Tag Archives: contemporary romance

Jera’s Jamboree : Stationery Love with Mandy Baggot (aka Lady B)

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My guest today on Stationery Love is Mandy Baggot.

WELCOME!

Having read all the fantastic and sometimes weird stationery obsessions people have, I thought this spot wasn’t for me. What did I have to contribute? Me, with my plain black BIC biro (missing lid) and a Tesco Value A5 pad. However, that’s OK and even qualifies me to be on Stationery Love. Apparently it counts as a stationery fetish! How very 50 Shades, Mr Grey!

I have to admit, I love a freebie and what better freebie than a pen? I’m particulary fond of my purple erotic pen I picked up at the Festival of Romance in 2011 and my Principal Hayley hotel pen that smells really nice (?!). I’m also embarrassed to admit that I keep all those free pens that come through the post. But, when I actually thought about it properly, I do have a love for ‘proper’ stationery it’s just my time to indulge has diminished.

Stationery Love

We had a great stationery stall at school and my products of choice were anything made by Staedtler. The erasers (notice I didn’t call them rubbers!) were the best, but it was the pens that stole my heart. Nothing quite tops the shape of the shaft of a Staedtler pen – medium tip! Goodness, that sounded almost pornographic!

So, on that note, now that Stationery Love has reignited my lust for German writing instruments, I’m off to play with my new ten pack!

Ahem … what can I say :)  

Actually, I had a look at the Staedtler website and found this amazing DIGITAL pen!

digital pen

http://www.staedtler.co.uk/digital_pen_uk.Staedtler

 

Mandy Baggot brings you award-winning fiction! In 2012 she won the coveted Innovation in Romantic Fiction award at the UK’s Festival of Romance. Her novel Strings Attached was also short listed for Best Author Published Read!MandyBaggot

 

Mandy writes strong contemporary romance and characters you’ll fall in love with. Previously self-published, she was signed by US publishing house Sapphire Star Publishing in January 2012. Shortly afterwards she became a member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association.

 

Mandy is a self-confessed Twitter addict who also likes to show off her singing talents on You Tube – check out Lady Gaga! She has auditioned for X Factor, appeared on ITV1s Who Dares Sings and longs to duet with Bryan Adams. She also has a fondness for white wine, mashed potato, country music and World’s Strongest Man.

 

Mandy lives near Salisbury in Wiltshire, UK with her husband, two daughters and two cats called Kravitz and Springsteen.

 

You can find out more on Mandy’s website http://mandybaggot.com or check out her author page at Sapphire Star Publishing

http://www.sapphirestarpublishing.com/mandybaggot
 

 

Jera’s Jamboree : Guest Author ~ Rosalind Rendle

Today, I am welcoming Rosalind Rendle to Jera’s Jamboree.

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“Don’t walk behind me; I may not lead. Don’t walk in front of me; I may not follow. Just walk beside me and be my friend.” 

― Albert Camus

To have the sympathy, empathy, compassion, enjoyment and trust of others is so important to me, both within my family and with others. Such is the value of friendship.

My life is (probably) a mix of serendipity and (hopefully) a touch of sagacity. That happy accident mixed with a touch of (maybe) clever judgement is what I would like to think I have achieved but there is often something that smacks me in the mouth when least expected. I remain an optimist as far as friendships are concerned, however, because they are always there to support.

In my book ‘Peace of Time’, Jenny, the protagonist, had to make one of the most difficult decisions of her life. She knew she couldn’t put it off any longer. What should she do? Life was so complicated. This is a contemporary romance featuring marriage and health issues that many readers will recognise. Discover unexpected twists in the plot and realistic, likeable characters. Her friendships play key roles throughout.

peace of time kindle

My e-book  Amazon

or e-reader Smashwords.com

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My paperback

My mum was a published author several times over. She always urged me to ‘get the book out’ but I always seemed too busy with work as a teacher then head teacher and with family life. Now, since I am retired, it is the time to do it and I have thoroughly enjoyed the whole process from research to writing, finally, the last page! Whilst she is no longer physically here I have dedicated my first book to her – a good friend as well as my mum.

