Review - Christmas Yves by Nicola May

OMG! This is just the best Christmas story ever!
 
Two days before Christmas, Evie Harris discovers that her boyfriend is up to no good.  Hilarious best friend Bea, takes her to the pub to try to cheer her up when she is approached by handsome stranger Greg who overhears her dilemma and persuades her to help out at a homeless shelter on Christmas day. 
 
When she meets homeless man Yves, she makes a new and firm friend and begins to unravel her life through a series of spiritual awakenings.  He takes her on a journey to heal and find peace within herself whilst travelling around a number of London landmarks amongst the stunning winter scenery and backdrops.
 
How will New Year's Eve pan out? Will she find peace and love and where does that leave Yves? Or Greg for that matter? Yeah right - well I'm not going to tell you that now, am I? 
 
I loved this novella right from the start.  Bea and Evie have such a fabulous friendship, I adore them both as if they are my new best friends. I've always loved reading Nicola May's books.  She writes the things that we are all thinking!  She also creates such lovable characters that immediately get into your heart. 
 
When I read the last sentence of this novella, I have to confess that I burst into tears as my heart exploded with emotion.  Proper sobs too! For me, it was such an unexpected but wonderful ending.  Just thinking about it again is making me tear up! It completely blew my mind!

This novella is filled with fun and laughter and at the same time is moving beyond words which is an incredible gift that Nicola has. It is full of hope, love, peace and joy and is completely heart-melting!  It is such a beautiful, fabulous and amazing story. 
 
The world just has to read it!
 
Buy via Amazon.co.uk 

Buy via Amazon.com

You can find out more about Nicola and more about the other books she has written at www.nicolamay.com.
You can like Nicola's Facebook Page by clicking here

You can follow Nicola on Twitter by clicking here

Spirits of Christmas: A Rock’n’Roll Christmas Carol

 

At one time, up-and-coming rock singer Jude had it all: a great band, a platinum record, a loving girlfriend. This Christmas, however, he is well down the road towards spontaneous self-destruction.

 

Unwitting at first, Jude has progressively alienated his band and driven away the love of his life. Tonight, the night before Christmas Eve, he has broken the final taboo during a disastrous gig. Yet Jude doesn’t see how badly his life has derailed, not until a ghostly procession of legends passes through his bedroom with a series of vivid and powerful wake-up calls.

 

Will the Spirits help Jude put the friendship, love, and rock music back into his Christmas?

 

Spirits of Christmas is a modern-day rock’n’roll adaption of Charles Dickens’ classic A Christmas Carol.This novella will enchant romance readers, rock lovers, fans of ghost stories, and everybody who adores the festive season.

 

Amazon.co.uk Kindle | Amazon.co.uk Paperback

Amazon.com Kindle | Amazon.com Paperback

 

 

 

About Nicky Wells: Romance that Rocks Your World!

 

Hi! I’m Nicky Wells, your ultimate rock chick author. My books offer glitzy, glamorous contemporaryromance with a rock theme ~ imagine Bridget Jones ROCKS Notting Hill! If you’ve ever had a crush on any kind of celebrity ~ rock, pop, movie or other ~ you’ll connect with my heroes and my leading ladies!

 

Like my first leading lady, Sophie, I love listening to rock music, dancing, and eating lobsters. When I’m not writing, I’m a wife, mother, occasional knitter, and regular contributor to The Midweek Drive show on Lincoln’s Siren 107.3 FM. Rock on!

 

My books: Sophie’s Turn | Sophie’s Run | Sophie’s Encore | Spirits of Christmas

 

Join me: Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Romantic Novelists’ Association | Sapphire Star Publishing |Amazon | Goodreads | Pinterest

 

So, what did I think? 

Jude WAS the ultimate rock star. With his band, a platinum album and a wonderful girlfriend. Unfortunately this Christmas, he was way down on his uppers! He's upset his mates in the band and also his girlfriend and they have decided that they no longer want anything to do with him.

This novella is written in the time of the night before Christmas Eve. He is visited by the spirits of a series of legends who try to show him the rights and wrongs of his life and show him how he can put things right if he chooses to do so. But what will he choose?

Nicky Wells is an awesome author. Her rock star series is completely fantastic and so entertaining. This book is slightly different and darker style of writing for her but hugely readable.

This is a brilliant adaption of A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. It's a great read for fans of Nicky Wells (who might get a little surprise!) and a wonderfully festive read! It put me right in the Christmas spirit!

 

EXCERPT

 

‘Hiya, Jude!’

The voice emerged from the door, and Jude’s head whipped round as if drawn by a string.

