Tag Archives: debut author

Jera’s Jamboree review : The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion

rosieprojectFormat: Kindle Edition

File Size: 386 KB

Print Length: 304 pages

Publisher: Penguin (11 April 2013)

Sold by: Amazon Media EU S.à r.l.

Language: English

ASIN: B00B2FLDRQ

Don Tillman is a socially challenged genetics professor who’s decided the time has come to find a wife. His questionnaire is intended to weed out anyone who’s unsuitable. The trouble is, Don has rather high standards and doesn’t really do flexible so, despite lots of takers – he looks like Gregory Peck – he’s not having much success in identifying The One.
When Rosie Jarman comes to his office, Don assumes it’s to apply for the Wife Project – and duly discounts her on the grounds she smokes, drinks, doesn’t eat meat, and is incapable of punctuality. However, Rosie has no interest in becoming Mrs Tillman and is actually there to enlist Don’s assistance in a professional capacity: to help her find her biological father.
Sometimes, though, you don’t find love: love finds you…

The Rosie Project

Amazon Kindle  |

Amazon Hardback 

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The Rosie Project, narrated in the first person by Australian Professor Donald Tillman, begins with the reader being made aware of Don’s ineptitude in social situations and personal relationships.  We get to meet only friend Gene who has an open marriage and is possibly not the best person to give Don advice!

Once Rosie comes into Don’s life, we see him undergo quite a change on his quest with Rosie to find her father.  Rosie often pushes him outside of his comfort zone and he makes changes to accommodate her.

Don really grew on me the more I read.  Everything about him we see filtered through his sensory barriers and how he needs predictability and routine to survive in our culture.  ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) is a very interesting developmental disorder and Don’s structured approach to finding a wife and Rosie’s father is fascinating.  To obtain DNA, they have to work a bar at a private function and Don’s approach – to not only buy a book on cocktails but make them and become an expert is just one example of how Don copes in life.  Maturity gives him the knowledge that he needs time out to process his emotions and although Don is a fictional character, I just hope the children I support with ASD can find a way like Don to survive so successfully …

The quests Rosie and Don go on to find her father are very entertaining.  The trip they take to New York is fabulous and it is here where we see Don beginning to go with the flow a bit more.  I loved it that he found another use for his love of statistics and made a friend as well!

Also I just have to mention the Ball.  It is here that Don realises that his questionnaire to find his perfect mate may not be foolproof.  This is another scene to remember with laughter.

How Don approaches the romance is very structured but is also entertaining.  A romantic moment will have you catching your breath, waiting in suspense …

The Rosie Project really is a feel-good novel, it’s not just hype.  This is such an unusual ‘love story’ and Don’s ‘voice’ is the foundation that brings this story together.  A debut novel that will be talked about for some time to come I’m sure.

I have no hesitation in recommending for your reading list!

Buy it and spread the word

Buy it and spread the word

I would like to thank the publishers for accepting my request to view via Netgalley.

Find out more about Graeme Simsion on his website.

The author tweets @GraemeSimsion

Prof Don Tillman also tweets! @ProfDonTillman Get a hint of his character

Jera’s Jamboree review : Queen’s Gambit by Elizabeth Freemantle

queensgambit

 

 

  • Format: Kindle Edition
  • Print Length: 480 pages
  • Publisher: Penguin
  • (14 Mar 2013)
  • Sold by: Amazon Media EU S.à r.l.
  • Language: English
  • ASIN: B00ADNP0N6
  

  • Paperback: 480 pages
  • Publisher: Penguin
  • (1 Aug 2013)
  • ISBN-10: 1405909382
  • ISBN-13: 978-1405909389

 

The court of Henry VIII is rife with intrigue, rivalries and romance – and none are better placed to understand this than the women at its heart.

Katherine Parr, widowed for the second time aged thirty-one, is obliged to return to court but, suspicious of the ageing king and those who surround him, she does so with reluctance. Nevertheless, when she finds herself caught up in a passionate affair with the dashing and seductive Thomas Seymour, she believes she might finally be able to marry for love. But her presence at court has attracted the attentions of another . . .