Finally, a favourite friendship quote of mine is the following:

“Piglet sidled up to Pooh from behind. “Pooh?” he whispered.
“Yes, Piglet?”
“Nothing,” said Piglet, taking Pooh’s hand. “I just wanted to be sure of you.”
― A.A. Milne, 

Ros divides her time, with her husband, two dogs and a cat between France and the UK. This is a great source of inspiration since she has good friends from both cultures. She is currently half way through her second book, also having ideas for two more. She thinks she needs more TIME!

Ros can be contacted on Twitter @ros_rendle

Thank you for sharing with us today Ros.  Friendships are so important in life aren’t they!

100-Find a Good Friend

Jera’s Jamboree Cover Reveal : Home Wrecker by Brenda Perlin

Today I’m delighted to be taking part in a Cover Reveal:

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Cover artist JD Robinson at Rabbit Run Films

Home Wrecker is the first book in a three part series that follows the main character, Brooklyn throughout her childhood, adult life and then what seems like an “endless” journey towards redemption for her and her new love interest, Bo.

Brooklyn and Bo, each unhappily married to someone else, have to decide whether to stay with their spouses or give up everything for each other. What would Brooklyn’s husband and Bo’s soon-to-be ex-wife do to break them up?

I asked Brenda the following:

What has been the best part of your writing journey so far?

There has been so many winning moments. It is the best feeling when someone reads my book and gets what I am saying. It is so rewarding when I receive a positive review. People don’t realize how much reviews helps the author. We put our heart and soul into our work so a 5 star review feels like winning an academy award.

 What has been the worst part of your writing journey so far?

I think I had too many expectations of my friends. I guess I just thought that everyone I was close to would support me but that has not been the case. At first I was really surprised by the lack of enthusiasm but I have come to learn that not everyone is going to be as interested as I would like them to be. It has been a real learning experience and with that comes growth. For that, I am grateful!

 What tips do you have for other aspiring writers?

I would say, get involved in all the author groups you can, be willing to help other authors as much as possible, be open to learning, and don’t be over critical of yourself. There is no one in the world exactly  like you so embrace your uniqueness and always remember to stay true to yourself.

On Monday 29th April, there is a Facebook Event for Home Wrecker, everyone is invited so come and join in the fun!

About the Author

Brenda Perlin was born in Los Angeles, California in the Sixties. She studied acting and photography after high school. Later, her true passion was ignited when she became interested in health and fitness and became a fitness instructor.11b19430fe6d0a20958296.L._V146569014_SX200_

At twenty-nine she started writing Home Wrecker during the time she was getting married. She put her story down shortly after the wedding and didn’t pick it back up until she was forty-six and going through a divorce.

She now resides in Orange County, California.

Author Links:

Jera’s Jamboree : Review The Accidental Husband by Jane Green

accidental husbandPaperback: 416 pages

Publisher: Penguin (14 Mar 2013)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 0718157559

ISBN-13: 978-0718157555

Jane Green’s The Accidental Husband is a powerful story about two women connected by an earth-shattering secret.

Maggie and Sylvie are perfect strangers: two very different women, living very different lives on opposite coasts. But they share more in common than they could ever imagine.

Both women have beautiful children on the verge of flying the nest, the home they worked hard to build and always longed for, and a handsome and devoted husband they can’t believe belongs to them. Both women think their lives are seamlessly secure, but they couldn’t be more wrong . . .

For each is about to discover a secret that will shake their world to the very core, throwing into doubt everything they ever thought they knew, and bringing Maggie and Sylvie together in the most unexpected way.

Goodreads | Amazon Paperback | Kindle 

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I think it’s obvious from the blurb the plot of this story.  However, even though it’s obvious, what I wasn’t prepared for was the powerful emotions that are evoked by identifying strongly with both Sylvie and Maggie and their families.

We begin in April 2008 with Sylvie which is narrated in the third person.  We learn about her background and that daughter Eve is off to college soon.  This causes Sylvie to question who she is having always identified with being a mother – and with husband Mark away a lot, she can’t define herself as a wife.  Her mother is demanding on her time and we learn about Sylvie’s childhood.  I really enjoyed Sylvie’s friendship with best friend Angie.  This is a strong and true bond.

