mute from his best friends death but from the secret he is hiding.

Chris’ peers and family add depth to the story … Ariel, (Declan’s girlfriend) knows there is something underlying his inability to speak and doesn’t give up trying to help him and Will, who is a new boy and leads Chris into some daredevil escapades.  These key characters are quite interesting in their juxtaposed roles.  Will’s high jinx leads Chris to forget for a short time while Ariel is drawing him out to make him remember.

“Ariel was like a truth drug.  The longer I spent with her, the more likely I was to crack.  She seemed to have worked out I was hiding something.  And she wasn’t going to let go.” (page 105)

The frustration of his parents at his inability to talk is poignantly shown in an overheard conversation.

The intrigue of what could possibly have had such a huge impact on Chris draws the reader on and the language is apt for the YA audience.  So is the perspective of the adolescent – as adults I think we sometimes forget that maturity (usually!) brings an emotional intelligence.

My rating is based on the targeted audience:

Buy it and spread the word

Simon Packham on Amazon

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

You can find out more about Simon Packham on his website and his Piccadilly Press author page. You can also tweet with him.

Jera’s Jamboree : Review The Girl on Paper by Guillaume Musso

The Girl on Paper by Guillaume Musso

Paperback: 435 pages

Publisher: Gallic Books  (16 July 2012)

Language: English, French

ISBN-10: 1906040885

ISBN-13: 978-1906040888

 

Just a few months ago, Tom Boyd was a multi-millionselling author living in LA, in love with a world-famous pianist. But after a very public break-up he’s shut himself away, suffering from total writer’s block, with only drink and drugs for company.

 

One night, a beautiful, naked stranger appears in Tom’s house. She claims to be Billie, a character from his novels, who has fallen into the real world because of a printer’s error in his latest book.

 

Crazy as her story sounds; Tom comes to see that this must be the real Billie. And she wants to strike a deal with him: if he writes his next novel she can go back to the world of fiction; in return she will help him win back his beloved Aurore.

 

What does he have to lose?

 

 

Through a series of newspaper/magazine articles and emails the reader gains an insight into Tom’s success, Aurore’s success and the rise and fall of their relationship.  I thought this was a unique way to give the reader background!

The story opens with Tom’s best friend and ‘business’ partner Milo trying to get into Tom’s luxury home in Malibu Colony.  Breaking in he finds Tom unconscious and surrounded by pill boxes.  Milo manages to get him out of his home.  We find out that the special edition of Tom’s last book has a major problem – only half of the book has been printed resulting in the publishers having to pulp 10,000 copies (minus the copy that Milo has).   We also find out that an investment Milo made has gone wrong … leaving them bankrupt.

We’re then introduced to Carole.  All three of them grew up at MacArthur Park (a hangout for heroin addicts, criminal gangs and poverty).  Their friendship is a theme that is explored in the story.  Their childhood background is always just a whisper away from the lives they are living now.

Back in Malibu, Tom throws the half-printed book in the trash.  He swallows a handful of sleeping pills and tranquillisers.  Having been woken from his drugged sleep by a storm, he finds a naked woman in his home.  Enter Billie Donelly, a secondary character from his trilogy.  She has fallen out of the half-printed book and convinces Tom that she really is Billie.

Milo and Carole arrange sleep therapy for Tom but when he arrives, he realises they are going to have him committed.  Escaping dramatically with Billie, the adventure begins …

On their journey to Aurore in Mexico there is excitement and suspense.  Starting out in Milo’s Bugatti, mishaps mean their transport downsizes (as does their luggage) eventually arriving on foot.  There is also suspense and excitement with Milo and Carole locating and trying to catch up with the journey that Tom’s trashed copy of the half-finished book takes. The only remaining copy, it is central to Billie’s well-being. I’ve journeyed to America, Mexico, Rome, Paris and Asia and actually felt as if I’ve spent time there!