Captivated by her honesty and intelligence, Henry Tudor has his own plans for Katherine and no one is in the position to refuse a proposal from the king. So with her charismatic lover dispatched to the continent, Katherine must accept the hand of the ailing egotistical monarch and become Henry’s sixth wife – and yet she has still not quite given up on love.

Goodreads                    Pre-Order Kindle Amazon

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Queen’s Gambit is the story of Katherine Parr – fictional but also seamlessly woven with the facts that are known.

We begin with a prologue.  At Charterhouse, London in February 1543, Katherine Parr is nursing second husband Latymer who is on his deathbed.  Latymer reflects on the time when he became involved with the rebels and although pardoned, his family is still marked.  Tragedy struck his family while he was away seeking pardon and his regrets are marring the end of his life.

King Henry sends his physician Huicke to attend Latymer which is seen by Katherine as a full pardon. Latymer’s death is a blessing for him but causes Katherine a heavy sense of guilt.

In March, Katherine and step-daughter Meg (Margaret) are summoned to court.  Katherine meets her brother Will’s friend, Thomas Seymour, and also catches the King’s eye but she’s given a reprieve because she’s in mourning. This doesn’t last though and the King sends Seymour away and summons her to court.

What follows is her life as King Henry’s last wife and her life after his death.

Written in the third person we get to experience life in the Royal household from the point of view of Katherine, physician Huicke and also Katherine’s servant Dot. Huicke and Dot’s lives add further dimensions to the intrigue and politics experienced at the Tudor court.  Dot’s loyalty and her romance with Will Savage add another emotional angle to the story whilst Huicke’s closeness to Katherine is a friendship that gives Katherine strength and a person to rely on.  Through Dot’s eyes we see another side to the characters at court and the Royal family.

This is a time on the edge of the Reformation with King Henry being drawn back to Catholicism so the ‘new religion’ was whispered about.  Katherine’s desire to move Henry towards banning Mass and having the Bible in English was almost her end … and Protestant Ann Askew has a part to play in Katherine’s story here too.  The tension and secrecy is written so well that I experienced Katherine’s anxiety alongside her.

The historical characters are given personalities that fit really well with what is known, which adds towards making this a story where the reader can immerse themselves in the Tudor court and really feel a part of that history.  The secondary characters also have their own stories which adds depth. It is obvious that Freemantle has researched in depth.

From the prologue in February 1543 to the epilogue in March 1549 I’ve spent time in the different Royal residences and in Newgate, experiencing the turmoil of court life and all its pomp and splendour.  I’ve experienced many different emotions alongside our characters.  I couldn’t wait to pick up Queen’s Gambit, even if for a short period each day.  This debut novel is the first in a trilogy and I can’t wait to read more from Elizabeth Freemantle …this is historical fiction at its best. I just wish I could have learnt history at school by reading fictional novels … No surprises at my rating!

 

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!

I read a proof copy of Queen’s Gambit as part of the Real Readers programme (link on sidebar).

About the Author:

Elizabeth Fremantle was born in London where she still lives. As a fashion editor she contributed to titles such as Vogue, Elle and The Sunday times, and spent some time in Paris with French Vogue. Subsequently, by then the mother of two small children, she enrolled at Birkbeck, London as a mature student, achieving a first in English and an MA in Creative Writing, and following that worked for Anne Louise Fisher literary scouts. Her fascination with early modern culture led to her debut novel Queen’s Gambit the first of a Tudor trilogy.

Jera’s Jamboree review : Tyringham Park by Rosemary McLoughlin

tyringhamparkPaperback: 528 pages

Publisher: Penguin (14 Feb 2013)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 1405910526

ISBN-13: 978-1405910521

Rosemary McLoughlin elegantly captures period glamour and darkness in Tyringham Park – a brilliant and epic tale of love and loss.

It is 1917 and Charlotte Blackshaw is only eight years old when her little sister Victoria vanishes from the magnificent country estate of Tyringham Park. The feverish search for Victoria soon uncovers jealousies and deceits that the inhabitants of the grand house have fought for years to keep hidden.

As the years pass and her sister’s disappearance casts a long shadow over their lives, Charlotte finds herself embroiled in the passions and secrets, lives and deaths, trysts and betrayals that affect the days of everyone connected to this once great house.

And though she tries to escape, she knows that Tyringham Park and its mysteries will never release their hold on her . . .