Eve is terrified of the imminent changes so she chooses another thing in her life that she can control.  This is poignant and heartbreaking.  She doesn’t feel as if she belongs with her friendship group anymore, feeling on the outside looking in.  Green pitches this at just the right level.

Mark is mistrustful of everyone and their group of friends have been specifically picked by him.  He won’t let Eve use Facebook for personal things and makes up a story as to why he isn’t a fan of social media.  Something awful happens to someone in their friendship group with Twitter as a vehicle and so Mark appears to be justified.

The link that brings the deception out into the open is brilliant and leads smoothly into Maggie’s life.

Maggie’s part in the story is narrated in the first person while Sylvie’s is still third.  I enjoyed these different narratives which gives the reader different perceptions and weaves the story together.

Maggie is the trophy wife.  Designer labels, charity committees, cocktail parties and false friends.  At first she is totally adrift having felt she was never good enough and her self-worth boosted by beauty products and the designer clothes.  I didn’t like her when we were first introduced to her but … once she starts on a path of healing, I enjoyed being on the part of her journey where she builds belief in herself.  Yes, this is my character who grows into her own :)

The Accidental Husband is all about relationships; husband/wife, mother/daughter/son, friendship circles and communities.  There are poignant scenes that will bring tears to your eye but also scenes that will give you that feel-good factor.  I loved the way the story comes together for the finale.

The Accidental Husband was almost a four-fairy read.  If it wasn’t for the fact that for me, the first part felt very slow, it would have been!  If you want to feel strong emotions through your reading material, this is definitely a story for you.

 

Buy it and spread the word

Buy it and spread the word

I would like to thank the publishers for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

You can sign up for Jane Green’s newsletter via her website.  You’ll also find the link for Facebook here.

Jera’s Jamboree review : A Cottage by the Sea by Carole Matthews

cottagebyseaPaperback: 480 pages

Publisher: Sphere  (28 Mar 2013)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 0751545538

ISBN-13: 978-0751545531

Carole Matthews’ A Cottage by the Sea is a heart-warming tale about long-term best friends Grace, Ella and Flick. The trio, now in their 30s, have shared all the heartaches and good times over the years. But lately Grace has been disappointed by how little time they spend together, so she is delighted when Ella invites them all to stay in her cottage in South Wales. She also hopes this getaway might help her reconnect with her husband, but Harry isn’t as enamoured with Cwtch Cottage as she is… When loveable Flick arrives at the cottage, accompanied by the extremely charming Noah, the week takes a confusing turn!

(Synopis The Book People)

Goodreads     Buy Amazon Paperback      Kindle 

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A Cottage by the Sea begins with Grace and husband Harry’s journey to the cottage.  We find out that Harry is not pleased to be spending his holiday in Wales and from Grace we learn the history of the girls’ friendships … and where her relationship is with Harry.  Safe and predictable in the past, Grace is questioning herself and the expectations of others … and also comparing Harry now to how he used to be.

Art and Ella are the artistic couple.  Ella is an artist and Art a Band Manager.  Ella wants to settle down but Art is often on tour and still has one-night stands.

As soon as Flick arrives with new partner Noah, tensions and attraction come into force.

During the week at Cwtch Cottage, as well as the friendships and romance, the reader gets to go on some exciting water sport adventures and walks.  Coasteering  is definitely something I will only ever experience vicariously!

We see everything through Grace’s point of view as she is our first person narrator.  An only child, her thoughts are littered with ‘should’ and ‘ought’ (stereotypical of trying to please others and be what they want you to be).  During the week we see her beliefs tested time and again yet she stays true to her values.  Grace provokes admiration! It was so right that she made a decision that was based on her own needs.

I loved the close bond and acceptance Grace, Ella and Flick have for each other.  They knew each other so well and didn’t make judgements, acknowledging and accepting the shadow side.  It was so easy to be a part of their friendship!

The underlying currents of tension and the electricity of attraction takes us on some terrifying and exhilarating paths.  There is crises and secrets but alongside this is Matthews’ indomitable humour.  I was curled up with laughter at the bin bag couture!  My favourite scene has to be with the umbrella in the surf, eccentric but oh so romantic!