There is also plenty of romance.  The emotion builds between Tom and Billie and I felt quite distraught when it was time for Billie to go back to being a character between the pages of a book.  We find out early on in the story that Milo has always loved Carole and become involved in them each having to come to terms with their own shadows.  There is one dramatic scene, which shocked Milo but ultimately forced the truth to be told.

Another unique factor for me is the two different narratives throughout The Girl on Paper.  When we are with Tom, it’s a first person narrative and with Milo and Carole, third person.  I thought this worked really well.

As with ‘Where Would I be Without You?’  there are apt quotations at the beginning of each chapter that are relevant to what you are about to read.  Loved this.

The pace of the plot is fast with crises and resolution throughout.  I loved the use of personification, for example on page 257:

“The air was mild and the pale full moon was admiring its own reflection on the surface of the water.”

The twist in the plot … amazing!  I had absolutely no idea.  Brilliant!  I learnt something about myself after reflecting on my reaction…

I’ll be looking out for The Angel’s Call which is due summer 2013.

Buy it and spread the word

The Girl on Paper is translated by Emily Boyce and Anna Aitken.

I would like to thank Gallic Books for a copy in exchange for an honest review.

You can find out more about Guillaume Musso on his website (also links to Facebook).

The Girl on Paper is available to buy:

Gallic Books

Amazon Kindle Format

Amazon Paperback 

The Book Depository 

And all good book stores

 

 

Jera’s Jamboree review: Tony Hogan by Kerry Hudson

Tony Hogan Bought Me an Ice-cream Float Before He Stole My Ma by Kerry Hudson

Paperback: 272 pages

Publisher: Chatto & Windus   (5 July 2012)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 0701186399

ISBN-13: 978-0701186395

 

When Janie Ryan is born, she’s just the latest in a long line of Ryan women, Aberdeen fishwives to the marrow, always ready to fight. Her violet-eyed Grandma had predicted she’d be sly, while blowing Benson and Hedges smoke rings over her Ma’s swollen belly. In the hospital, her family approached her suspiciously, so close she could smell whether they’d had booze or food for breakfast. It was mostly booze.

 

Tony Hogan tells the story of a Scottish childhood of filthy council flats and B&Bs, screeching women, feckless men, fags and booze and drugs, the dole queue and bread and marge sandwiches. It is also the story of an irresistible, irrepressible heroine, a dysfunctional family you can’t help but adore, the absurdities of the eighties and the fierce bonds that tie people together no matter what. Told in an arrestingly original — and cry-out-loud funny — voice, it launches itself headlong into the middle of one of life’s great fights, between the pull of the past and the freedom of the future. And Janie Ryan, born and bred for combat, is ready to win.

Tony Hogan begins with Janie’s birth and what the family think she might grow up to be.  The reader is introduced to her extended family.  Janie’s granny is not there to bring them home from the hospital – she’s gone out to play bingo – and when they get home, there’s a note left on Iris’ (her mother’s) bed:

“Well, my wee one, Granny wants us tae run out for some milk an’ twenty Benson & Hedges.  Welcome fuckin’ home.” 

 

It’s not long before Iris argues with her mother and leaves home.  She goes to the Grafton Women’s Shelter and so begins the constant moving from place to place where she is either running from an abusive relationship or following a man – and trying to survive.

 

A young mother and haunted by depression, there are a succession of ‘uncles’ until Tony Hogan comes onto the scene.  This abusive relationship eventually results in Janie being taken away by social services and an injunction against Tony.  At the home for three weeks, the positive memories Janie has here are remembered by her for a long time.  When Janie leaves the home, they move to a different estate ‘for families’.  It’s after this that Iris and Janie leave for London, hoping to find Janie’s father.  They end up in Canterbury in a couple of different B & B’s.  There are a couple more moves until they end up in Great Yarmouth.

 

Tony Hogan is narrated in the first person, from Janie’s point of view.  Although I found a baby narrating a bit strange, the author capture’s a child’s perspective really well and it’s a smooth transition to teen.