Goodreads     Buy Amazon

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We begin our journey in the country, at Tyringham Park in 1917.  Edwina Blackshaw (lady of the manor) and Manus (the horse trainer) find Victoria missing from her baby carriage.  Edwina knows nothing about her daughter … can she climb? Walk a distance? There’s intrigue straight away as Edwina falsified her date of birth on the official records so we know something has been hidden.  Husband Lord Waldren Blackshaw is at London in the War Office and isn’t able to go to Ireland.

Victoria is thought drowned but Edwina has suspicions the seamstress has taken her to Australia with her.

As the search for Victoria continues we get to know our characters.  Nurse Dixon, an orphan herself, is hell personified in the way she treats the girls.  Lord Waldren is not thought highly of outside the estate due to political alliances.  There’s conflict between housekeeper Miss Lily East and Nurse Dixon.  We experience a rather heart-wrenching scene involving them both and the doctor.  When Edwina goes to London we understand that the relationship she has with Lord Waldren is no relationship at all.

Through 1917 to 1943, Tyringham Park is the story of the Blackshaw family and the misfortune that befalls them.  Underneath is the thread of Charlotte and how the loss of Victoria has scarred her and affects how she engages in her world.  We spend time on the estate, in the townhouse and in Australia where Charlotte is sent in disgrace after a hasty marriage … and also where Nurse Dixon escapes to after being evicted from the Park.

The characters are solid and believable.  I understood and empathised with Charlotte but even though I could be tolerant I wanted to shake her at times.  Ultimately I was left with a feeling of deep sadness.  That one split second when emotions took over her rational self could only lead her to one place.  Her mother, aunt and father’s characters are all fitting with what we would expect from the time period.

The most enjoyable part of the story for me is when Charlotte is inspired by her tutor…  for a short time we get a sneak peek to how life could have been for Charlotte when her fear of the world abates… where she expresses herself through art and finds a niche for herself.

This is not a quick read but it is absorbing.  Each ‘part’ takes us to a different location.  The community in the Australian outback is interesting as is Nurse Dixon’s life in the city.  The secrets that are revealed pull all the threads tighter and tighter together leading us along a path of destruction and darkness.  Even when we expect there to be a lightness there is another secret in the making.

Tyringham Park truly is an epic debut of darkness – obsessive love, lack of familial love, revenge, death and destruction… and glamour of that time in social history where the landed gentry made up their own rules, where hunts took place and servants knew their place.

I have no hesitation in recommending you add Tyringham Park to your reading list.

Buy it and spread the word

Buy it and spread the word

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

Rosemary McLoughlin is also an established artist.  Visit her website http://rosemarymcloughlin.com/.

Jera’s Jamboree review : No Such Thing as Immortality by Sarah Tranter

nosuchthngNo Such Thing as Immortality by Sarah Tranter

Format: Kindle Edition

File Size: 892 KB

Publisher: Choc Lit   (13 Nov 2012)

Sold by: Amazon Media EU S.à r.l.

Language: English

ASIN: B00A7092FC

I will protect you until the day I die … forever!

A vampire does not have to feel any emotion not of his choosing. And Nathaniel Gray has spent two hundred years choosing not to feel. But when he accidentally runs Rowan Locke off the road, he is inexplicably flooded with everything she’s feeling, and that’s rage, and lots of it.

He is consumed with the need to protect Rowan at all costs including from himself. To Nate, what is happening is unthinkable and is pretty much as unbelievable as the existence of faeries.

But you see, ‘There is no such thing as …immortality.’

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No Such Thing as Immortality opens with Nathaniel (Nate) and friend James racing each other along country lanes.  Their early morning fun halts suddenly when Nate shunts into the back of Rowan.  At first Nate isn’t sure what’s happening but when he realises he’s feeling Rowan’s emotions, he is totally panicked (as is James).  Not only does he feel her emotions but when Nate is able to meet her eyes, there is also a connection on a deeper level.  From this moment, Nate is connected through Rowan’s emotions.  Whatever she feels, he does too.  Alongside this is Nate wanting to protect her and this leads to some humorous moments … the shower scene had me laughing.