Of course the weather plays a part.  I have a couple of favourite sentences that portray the emotion of the moment:

“A rumble of ominous thunder rolls across the sky and the black clouds scowl down at us.  But I’ve never felt lighter.”

“The clouds are dark, shouldering into each other just above our heads, weeping.”

Love the personification!

Once again, Matthews takes us on an emotional ride.  She has such an understanding of human nature – the reality of our emotions.  It’s unusual for us to feel an isolated emotion and the rawness and tangle of emotions is shown really clearly through Grace.

A Cottage by the Sea will definitely entertain you.  I have laughed, I have cried, I’ve sighed with longing. I’ve sat on the edge of my seat a few times with tension and gasped in shock.  This has to be another Matthews book that is on my ‘keepers’ shelf.

 

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

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

At the end of the story, readers will find Carole’s summer holiday memories followed by a Q & A (readers questions) plus the first two chapters from Carole’s October novel Calling Mrs Christmas

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

You can keep up to date with Carole’s news on her website (sign up for her newsletter for offers and competitions too), follow her on Twitter and Facebook.

 

 

Jera’s Jamboree : Guest Author Mandy Baggot

I’d like to welcome award winning author, Mandy Baggot to Jera’s Jamboree today.

Photo courtesy of author

Photo courtesy of author

Nathan Regan – are you safe?

My new romantic suspense novel, Security, launches on 4 April 2013! It’s not long! A matter of days! So, I thought I ought to do the decent thing and introduce you to the hero, Nathan Regan.

Photo courtesy of author

Photo courtesy of author

Nathan is an ex-Special Forces soldier who is retained by MI5 to do those awkward jobs that need doing under the radar. Due to owing someone a favour he’s been given the role of bodyguard for pop princess, Autumn Raine. He isn’t at all happy about this because when he meets Autumn he thinks she’s a stuck-up cow. He’s also concerned about the information he’s been given about Autumn’s mother, the British Foreign Secretary.

Nathan isn’t a team player. He likes to be in charge. This is because he trusts no one. He’s had his fair share of tragedy in his life and these events have tainted his life and led him to question everything.

He’s brash. He says what he thinks but he’s also loyal, trustworthy and as brave as they come. He will see a job through no matter what the cost to himself. He believes in truth and justice and it’s this moral code that drives him forward when the chips are down.

He’s also extremely sexy! Just look at him! But he’s a little bit oblivious to it because he doesn’t really take pride in his appearance. It doesn’t bother him at all. He doesn’t spend time preening and perfecting. He pulls on a pair of combat trousers and a vest, grabs his gun and he’s good to go.

But inside this gung-ho hero is a broken man. He’s emotionally vulnerable and not really fit for active duty. Can he work through these demons? Is he going to protect Autumn or want to throttle her himself? What secrets is he hiding? You’ll have to read Security and find out!

 Thank you Mandy!  Nathan Regan can pull on his clothes and grab his gun …

Works for me!

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Pubished by Sapphire Star Publishing

Autumn Raine is a pop vocalist at the very top of her game. She’s a style icon, the paparazzi’s darling and everyone wants to be her friend. But when her safety is threatened, her whole life starts to unravel.

Enter Nathan Regan, an ex-elite soldier who is assigned to protect her. He’s a good man doing bad things but what drives him? Passion? Madness? Or grief? Demons from his past are threatening to consume him. Can he win the fight alone or will he have to admit he needs help?

As the threat deepens, Autumn starts to find out who she really needs in her life. Is there still room for personal assistant Janey or rapper boyfriend Rockweiler? When everyone around her is feeding her lies, how does she work out the truth? Does her record producer know more than he’s letting on? What is her mother, the British Foreign Secretary’s involvement in the situation? And can Autumn put her faith in a forty-something Jamaican woman who handles an automatic weapon as expertly as she cooks?

Eluding kidnap and trying to stay alive, can Autumn find the strength to be the person she longs to be? And can two people, poles apart, forge something strong enough to survive anything?

Security is touring with Fiction Addiction Book Tours

security

Follow the virtual tour to read some interesting interviews, guest posts and of course reviews.

Tour Hosts are offering an e-copy of Security as a giveaway so don’t forget to follow their instructions for the chance to grab a copy for yourself!