 

The reader is taken on a very poignant journey … there are no holds barred.  We experience high rise flats and tenements and the culture that goes with it.  We live through some very traumatic events all the way through the story.  The squalor, the alcohol, the drugs, death, abuse, rape and moonlight flits from place to place. In Great Yarmouth (aged 14) it is here that Janie’s experiences are choices she makes.  These choices are a reflection of how the past and present influences her and are debilitating.  Janie sums up her family on page 162:

“We were a glass family, she was a glass ma and I needed to wrap us up, handle her gently.”

 

Even though Tony Hogan is quite a dark read, there is hope at the end for the one final choice we get to see Janie make in London.  I would hope that Janie continues to make choices that see her reach her dreams … but I think her lack of trust in the universe and herself and her low expectations may well turn out to be choices that keep her running down the same old road.  Maybe she will break the pattern …

 

If you are not offended by swearing and are ready to be taken out of your comfort zone, then you might want to consider adding Tony Hogan to your book shelf.  If you’re unsure, then why not lend a copy from your library!

 

Buy it and spread the word

Loan it from the library

 

 

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

 

You can find out more about Kerry Hudson on her blog or tweet with her.

Jera’s Jamboree: Review and Giveaway – On The Island by Tracey Garvis Graves

On The Island by Tracey Garvis Graves

Paperback: 368 pages

Publisher: Penguin (16 Aug 2012)

ISBN-10: 1405910216

ISBN-13: 978-1405910217

 

It would always be summer on the island…

 

When thirty-year-old English teacher Anna Emerson is offered a summer job tutoring T.J. Callahan at his family’s holiday home in the Maldives, she accepts without hesitation: a tropical island beats the library any day.

 

T.J. has no desire to leave town, not that anyone asked him. He’s almost seventeen and if having had cancer wasn’t bad enough, he now has to spend his first summer in remission with his family instead of his friends.

 

Anna and T.J. are en route to join T.J.’s family in the Maldives when the pilot of their seaplane suffers a fatal heart attack and crash-lands in the Indian Ocean. Marooned on an uninhabited island, Anna and T.J. work together to obtain water, food, fire and shelter but, as the days turn to weeks then months and finally years, Anna begins to wonder if the biggest challenge of all might be living with a boy who is gradually becoming a man…

 

I am going to be honest from the beginning … I’ve found this review so very hard to write as I absolutely loved On the Island.  I was so caught up in the story that I read it in under 24 hours, pushing everything else aside so I could carry on reading.

We begin with Anna narrating in June 2001.  She meets TJ at the airport.  It’s a long and drawn out journey and at Malé International Airport, Maldives, they find out they haven’t been booked on to the seaplane that will take them to their final destination.  However, there has been a cancellation and they find themselves the only passengers with pilot Mick.  Mick very quickly becomes unwell and they find themselves crashing into the sea.

TJ takes over the narration (throughout the story, the narration alternates with Anna and TJ in the first person).  Anna is unconscious and he slides his hand through her life jacket straps to keep her buoyant.  Unable to do anything but let the current take them, they’re carried to a lagoon.  He drags Anna along the sand before losing consciousness himself.

In the early days of their isolation on the uninhabited island, we read about how they survive each day.  As the story progresses we move on much faster …  the plot moves at a perfect pace (and builds in intensity).  For quite a while all their energy is spent on just surviving but as it gets a little easier, Anna and TJ start getting to know each other.  At one point TJ relates a poignant memory in relation to the time he was having chemotherapy and this pulled on my heart-strings.

The attraction between them builds and after TJ’s 18th birthday, this attraction opens up a moral dilemma for Anna. When the intimacy develops, the sexual scenes are beautifully portrayed.

There are plenty of crises on the island, which made me hold my breath.  At times the tension is almost unbearable.  Such a page turner!  There were situations that brought tears but also times of laughter.  The resolution of the scene with the shark had me cheering!

I identified with both lead characters, which I think shows how good the writing is.  There are no flowery descriptions, the chapters are short as are some of the sentences (great for building tension).

There is much more to the plot after the three years spent on the island.  I won’t spoil it by telling you how, where or why or even what comes afterwards.  I will say that this part of the story had me just as hooked, engaging all my emotions.  The epilogue is exactly what I needed for a satisfactory conclusion.