‘Hiya, Jude,’ the voice repeated cheerfully. Unexpectedly, it launched into the first line of one of Jude’s most favourite songs. Jude once again sank onto the bed, his legs refusing to carry him with the shock of this second apparition.

‘Is this really you?’

For a moment, Jude’s second otherworldly visitor abandoned his song and remained silent, motionless, allowing Jude to take a good, long look. The sideburns, the nose, the defined chin, the round glasses were clearly visible despite the spirit’s transparent appearance. Everything about this figure was familiar, yet nothing was quite as it should have been. It was as though Jude was looking at a hologram, a distorted, stretched vision where nothing quite fitted together.

Nonetheless, Jude found his voice. ‘Oh my God, it is you!’

Excitement made his exclamation strong and clear. The figure flinched at the sudden burst of noise, but Jude ploughed on. ‘This is…this is totally unreal. I mean, imagine this—here’s me in my bedroom, and there’s you, come to visit me.’

‘I’m not who you think you see,’ the apparition interrupted. ‘I’m the Ghost of Christmas Past.’

 

 

 

 

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Spirits-Christmas-Nicky-Wells-ebook/dp/B00G9GNAP6/

 

http://www.amazon.com/Spirits-Christmas-Nicky-Wells-ebook/dp/B00G9GNAP6/

 

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Spirits-Christmas-RocknRoll-Carol/dp/1492752371/

 

http://www.amazon.com/Spirits-Christmas-RocknRoll-Carol/dp/1492752371/

 

 

 

 

PERSONAL LINKS 

 

 

http://nickywells.com/

 

https://twitter.com/WellsNicky

 

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Nicky-Wells-Author/240322162658246

 

http://www.amazon.com/Nicky-Wells/e/B005CGMAY6/

 

http://www.romanticnovelistsassociation.org/index.php/about/author/nicky_wells

 

http://www.sapphirestarpublishing.com/nickywells

 

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5047973.Nicky_Wells

 

http://pinterest.com/nickywellsrocks/

 

A very special story about Rosemary Craddock and The Lovegrove Hermit

A while ago, I received a phone call from a lovely lady called Rosemary Craddock who told me that she was an author whose typewriter had broken and she asked whether I would be able to type up a manuscript for a book that she had written called The Lovegrove Hermit. 

Rosemary told me that she was an author and that her first book (The Secret House) was published in 1979 and she then went on to have a book published nearly every year until 1986 when The Devil’s Folly was created.  

After writing seventeen chapters of another novel, Rosemary decided that she didn’t feel that the book was right and was missing something and she put it to one side.

Rosemary went along to see a Tom Stoppard play called Arcadia which was set across two periods of time.  It was this play that inspired her to write a book where one of the characters was a hermit and the name The Lovegrove Hermit came to her immediately. 

All bundled up, with the synopsis and a covering letter, the manuscript was sent off to her previous publisher – Robert Hale Ltd, and she called me one evening saying that she’d had a letter asking for an electronic copy and she was most concerned because she had no idea what this meant and what to do about it.

I told her not to worry, that it could be sorted within a few minutes, so I emailed a copy of the word document to the publishers and had the absolute pleasure of ringing up Rosemary after I had received an email back from Gillian Jackson, offering a publishing contract.

Today (31st October 2013) is publication day for The Lovegrove Hermit .  I am so delighted that I was able to play a part in this wonderful story.  You can buy a copy of the book here.

Rosemary is 80 years old and was born and bred in Hednesford, Staffordshire, the town in which I live.  She has been writing since childhood and has published many novels full of mystery, romance and intrigue, most of them set in the nineteenth century. 

Rosemary does not have a website, a Facebook page, a Twitter name, and doesn’t even own a computer or use the Internet.  Hednesford Library are taking this book on board and we are hoping that they will hold a signing event in her honour.   This is wonderful news in itself.  More wonderful news is that the book that Rosemary put to one side, has now also been finished and we hope that in time, the publishers may also agree to publish that one too.  Watch this space. . . . . . . .

Good luck vibes being sent to Nicola May

Well folks - what can I tell you about Nicola May?

I could tell you that at last year’s Festival of Romance in Bedford she won the Best Author Published Read with her fabulous book The School Gates.

I could tell you that this year she’s been shortlisted for not one but two awards at this year’s Festival of Romance with her brilliant book The Bow Wow Club which is a sequel to Working It Out.  The first award is the New Talent Award and the second is once again for the Best Author Published Read.  The awards take place on 9^th November and I’d love you to join me in wishing Nicola the best of luck for both categories. 