Date Tour Host
8th April 2013 Shaz’s Book Blog
9th April 2013 I Heart Books!
10th April 2013 Cosmochicklitan
11th April 2013 Love Reading Love Books
12th April 2013 Room for Reading
15th April 2013 Me, My Books and I
16th April 2013 Victoria’s Pages of Romance
17th April 2013 Kim the Bookworm
18th April 2013 Eve’s Chick Lit Reviews
19th April 2013 Rea Book Review

Jera’s Jamboree review : Surfing in Stilettos by Carol E Wyer

Surfing in Stilettos.jpgFormat: Kindle Edition

File Size: 519 KB

Print Length: 384 pages

Publisher: ThornBerry Publishing UK (4 Oct 2012)

Sold by: Amazon Media EU S.à r.l.

Language: English

ASIN: B009M9DODK

Amanda Wilson is all geared up for an exciting gap-year, travelling across Europe. She soon finds her plans thwarted when she is abandoned in France with only a cellarful of Chateau Plonk, a large, orange Space Hopper, and Old Ted, the dog, for company.

Fate has intervened to turn her life on its head. First, Bertie, the camper van, breaks down. Then her dopey son, Tom, who is staying in their house in the UK, is wrecking it, one piece at a time. Next, the jaw-dropping video Skype calls that her irrepressible mother insists on making are, by contrast, making Amanda’s humdrum trip even less palatable. Finally, she discovers that her new-found, French friend, Bibi Chevalier, had engineered a plan to ensure that her philandering husband would never stray again; unfortunately, Amanda is unwittingly drawn into the scheme, becoming a target. Meanwhile, on a beach in Sydney, a lonely Todd Bradshaw realises that his first true love, Amanda Wilson, is definitely the only woman for him. Can he get back into her good books and hopefully back into her arms with his latest plan? Or will fate intervene yet again and turn everyone’s lives upside down?

Goodreads                                    Buy Amazon

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We begin our journey with a blog post.  Amanda has blogged on Fortifying Your Fifties about the impending gap year.  Some of the comments make me chuckle.

Chapter One sees Todd Bradshaw experiencing a night of passion with Amanda.  Waking exhausted he finds it was only a dream! Todd is a man who has missed the opportunities in the past but Amanda is still haunting him.

On the road, we learn from Phil about the night before.  Amanda and her mother Grace (having recently got in touch) were up all night drinking and reminiscing.  Amanda is feeling rather ill …

Next we meet Bibi and we’re introduced to her life and her relationship with husband Didier.

With all our characters in place, what follows is a fast paced and engaging story of how their lives end up weaving in and out, with moments that make you laugh out loud but others more serious and in one particular case, life threatening.

Phil has lost his place in the world after retiring and right from the start of their gap year is grumpy.  After Bertie the camper van breaks down and they stay in a rustic village, what should have been idyllic only exacerbates his feelings.  With son Tom texting with disasters at home, one such text sends Phil home leaving Amanda in France.

Bibi’s husband has been having an affair and she uses social media as a non-threatening way to try to win him back.  Amanda and Bibi become friends … and two other connections become important to them both (not both in a good way!)

Grace’s zany front hides a vulnerability underneath.  She is such a fabulous character.  We could all learn something from her!

With each character narrating in the third person, we get to know them well. Interspersed with the story are the blog posts from Amanda, filling in information and garnering some funny comments.  I was delighted to see DizzyC making a comment :)

Surfing with Stilettos touches on some very real and harrowing life experiences.  Marital infidelity, false identities and how that can be used to prey on vulnerable members of our society … and how we in our culture identify strongly with the work we do.

I have enjoyed being transported to France and being a part of these characters finding their own places in the world.  My imagination has been fired, I’ve chuckled and bitten my nails in tension.  I have no hesitation in recommending you add Surfing in Stilettos to your reading pile.

Buy it and spread the word

Buy it and spread the word

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

To learn more about Carol, go to http://www.carolewyer.co.uk or follow Carol on Twitter: @carolewyer https://twitter.com/carolewyer . Carol blogs at http://www.facing50withhumour.com

Jera’s Jamboree : Guest Author Carol E Wyer ~ Carpe Diem

I have great pleasure in welcoming Carol E Wyer to Jera’s Jamboree today.