In the hospital, Nate meets Rowan’s family and this is the first hint of intrigue surrounding Aunt Hetty.   We’re introduced to Nate’s ‘housemates’ (all vampires) who work as a team to deal with and protect Nate from the debilitating effect of the connection with Rowan.  I enjoyed the way they connected and worked together.  As Nate and Rowan’s relationship develops, Rowan’s ancestry is researched by housemate Madeline.  This ultimately leads to more intrigue.

The emotions for Nate are all-consuming … having never engaged emotionally (even as the Regency gentleman he was in his human incarnation) they are all powerful and controlling.  The romance between Rowan and Nate is beautiful and poignant.  I have to be honest and say however that my interest in the series is not so much the romance but the magical layer beneath the surface!

Besides the romance we have conflict with Simeon Frey.  Not your run-of-the mill rival, the conflict leads to an amazing magical scene.  This has to be my most favourite part of the story! and is the hook for me to read the next book in the ‘No Such Thing’ series.  I really want to see where this takes us.

Some parts of the story I found slow and I would love to have read Rowan’s perceptions of all that was happening (unusually for Choc Lit publications, this is written in a first person narrative from Nate’s perspective throughout).  Rowan is a fabulous character and I think this would have added depth for me.  Nate annoyed and irritated me at times, especially in the beginning and after the major conflict. I could understand why he reacted the way he did but I still wanted to shake him!

No Such Thing as Immortality is a story of a two centuries old vampire who finds his soul-mate as a result of an accident (accident? Co-incidence? Fated? Ah yes, the intrigue) and learns to come out of his self-imposed isolation.  You would be able to read this as a stand-alone romantic story but this is only the surface.  I think the plot is much deeper …  Why did they meet this way at Beltane?  What major battle is their love going to be a part of?  Why are the two families being connected in this way?  Are there going to be more vampire deaths?  If so, why?  Whose immortal life will be lost next?  What secrets will be uncovered?  I have my own theory and I can’t wait to find out if I’m right!

Buy it and spread the word

Buy it and spread the word

I bought No Such Thing as Immortality in Kindle format £1.99.  It is available to purchase as a paperback from 7th January 2013 from Amazon, The Book Depository and all good book stores.

You can catch up with Sarah Tranter on her website or her blog.

You can tweet with the author @Sarah_Tranter 

Jera’s Jamboree review : The Lifeboat by Charlotte Rogan

lifeboatThe Lifeboat by Charlotte Rogan

 

Paperback: 352 pages

Publisher: Virago   (3 Jan 2013)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 1844087549

ISBN-13: 978-1844087549

 

I was to stand trial for my life. I was twenty-two years old. I had been married for ten weeks and a widow for six.

 

It is 1914 and Europe is on the brink of war. When a magnificent ocean liner suffers a mysterious explosion en route to New York City, Henry Winter manages to secure a place in a lifeboat for his new wife Grace. But the survivors quickly realize the boat is over capacity and could sink at any moment. For any to live, some must die.

Over the course of three perilous weeks, the passengers on the lifeboat plot, scheme, gossip and console one another while sitting inches apart. Their deepest beliefs are tested to the limit as they begin to discover what they will do in order to survive.

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The Lifeboat begins with a prologue.  Grace is on trial and when she leaves the courthouse at lunch with the lawyers, it is raining.  The reader is introduced to a flashback of Day 10 in the lifeboat when it rained and this is our first intimation of the trauma endured by herself and fellow lifeboat passengers.  Her actions in the rain lead the lawyers to conclude that Grace may be able to please insanity.  They ask her to write an account of her time in the lifeboat.

Grace is our narrator during the days (and nights) and the aftermath that occurs after rescue.  As the days progress, we not only spend time alongside Grace but we also find out more about her backstory and how she came to be on the Empress Alexandra.

Straight away the passengers form themselves into roles – roles we would expect in a team situation that depends on skills and knowledge for survival.    Those of a like mind collaborate and the women (remembering the time period the story is set in) are either weak or strong.  There are two warring leaders, which adds conflict to the already tense situation.  On the first day, in amongst the wreckage, heartbreaking decisions are made by the leader that not all passengers agree with.  There are several poignant moments as the days progress.