I could tell you that she’s extremely talented and writes hilarious fiction with a heart that has you crying with laughter one minute, then sobbing your heart out the next. 

I could tell you that on 16^th November 2013, Nicola is running a workshop helping people who want to self-publish a book.  She’s an expert having self-published her own books extremely successfully.

I could even tell you that she also offers a 1-2-1 consultancy to authors who want to self-publish.  If you want to learn from someone who has already done it and learnt the right and wrong ways, Nicola can advise you on any aspects that you are struggling with. 

Or, or I could just let you learn even more about Nicola, her writing and her consultancy by checking out her website www.nicolamay.com. 

I will just tell you one last thing! If you’ve never read a Nicola May book, then you are really missing out!

You can download The Bow Wow Club right here http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Bow-Wow-Club-Nicola-ebook/dp/B00CR1DY9E/ref=tmm_kin_title_0/279-3210019-2713811

 

 

Opportunities to work with Kim The Bookworm

I would like say a massive thank you to the fabulous Sue Watson, author of debut novel Fat Girls & Fairy Cakes and her latest novel Younger, Thinner, Blonder.  Sue has taken on the first advertising slot on my little old blog.

 

This is what Sue said when I approached her about advertising on my blog.

 

"A reasonably priced advertising slot on a book blog which is well-read, well-respected and interesting is a great opportunity. I’ve known Kim for a couple of years now and we’ve met in real-life as well as chatted online and it’s clear she has a passion for all things books. She dedicates a great deal of her spare time to reviewing and blogging about books and as a result has built up a large following.

“One of the things that us authors tend to forget sometimes is that book bloggers do what they do for free! They give up their spare time, which can be limited when they have full time jobs and families to help authors and publishers to promote their books.

“I’m grateful that as part of the advertising offer, Kim will also be promoting my books on Facebook and Twitter throughout the month. This is great, as I don’t always have the time to do this and it’s great to know if I’m busy writing, someone else is putting a message out into the world about my books. A great word of mouth recommendation is worth its weight in gold.

“I’m really looking forward to working closely with Kim on many other fabulous ideas that we have brainstormed between us. The publishing world is changing rapidly and as an author I am only too aware of this. Kim’s PR experience, insight and social network connections as a reviewer are invaluable to authors, both self and traditionally published because being an author is not just about ‘writing the book’ anymore.

It’s great to have a one-stop-shop to go to who can help to arrange competitions, publicity shoots, blog tours, books signings, talks, promotional material and PR and someone who is as enthusiastic, knowledgeable and fanatical about books as she is!

“Thanks Kim for giving me this opportunity.”

 

If you would like to advertise your book on Kim The Bookworm, please email me at kimnash@hotmail.co.uk.

Prices start at £20 per month. Payment can be made through Paypal.

Chick Lit authors hold hands across the sea

Fasten your seatbelts and put your tray tables in the upright and locked position. Over the next few days, some of your favourite Chick Lit characters will be jetting across the Atlantic to visit with fictional friends on the other side of the pond.

The event kicks off today, Monday, 21 Oct and here’s a little sneak peek at the fun, frothy books and sassy gals featured in our international promo, all of which are priced at £2.99 or less:
 

On Tuesday, 22 Oct.: Read about Stella from Fat Girls and Fairy Cakes and Chloe from Lying to Meet You as they travel across the Atlantic to visit each other.

Stella will be on Anna Garner’s blog http://libby-mercer.blogspot.com/ and Chloe will be on Sue Watson’s blog http://fatgirlsandfairycakes.blogspot.com/
 
Wednesday, 23 Oct., It’s time to discover what happens when Emma from The Pollyanna Plan andKim from Blogger Girl meet. Emma will be on Meredith Schorr’s blog http://meredithschorr.com/blog/ and Kim will be on Talli Roland’s blog http://talliroland.blogspot.com/
 
Thursday, 24 Oct: Izzy from Izzy’s Cold Feetand Jamie from Finding Lucas will be taking you on a trip alongside their characters. Izzy will be onSamantha Stroh Bailey’s blog http://samanthastrohbailey.blogspot.ca/ and Jamie will be on Sarah Louise Smith’s blog http://sarahlouisesmith.com/
 
Friday, 25 Oct. Kate from Sealed with a Kiss and Pilar from In Need of Therapy will be chatting about their overseas experiences. Kate will be on Tracie Banister’s blog http://traciebanister.blogspot.com/ and Pilar will be on Rachael Lucas’s blog http://rachaellucas.com/blog/