Photo courtesy of author

Photo courtesy of author

 

Carol E. Wyer is an award winning author whose humorous novels take a light-hearted look at getting older and encourage others to age disgracefully.

Her best-selling debut novel ‘Mini Skirts and Laughter Lines’ won five awards including Readers Views Reviewers Choice 2012 Award (category – humour) and was selected as a finalist for both the Next Generation Indie Book Awards and the Indie Excellence Awards 2012.

‘Surfing in Stilettos‘ which follows the further adventures of Amanda Wilson as she attempts to inject some fun into her life, is a Costa Award nominee.

Carol is a signed author with ThornBerry Publishing and Safkhet Publishing.

She writes regularly for on-line magazines and author website Indies Unlimited.

To learn more about Carol, go to http://www.carolewyer.co.uk or follow Carol on Twitter: @carolewyer. Carol blogs at http://www.facing50withhumour.com

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Carpe Diem …

My mother is full of little sayings including: “Life’s too short…”, “You’re only here once,” and “I’m here for a good time, not a long time.” I suppose some of that must have rubbed off on me. My mother is almost eighty and still insists on gallivanting about like a woman half her age, even though she has a large metal plate in her hip, smokes up to sixty cigarettes a day, parties all night, and according to her, “is held together by tar and alcohol”. She loves life, people and partying. I think that’s why even today she is up for a challenge, and why my jaw crashed to the floor last year when she told me that she was going to invite a male stripper to her next birthday party.

Life is full of opportunities and challenges. I am almost evangelical when I talk about grabbing those opportunities. I have blogged for almost three years about being positive about life, regaling my followers with stories about my family and laughing about getting older. I do the same in my books. One character who is loved more than all the others I write about, is Grace, Amanda’s mother in Mini Skirts and Laughter Lines and Surfing in Stilettos. Almost everyone adores her, her vivacity, her penchant for life and the absolutely crazy things she gets up to. She is, of course modelled on my own mother.

My own life has had its rocky moments, particularly in the health department. Because of those difficulties and a rather frightening experience which left me paralysed for some time, I became more determined to appreciate life. It was established in my thirties that my spine was weakening again quite severely. Unsure of how much longer I’d be able to enjoy reasonable health, I drew up a list of all the things that I wanted to do before it was too late for me to enjoy them.: scuba dive, fly a helicopter, take a champagne balloon ride, go on safari, ride a quad bike up a mountain, take up kick boxing, win a rowing race, drive a car on a proper racing circuit, and become a personal trainer.

By the end of my forties I had managed to complete the “active” list. All the activities were exhilarating and made me want to embrace further challenges. I drew up a fresh list for my fifties. One that took into account that I could no longer “breakdance” at a nightclub or climb Mount Everest. Top of my new list was to become a well-known author/entertainer. It has been a blast trying to get there. I am still some way off being well-known but I have enjoyed myself more on this journey than any others I have taken. Writing humour has allowed me to fulfil both of the aforementioned desires and when I am not writing I can be found “on tour” doing my stand up “Ageing Disgracefully” or “He who laughs…lasts!” tours. I have entertained people on board aircraft, during radio interviews and on television. It transpires that you can be a stand up comedienne in your fifties if you want to, after all.

The reason for me divulging this is quite simple. I want to state that no matter how old you are, or what your circumstances are there are always opportunities for you. Seek them out. If you want to be a writer but find the task of writing a full length novel too daunting, begin your writing career with some short stories and enter them for various contests. You can upload stories or first chapters to various groups or websites, free of charge such as, You Write On, where they will receive criticism from neutral sources and positive feedback. These comments will help you develop as a writer. If you, like me, worry that no one will like your stories, try them out in the form of blog posts. I did, and it was the best decision I made. The comments from followers gave me the motivation and encouragement I needed to write my novels.

You shouldn’t be fazed by anything. One of the good things about getting older is that you become bolder and are more open to challenges. You suddenly develop a “why not?” attitude. More and more people are taking up new challenges and opportunities regardless of their age or circumstance. So, what are you waiting for? Sign up for ballet classes, have a go at skydiving or sit down and start a novel. Whatever you decide to embark upon it should be fun and you should enjoy it. My mother would tell you that “life isn’t a rehearsal. So, seize the day – carpe diem.” I’m still dreading going to her next birthday party though!