On the Island is a story that I will be thinking about for quite some time and I have no hesitation in recommending it.

Buy it but be loathe to share your copy … it’s a keeper!

 

On the Island is a debut novel and was self published in the US.  It spent 5 weeks on The New York Times bestseller list, top ten in the Wall Street Journal and top fifteen in USA Today.  Film rights sold to MGM, with Temple Hill Productions (Twilight) scheduled to produce.

 

I am fortunate enough to have two copies of On the Island.  I was sent a copy from the Real Readers programme (link on my sidebar) and a copy from the publisher.  The giveaway is for the finished paperback copy.  If you would like to enter, just leave a pick me comment.  The giveaway is open to UK/IE only and closes 24th August 2012 at midnight (BST).

On the Island is available to purchase (at the time of my review):

Amazon Kindle format £2.99

Amazon paperback £5.99

The Book Depository paperback £5.99 

Penguin paperback £7.99 

And all good book stores

Jera’s Jamboree review: Held Up by Christopher Radmann

Held Up by Christopher Radmann

Publisher: Headline Review (19 July 2012)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 0755389204

ISBN-13: 978-0755389209

How far do you go to rescue your child?

Paul van Niekirk, a successful white South African is held up at gun-point when driving his new BMW. He’s dragged out and his abductor drives off in his car. It’s an everyday car jacking. Except his nine-month old daughter is in the back seat.

As a pacifist, Paul is reluctant to carry a gun, but he descends into the heart of darkness of his country determined to find his child. He uncovers a criminal gang involved in people trafficking and discovers in himself a capacity for violence.

When the trail goes cold, he is on the verge of losing everything but finds redemption in the most unlikely circumstances. Moving from the enclaves of Johannesburg’s northern suburbs to the throbbing heart of Soweto’s informal settlements, Paul is forced to confront the changing political and social landscape of the new South Africa, questioning his own values as his perfect life crumbles around him.

Held Up begins one second after the hijack.  The reader is introduced to how life is -  violence and mistrust are common experiences.  One minute after the hijack, Paul is reflecting on how difficult Chantal’s conception was and how he felt at her birth.  One hour afterwards he tells his wife, Claire (having waited for the police and then related everything at the station).  From this moment on, the reader is caught up in the pain and grief of Paul’s journey – the changes experienced as a direct result as well as trying to find a place to belong … until a resolution, eleven years later.

You do need full concentration and a good level of vocabulary.  At times, I did find the words getting in the way of the flow of my reading.  I did enjoy the way the author varied the sentence structure.

The story itself is very powerful and allows the reader a glimpse into another culture.  The emotional aspect is portrayed really well.  The reader finds themselves caught up in the deep and dark abyss and learning how to live with a wound that is so raw. We do find out the reason why it was not just Paul’s white 318i BMW that was the attraction.  Myths are still prevalent in parts of the world.

As an aside, I’ve worked with a child at school who lived in South Africa. His family chose to move to the UK. His stories of armed guards at the locked gate of his home and the shootings were brought to life for me by the descriptions in Held Up.

Held Up is not a light read.  It’s not one of those books you can take off your shelf at random.  Personally I think you need to be in the right frame of mind to be able to do the story justice.

*Note:  There is swearing which some readers may find offensive*

Buy it and spread the word

I highly recommend you listen to Christopher Radmann talking about Held Up:

I read Held Up as part of the Real Readers programme (link on side bar).

Held Up is available to purchase:

Amazon Kindle format £6.99

Amazon Hardcover format £7.40 

The Book Depository paperback format £9.79

Headline Paperback format £12.99/E-book format £13.00 

And most good book stores

About the Author

Christopher Radmann is from South Africa, but has lived in the UK for the last twelve years.  He is currently Head of Sixth Form and Head of English at a school in Hampshire, where he lives with his wife and two children.  Based loosely on personal experience and that of his friends and family, Held Up is his first novel.

You can tweet with the author and find him on Facebook.