The isolation amplifies everything with Grace reading the timbre and conviction in voices to make judgements.  Everyday things are given meaning out of proportion to reality. Introspection leads Grace to consider things about herself and to question the natural world and religion.  The fear and then euphoria of survival is replaced by hope of rescue and then as they grow weaker, Grace accepts that the lifeboat IS her life.

All the way through we know Grace is on trial for something but it is not until Day 14 that we find out the tragedy that led to this conviction.  This intrigue makes you want to turn the pages to find out what could possibly have been worse than the privations all the passengers endured.

Grace’s account of being in prison, time spent with the psychiatrist and where her life may lead afterwards gives the final structure to the story.

The writing style and rhythm suits the story perfectly.  There is more intrigue with how Grace managed to be on this lifeboat and questions about the gold on board the Empress Alexandra.  I’m still trying to work out my own theories!

The Lifeboat fascinated me as I love to look below the surface.  Grace is such a resilient character, with hidden resources and depths.  We know she has manipulated events in her past, which made me wonder just how honest she was being in her recounting of the tragedy.  It’s our experiences in life that colour our perceptions of the world and for Grace, having had a secure childhood, then family disaster and now the shipwreck, we watch as she once again modifies her beliefs in the epilogue.

The Lifeboat is a testament to the complexities of human nature and existence in all its layers.  It lays bare just how far we are prepared to go to secure our own survival, the truths we think we know and those we are willing to accept.

I have no hesitation in recommending this debut novel for your reading list.

Buy it and spread the word

Buy it and spread the word

I read this as part of the Virago Book Club.  Discussion starts from 3rd January 2013 onwards (on the forum).

 

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

 

The Lifeboat is available to purchase from

Amazon

The Book Depository

and all good book stores.

 

You can visit Charlotte Rojan’s website for more information    The author tweets.

Jera’s Jamboree review : The Road Back by Liz Harris

The Road Back by Liz Harris

Paperback: 356 pages

Publisher: Choc Lit  (7 Sep 2012)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 1906931674

ISBN-13: 978-1906931674

When Patricia accompanies her father, Major George Carstairs, on a trip to Ladakh, north of the Himalayas, in the early 1960s, she sees it as a chance to finally win his love. What she could never have foreseen is meeting Kalden – a local man destined by circumstances beyond his control to be a monk, but fated to be the love of her life.

Despite her father’s fury, the lovers are determined to be together, but can their forbidden love survive?

A wonderful story about a passion that crosses cultures, a love that endures for a lifetime, and the hope that can only come from revisiting the past.

 

The prologue (August 1995) in The Road Back ties up with Part Two.  It’s difficult to say any more as I don’t want to write any spoilers!  It is an integral part to the story.

Chapter One finds us in London in 1951.  The reader is introduced to Patricia Carstairs childhood and the expectations of her father, Major George Carstairs.  He is pedantic and has a saturnine personality, dominating her home life.  We also find out about Patricia’s brother James.  Chapter Two we meet Kalden and we’re introduced to his family and the way of life of the Buddhist village, Ladakh.

From this moment, alternating chapters involve us in their lives until the point where Patricia accompanies her father to Ladakh when she is almost 18. Kalden is their guide.  When they meet, the connection is there straight away although very innocent.  They have the chance to spend time alone and so their intimacy develops.  A tragedy occurs and Patricia makes her own way back to England.

In Part Two the past steps into Patricia’s present and she makes a trip back to Ladakh in September 1995.

The Road Back is so beautifully written.  The move from London and the Major’s personality to the times we spend in Ladakh with the gentle Buddhist way of life is seamless, even though they are totally opposite.  The style of writing is clearly delineated. The scenery and environment in Ladakh is crafted so well that the reader doesn’t need to expend much energy in feeling like they are there!

“Kalden stood in his favourite place at the top of a steep slope that fell sharply to the water’s edge, and watched the thick morning mist inch its way up the crimson and green walls of the mountain, gradually uncovering the narrow ravine below and opening the beauty of the valley to his gaze.”

I enjoyed learning about the customs of the village in the early 1950’s, for instance after the harvest had finished and Kalden and his family are in traditional clothes and celebrating;

“The music and laughter in the kitchen almost drowned out the sound of the monks who were in the family’s altar room above the kitchen.  Chanting to the rhythmic beat of the drums, they offered prayers for the happiness and prosperity of Kalden’s family and for all the families in the world, and placed before the altar pyramids of barley dough that they’d made and decorated with butter and flower petals.”