Thank you Carol.

I hope blog readers have found inspiration from Carol’s guest post today.  I know I have!

Surfing in Stilettos is touring with Fiction Addiction Book Tours.

Follow the two week tour to read guest posts, interviews and reviews.

 Enter the giveaway to win some fabulous swag (stiletto/handbag handcrafted chocolates, stiletto keyring, gorgeous pink stiletto tape dispenser and copies of Surfing in Stilettos).

surfingstilletos

25th March 2013

Me, My Books and I

 26th March 2013

Sylv Jenkins

 27th March 2013

Cosmochicklitan

 28th March 2013

Brook Cottage Books

 29th March 2013

Reading a Little bit of Everything
1st April 2013

ChickLit Club Connect

 2nd April 2013

Sylv Jenkins

 3rd April 2013

Love Reading Love Books

 4th April 2013

Shaz’s Book Blog

 5th April 3013

The Little Reader Library

Jera’s Jamboree review : For Internal Use Only by Cari Kamm

for internal use only

Format: Kindle Edition
File Size: 628 KB
Print Length: 410 pages
Page Numbers Source ISBN: 1479220493
Sold by: Amazon Media EU S.à r.l.
Language: English
ASIN: B00B5HVSB2		 Paperback: 408 pages
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (25 Feb 2013)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1479220493
ISBN-13: 978-1479220496

Chloe Kassidy has just been accepted into one of Manhattan’s most exclusive art exhibits, Love Through Light. However, with her singular dedication to her career, she soon realizes that in sacrificing her personal life, she has never been in love. A hopeless romantic who is terrified of heartbreak, Chloe begins to enlist the help of her circle of friends to learn about love through their very different stories and experiences.
In Chloe’s emotional rollercoaster to having the greatest love story ever told, she’ll learn that like her photography she must use the negatives in life to develop and prove that she’s a strong woman who found her way to love through light.

Inspired by the notion that women grow up with ideas of true love and destiny, For Internal Use Only approaches those ideas with a decidedly twenty-first century viewpoint. A humorous love story with an edgy and dramatic twist, For Internal Use Only is a vastly entertaining novel that gives each of us a new fairy tale to look forward to: our own.

Buy Amazon           Goodreads 

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It’s October and Chloe’s friend Emma is perpetually on the hunt for her soul-mate.  This is diametrically opposed to Chloe herself with her rational and practical approach to life.  Emma drags Chloe along to a new book club of which the host is the next possible soul-mate on her radar.

On the way to meet Emma, we’re introduced to Chloe’s love of photography and that she’s waiting to hear if she’s been accepted at an exclusive gallery to exhibit with the ‘Love through Light’ showcase.  Love is something that puts her into a total panic.

After the book club, Chloe receives an email from a woman who says she was at the book club and thought Chloe would be suitable for her friend, Christoph.  What follows is an emotional journey for her through this relationship … a relationship that is conducted purely by email, IM, phone and social media (although that isn’t the intention).

The author very cleverly takes this relationship through the stages of a face-to-face intimate relationship from the ‘honeymoon’ period through to Christoph eventually pushing Chloe to the edge, an edge which she needs to experience before she can truly connect within.

One sentence in particular sums up their relationship:

“You’re the most dramatic coffee date I’ve ever not been on a date with.”

Alongside the build-up of this relationship runs Chloe’s hunt for the three photographs she needs to create for the exhibit.  With the theme of ‘Love through Light’ they intertwine and either hinder or enhance.

Chloe’s circle of friendships are fabulous and the bonds strong.  I loved spending time with them!  Emma, Kate and Stephanie are the sort of people we’d love to be a part of our own lives.

Readers will identify with Chloe and her journey of emotions.  You all know how I love to see a character become strong and centred and Chloe learns from her experiences and comes through the other side with belief in herself and her place in the world.  She is a character that grew on me as the story progressed.

I loved the deeper meaning behind the photographs Chloe chose.  Straight from the heart!