ABOUT THE BOOKS

Finding Lucas by Samantha Stroh Bailey –Daytime talk show producer Jamie Ross is beyond fed up with her toxic bad boy turnedmetrosexual boyfriend. Spurred on by her gang of quirky friends, she goes on a hilarious, at-times disastrous, and totally life-changing hunt to track down the ”one who got away.” But are some loves best left behind? Available on  

Amazon.com http://www.amazon.com/Finding-Lucas-ebook/dp/B007VIIU6A/ 
Amazon UK http://www.amazon.co.uk/Finding-Lucas-Samantha-Stroh-Bailey-ebook/dp/B007VIIU6A 
and Kobo http://store.kobobooks.com/en-ca/books/Finding-Lucas/-wfpLcDV6keHZR-T80qCUg

In Need of Therapy by Tracie Banister – Handling the problems of hysterical hypochondriacs, lovelorn neurotics, and compulsive man whores is all in a day’s work for super-shrink Pilar Alvarez. But can she deal with her crazy Cuban family, a trio of unsuitable suitors, and a threat to her practice without ending up on the couch herself? Available on Amazon.com http://www.amazon.com/In-Need-of-Therapy-ebook/dp/B008N6Z36Y Amazon UK http://www.amazon.co.uk/In-Need-of-Therapy-ebook/dp/B008N6Z36Y and B&N http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/in-need-of-therapy-tracie-banister/1112265620?ean=2940015006889

Lying to Meet You by Anna Garner – Overworked New York fashion girl Chloe Lane has no time for a real relationship, but when her childhood pal asks her to play the part of his girlfriend in order to test a theory, she decides to go for it. The lies start piling up and things start getting crazy. Will Chloe be able to keep it together? Available on Amazon.comhttp://www.amazon.com/Lying-to-Meet-You-ebook/dp/B00EZR5M9I
Amazon UK http://www.amazon.co.uk/Lying-to-Meet-You-ebook/dp/B00EZR5M9I
and B&N http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/lying-to-meet-you-anna-garner/1116838753?ean=2940148616924

Sealed with a Kiss by Rachael Lucas – Kate breathes a sigh of relief when she's dumped at her best friend's wedding. When she takes a job on the island of Auchenmor, she's determined to have a year off men, but that's before she rescues Flora the seal pup with the help of Roddy, her mysteriousnew boss... Available on Amazon.com http://www.amazon.com/Sealed-with-a-Kiss-ebook/dp/B00BE9EUW0/ and Amazon UK http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sealed-with-a-Kiss-ebook/dp/B00BE9EUW0/

The Pollyanna Plan by Talli Roland – Emma Beckett has always looked down on 'the glass is half full' optimists. But when she loses her high-powered job and fiancé, Emma makes a radical decision: from here on in, she'll attempt to see the upside, no matter how dire the situation. Can adopting a positive attitude give Emma the courage to build a new life, or is finding the good in everything a very bad idea? Available on Amazon.com http://www.amazon.com/The-Pollyanna-Plan-Talli-Roland-ebook/dp/B00AFAW2GK 
and Amazon UK http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Pollyanna-Plan-Talli-Roland-ebook/dp/B00AFAW2GK

Blogger Girl by Meredith Schorr – Kimberly Long has two passions: her successful chick lit blog and Nicholas, her handsome colleague down the hall. But when her high school nemesis pops onto the chick lit scene with a hot new book and eyes for Nicholas, Kim has to make some quick revisions to her own life story. Available on
Amazon.com http://www.amazon.com/Blogger-Girl-ebook/dp/B00EDTLDSW Amazon UK http://www.amazon.co.uk/Blogger-Girl-ebook/dp/B00EDTLDSW 
B&N http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/blogger-girl-meredith-schorr/1116358028?ean=2940148503125
and Apple iTunes https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/blogger-girl/id686654939?mt=11

Izzy’s Cold Feet by Sarah Louise Smith – Izzy is engaged to Greg, who is everything a girl could want. The trouble is – all she can think about is the men she loved before she met him. In the week leading up to her wedding day, Izzy is forced to ask herself who she loves the most. And, given the choice, who would she want to spend her life with?Available on Amazon.com http://www.amazon.com/Izzys-Cold-Sarah-Louise-Smith/dp/1909841005/
Amazon UK http://www.amazon.co.uk/Izzys-Cold-Sarah-Louise-Smith/dp/1909841005/
B&N http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/izzys-cold-feet-sarah-louise-smith/1116263752
and UK Nook http://uk.nook.com/ebooks/izzys-cold-feet-by-sarah-louise-smith/2940045154499