I also enjoyed seeing how the environment had changed in the mid 90’s (some things remain the same).

I am a romantic at heart and Patricia and Kalden’s love is pure.  I was so heartbroken when the tragedy happened and felt such deep sadness that Patricia had spent all those years in England alone.  When Patricia returns to Ladkakh when she’s 52, accompanied by Amy, I really didn’t see what was coming.  The final 14 pages were read through tears and a couple of times full-blown sobbing.  Perfect, perfect ending  :-)

This is a story that not only completely satisfies the romantics amongst us, but also takes us out of the confines of our lives and lets us experience another culture.  I have loved everything about The Road Back.  I’ve been totally engaged with the story from the first page.  A stunning debut from Liz Harris and one I have absolutely no hesitation in recommending.  The Road Back is a ‘keeper’ for me.

 

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

Visit the author’s website to find out more about her with links to Twitter and Facebook.

The author’s bio on publisher Choc Lit’s website is interesting… exciting life!

The Road Back is available to purchase:

Amazon Kindle £1.99

Amazon paperback £5.99 

The Book Depository £5.99 

And all good book stores

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

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: The Cornish House by debut author Liz Fenwick

The Cornish House by Liz Fenwick

Paperback: 352 pages

Publisher: Orion (24 May 2012)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 1409142744

ISBN-13: 978-1409142744

When artist Maddie inherits a house in Cornwall shortly after the death of her husband, she hopes it will be the fresh start she and her step-daughter Hannah desperately need. 
Trevenen is beautiful but neglected, a rambling house steeped in history. Maddie is enchanted by it and determined to learn as much as she can about its past. As she discovers the stories of generations of women who’ve lived there before, Maddie begins to feel her life is somehow intertwined within its walls. 
But Maddie’s dream of a calm life in the countryside is far from the reality she faces. Still struggling with her grief and battling with Hannah, Maddie is unable to find inspiration for her painting and realises she may face the prospect of having to sell Trevenen, just as she is coming to love it. 
And as Maddie and Hannah pull at the seams of Trevenen’s past, the house reveals secrets that have lain hidden for generations. 
This gorgeously sweeping debut from Liz Fenwick is touched with romance and mystery, a perfect summer read.

 

The reader first meets Maddie and step-daughter Hannah when they’re almost at the end of their journey to reach Trevenen.  They’ve been on the road from London since 2pm and have now been travelling for 8 hours. The car breaks down on a deserted country road.  It’s Friday and a Bank Holiday weekend.  Leaving Hannah asleep, Maddie goes off and eventually finds a home with a light on.  The homeowner opens the door in a dishevelled state and after phoning the rescue service, walks Maddie back to the car.  This is the first time that Mark Triggs rescues Maddie … Watching Maddie and Hannah interact, the reader knows there is a great deal of tension between them.

Narrated in the third person and switching between Maddie and Hannah’s point of view, the reader gets to experience how each of them handle their grief over John and settle into a small community.  The tension between them is very real and affects them on many levels.  There are some real heart-breaking scenes that we witness.  At the end of each narration, the reader is left with either intrigue (and so questions that need answering!) or unresolved tension.  This is a real page turner.

Hannah connects with her peers easily.  Release from the tensions with Maddie comes from time spent with Old Tom.  Retired school teacher, courteous and ‘old-fashioned’ he can say things to her that no-one else can.  Old Tom is a key figure in many ways.  One of my favourite scenes is with Hannah working the wood with him. I loved the way the author showed the connection between the wood and Hannah.  It reminded me of the days when I used to go to work with my father in the holidays!  Being a cabinet maker and French Polisher, I always thought my father had an almost mystical connection with the wood … the author explains this beautifully.

Decisions that were made when John was alive affect Maddie on a very deep level and so she is also carrying burdens from this time into the present time.  Those decisions are hinted at so that we know there is also something else underlying Maddie’s grief although we don’t know what that is for sure for a long time.  I made a tentative guess … I say tentative because I couldn’t work out the reason so thought I wasn’t correct.  When we know the reason it makes perfect sense on a logical/practical level.  It also links into the history of Trevenen.