The ending? Well, that will make you sigh with satisfaction.

For Internal Use Only is a story that will brighten your heart and restore your faith in the world.

Buy it and spread the word

Buy it and spread the word

 

I would like to thank publicist Amy Bromberg for inviting me to review.  A Kindle copy was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.

 

About the Author

Cari Kamm

Cari Kamm has worked in the beauty industry for over a decade, building brands, working behind the scenes, and even selling her own skin care line. She has a master’s in clinical nutrition from New York University. Kamm currently works in corporate social media management with clients in the beauty, fashion, and restaurant industries. Living in New York City with her mutt Schmutz, Kamm loves finding inspiration in the most unexpected places, being a novelist, and convincing her fiance that ordering takeout and making dinner reservations are equal to cooking.

Find out more about Cari and connect with her:

Website
Facebook
Twitter

Jera’s Jamboree : Guest Author Helen Warner

Today I’m welcoming Helen Warner to Jera’s Jamboree.

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Helen Warner was born in Northern Ireland and moved to East Anglia (where she still lives) when she was four. She studied English at London University (Goldsmiths College) before embarking on a career in TV. Her first job was as a researcher with Carlton TV; she then moved to Liverpool to work as a day producer on Granada TV’s flagship daytime show, This Morning, then presented by Richard Madeley and Judy Finnigan.

Back in London, Helen launched and edited the daytime talkshow, Loose Women, before joining Channel 4 as Head of Daytime. During her five years in the role, she masterminded the hugely successful launch of Come Dine With Me into the peak-time schedules, as well as the relaunch of Countdown, the award-winning Deal or No Deal and The Paul O’Grady Show.

Helen is married with two children.

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I decided to start writing as a way to deal with my 2 hour commute to work at Channel 4 in London.  I bought a laptop and started writing every day on the train and the word count quickly grew.  I had the title of the novel and a vague idea of what the story might be but it very much evolved as I went along.  It took me about 8 months to write a first draft of RSVP and it was only then that I approached any agents. I was very lucky to be taken on by Sheila Crowley at Curtis Brown, who secured me a 2 book deal with Simon & Schuster.

As soon as I finished editing RSVP, I started writing my second novel, IOU.  I wanted to get it finished before RSVP was published, as I thought it might take the pressure off a bit!  I didn’t quite manage it but I was pretty close.  I loved writing IOU, which has just been published in paperback under the new title of Stay Close To Me, as I felt much more confident 2nd time around and it seemed to flow more easily.

I gave up my job at Channel 4 last Christmas and have spent the past year working from home as a full-time author.  It’s been a wonderful time in many ways but I have found it so much harder to be disciplined about writing.  I have regularly yearned for the isolation of that 2 hour train journey to focus my mind, instead of spending hours on Twitter or (more likely) internet shopping!  However, in between the many displacement activities I found, I did manage to write my 3rd novel, With or Without You, which will be published early next year.  I think I will be returning to work in TV in the next few months, so my 4th novel will no doubt be written on the train.  It’s obviously the method that works best for me!

I have always wanted to write and remember asking my mum when I was 17 if she thought I should use my own name or a pen name when I became an author.  She rather bluntly told me she didn’t think it would ever be an issue, so not to worry about it!  I think that comment is what inspired me to prove her wrong one day (typical teenager!)  I had a very successful career in TV before I actually got round to it but I made it in the end.

There are so many authors who inspire me and I find new ones all the time but Marian Keyes has long been my hero.  I have just finished reading The Mystery of Mercy Close and some of the writing, especially when describing the terror of depression, left me breathless with its brilliance.  There is a lot of snobbery around female fiction (or ‘chick-lit’) but I actually think Marian is one of our greatest writers in any genre.

Thank you for sharing your writing journey with my blog readers today Helen.

I was fortunate enough quite recently to have offered a giveaway of Stay Close to Me thanks to Simon & Schuster.  I hope the winners are enjoying their journey with Amy, Kate and Jennifer.

I’ve reviewed RSVP (click here to read) and Stay Close To Me (under the previous title IOU – click here to read) and definitely recommend you add this author to your reading list.

Find out more about Helen on her Simon & Schuster author page.  Tweet with Helen @helencwarner