There are two male leads … Mark Triggs who has emotional baggage from his past and has quite a reputation.  His friendship with Maddie deepens which is enchanting to watch.  To the reader it feels real and not contrived.  The easiness they have with each and the intimacy pulls you in and I have to say affects your own emotions!  The other lead is ‘The Viking’, Gunnar who is in the area researching.  Both bring her trauma – unintentionally. I have to admit to falling in love with Mark myself.  Who wouldn’t want a man who is always there in times of need and causes that type of chemical reaction : )

When Maddie enters Trevenen for the first time “The disturbance caused dust to swirl and a sigh seemed to emerge from the walls.”  I loved the visuals this created.

The family history connection is woven through the story.  If you read my reviews you will know how much I enjoy these threads.  Maddie enters Trevenen knowing nothing and alongside our characters we find out a little at a time and so the truth builds.  This is another page turner.

I felt the author captured a small community with its social dynamics really well.  I feel as if I have been a part of it!  I’ve felt doubt, pain and love.  I’ve sat in the church and felt tears on my cheeks.  I’ve felt anger and frustration at the world.  Colours have caught my eye that I wanted to paint and I’ve eaten meals in the pub enjoying Tamsin’s banter.

The Cornish House is a stunning debut.

No surprises at my rating:

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

I would like to thank the author for choosing me to win a signed copy on Facebook.  I am so glad she did!  This is one of my favourite books this year.

You can find Liz Fenwick on her website, tweet with her  and find her author page on Facebook.

Jera’s Jamboree: Review and Giveaway The Wedding Guests by Meredith Goldstein

The Wedding Guests by Meredith Goldstein

Paperback: 416 pages

Publisher: Penguin (19 July 2012)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 0241960363

ISBN-13: 978-0241960363

One wedding. Five nightmare guests. Five ways to ruin the happiest day of someone else’s life:

- Cry uncontrollably over your ex in front of the bride and mix calming herbal remedies with copious amounts of alcohol so that it’s hard to stand up – especially if you’re a bridesmaid

- Dress like you are attending a funeral and look for opportunities to re-enact scenes from steamy novels

- Turn up late wearing a T-shirt covered in mud and something that looks like blood

- If you are the bride’s uncle, who no one likes anyway, try to cop off with her friend who’s way too young for you

- Wear a suit that stinks of chicken wings and then spend the whole reception propping up the bar

Who said going to a wedding solo couldn’t be fun?

The Wedding Guests is a heartwarming and hilarious tale of what not to do at a wedding.

We meet Beth Eleanor Evans (aka BEE) aged 29 as she is writing her seating plan on a whiteboard (the type you see in a boadroom).  It’s the last thing to plan and she’s getting married in less than 48 hours.  She spends ages trying to strategically place the five singles that are attending when along comes her mother, Donna, places them. Job done.  This is the only time we spend with Bee seeing things from her point of view.

Told in a third person narrative, we switch between each ‘singles’ point of view which is told from the time of the bridal party getting ready on the top floor of the Tower Gardens Country Club, through the wedding/reception and on until the morning after.

Three of the singles have history together having been at college in Syracuse but since drifted apart. Bee’s uncle spends the majority of the wedding with one of them. One of them doesn’t turn up until the next morning but is a part of it through phone calls … and one of the singles is a substitute having taken the place of his mother who is a close friend of the groom’s mother.

The focus of the story is more about the emotional lives of the singles rather than the wedding itself although it is obviously the wedding that is in the background and the reason that brings them together.  We get to read their reflections and learn about hopes and dreams that have been put to one side although not forgotten.  Bee’s wedding is a pivotal point in all their lives.

It’s easy for the reader to identify with each character’s profile and get caught up in the story.  The characters on the periphery add even more colour with their personalities. The pace of the story is fast – there’s no time to be bored!  There’s always something happening.  There are some hilarious/embarrassing scenes and one poignant scene in particular that had me on the floor sobbing alongside the character.

The ending is satisfying although we don’t know the outcome for them all.  However, we do know there are changes …

If you’re looking for a holiday read then I would definitely recommend you add the The Wedding Guests to your reading list.

Buy it and spread the word

I would like to thank the publishers, Penguin, for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest opinion.

About the author:

Meredith Goldstein writes for the Boston Globe and is the author of its hugely popular advice column ‘Love Letters’ where she dishes out pearls of wisdom to the lovelorn. She was born in New Jersey and now lives in Massachusetts.

You can find out more about Meredith Goldstein on her website and tweet with her.

The Wedding Guest is available to purchase:

Amazon Kindle format £3.99

Amazon paperback £4.89

Penguin paperback £6.99

Penguin ePub eBook £4.00

and all good book shops

Penguin are generously offering a paperback copy of The Wedding Guests for one of Jera’s Jamboree readers.  Do you have a memorable wedding experience (humorous, tugged at your heart-strings etc)?  To enter, share in the comments below and one of my boys will pick the winner.  The giveaway is open to UK/IE only and will close at midnight (BST) on 30th July 2012.

Good luck!

Jera’s Jamboree review: Separate Lives by Kathryn Flett

Separate Lives by Kathryn Flett

Paperback: 400 pages

Publisher: Quercus (5 July 2012)

ISBN-10: 1780871864

ISBN-13: 978-1780871868

Your partner of ten years, and the father of your children, receives a text. You happen to see it.

‘Start living a different kind of life … P :-) xxx’.

You don’t know anyone with the initial P, so what’s with the smiley face and the kisses?

Narrated by Susie, her partner Alex and the mysterious ‘P’, Separate Lives is an achingly funny, moving and honest portrayal of marriage and adultery. These characters are never less than totally human. You’ll have met people like them. They might even be you.

 

In the prologue we begin with the text that Suzie finds in Alex’ trousers (which are on the floor while he is in the shower) and find out where they are in their relationship.  Pippa’s begins with the moment she met Alex. In the prologue, Alex’ emails to his twin Guy infer – they leave out more than they say.

We follow the three main characters through their lives from June 2009 to Christmas Eve 2010 which encompasses family celebrations, redundancy, home moves and family life – as well as the inter-connected relationships.

Throughout the story the three main characters perspectives are told in alternating chapters.  Suzie’s is a straight-forward narration.  We hear Pippa’s perspective in a letter she is writing to her mum (we find out later on why she is writing to her mum).  Alex’ perspective is told in emails that he writes to his Fox siblings.  This gives the story uniqueness.

The reader finds out things in one narrative and the missing information is filled in during the next characters chapter … so having already made judgements, with the new information, you have to make adjustments to your thoughts– I loved this!

The Fox family are a close clan and they play a large part in this tangled web.  It’s at the parents golden wedding anniversary that we meet Suzie’s old school nemesis ‘Heinous’ who has moved to Random-on-Sea.  Random-on-Sea is a key place in the story.  Suzie’s family background is best described in her narration on page 44:

“Anyway, the point is that this new fractured family reconfiguration may have turned out to be a triangle – and a pretty good triangle – but because it was more isosceles than equilateral it was just not my triangle of choice.”

Pippa is close friends with Lisa.  Lisa is the partner of Alex’ twin Guy.  Alex first meets her at their home.  Lisa owns a shop and it is while Suzie is buying an outfit while Pippa is covering in the shop that she overhears a phone conversation and tells Lisa who tells Guy who tells Alex …  but the reader finds out that Suzie’s phone conversation was a voicemail message she left on Alex’ mobile.  In Suzie’s narrative the inference is that even though things have smoothed over for now, the future holds a different story and the reader is carried along with the events making predictions.

How each strand weaves into the other and ties up at the end is a very strong plot.  I didn’t work out how the events were a part of the whole, which is another thing I enjoyed.

The characters are so well written with depth to their personalities – and just as with the plot, there are layers underneath a layer as there is in real life!   I was continually adjusting how I felt about each character – including those on the periphery.

Separate Lives is a debut novel about contemporary relationships.  There is humour and there is sadness, there is belonging and there is alienation.  This is a book I recommend you make time for in your reading schedule.

Buy it and spread the word

I read this book as part of Real Readers programme (see side bar for link).

At the end of the book you will find a section of Reading Group Questions and a Q & A with Kathryn.

You can find out more about Kathryn Flett on her Author Profile (Quercus Books).  You can tweet with her.