Fat Girls and Fairy Cakes by Sue Watson – TV Producer Stella is over worked, over weight and under fire battling to balance family, career and those weighing scales. In the past she’s always found comfort at the bottom of her mixing bowl but now the most delicious lemon sponge with zesty frosting has no effect. However, life is about to get even tougher... and Stella has to face some truths about herself, her life and her future. Available on Amazon.com http://www.amazon.com/Fat-Girls-Fairy-Cakes-ebook/dp/B005L92JB8 and Amazon UK http://www.amazon.co.uk/Fat-Girls-Fairy-Cakes-Watson-ebook/dp/B005L92JB8

Blog Stop: Poppy Dolan joins me to talk about There's More to Life than Cupcakes

THERE’S MORE TO LIFE THAN CUPCAKES BY POPPY DOLAN

(Published10^th October 2013: Novelicious Books)

I'm thrilled today to be joined at my blog by the brilliant author Poppy Dolan.  I finished this book just a couple of nights ago and it was completely fab! Her last book was pretty superb too.  If you've not read anything of hers yet, you really should give her books a try.  Sooooo entertaining! 

Poppy joins me today to talk about her writing.  Thanks so much for taking the time to pop by Poppy.

∙    This much I know after 3 and 1/3 novels…

I will admit I was ‘writing tips’ junkie. A complete addict. If I saw a tweet or blog post entitled ‘My Top 5 Writing Tips’ I would be clicking in a heartbeat, eager to know what the secret was, how these successful writers did it, book after book, and – most importantly - how they stayed sane through it all. I read writing tips that seem to agree with tips from other authors; I read tips that conflicted completely; I read tips I didn’t really agree with. And now I’ve finished writing my third novel (and a third of a novel that’s staying locked in a drawer) I think I’m over my tips obsession. Because I’ve realised that writing a novel is such a big, sprawling, messy activity that I haven’t even managed to approach each one of my own novels in the same way, so I’m not sure there can be ‘one size fits all’ tips. It’s great to have guidelines to follow and to be inspired by how other people approach their writing, but it’s also important not to feel like you’re somehow lacking or wrong if you tackle your novel in your own style.

           

I’ve planned religiously and I’ve not planned at all: both times I ended up with lots of problems with structure and pacing. I’ve read lots of other novels while writing and I’ve also read nothing but cereal boxes too, not wanting to be subconsciously influenced. Again, both times I hit on the same problems with clunky dialogue and labouring jokes.

           

So in future, I’m not going to beat myself if I don’t have a timeline sketched out or post its on a wall. I’m going to go with my gut and work really really hard at writing, rewriting, writing again and editing like crazy. Because the only thing you can count on is that you won’t get it right first time!   

  

Really interesting for all the budding authors out there who don't know whether they've got it right or don't know where to start.  So, now it's time to hear a bit about the book itself.  Here's the blurb. 

“A fresh, sparkling new voice and a wonderful addition to women's commercial fiction!”

Sunday Times Bestselling Author Claudia Carroll

 Ellie Redford has a husband, a job and a home. According to the rest of the world, it’s baby o’clock already. Shame life doesn’t come with a recipe…

Ellie knows that starting a family with lovely husband Pete would be an amazing adventure. Pete would make a brilliant dad and she’d have an excuse to eat shed loads of Cherry Bakewell. But Ellie’s bestie would rather she was up at 3am with a bottle of Malibu, not formula. And with redundancies looming, Ellie’s boss isn’t exactly going to throw her a shower if she disappears for a year, with pay.

While Ellie juggles her feelings (and everyone else’s) as competently as a drunken clown, she finds herself signing up for a baking class, alongside the young, free and sizzling hot Joe. As they work buns and shape tarts, is there more to their friendship than a shared appreciation of Paul Hollywood? 

Ellie’s soufflés may be rising, but her personal life is one big soggy mess. If she doesn't make a decision soon, she may just lose everything that matters to her. Maybe it's time to take off the pinny and face up to the truth: there’s more to life than cupcakes...

ABOUT  POPPY DOLAN

Poppy Dolan is a rom com aficiando. After watching When Harry Met Sally at the impressionable age of 14, she’s never stopped dreaming of having the perfect ‘meet-cute’, that one-liner that steals your heart and the grand romantic gesture to end all grand romantic gestures. Since her real-life dating experiences were more often situated at Nando’s than the top of the Eiffel Tower, she turned to fiction and wrote romantic comedies of her own.

When she's not glued to her laptop, Poppy loves cooking, reading and getting emotional over reality TV. She is in her early thirties and lives just outside London with her husband. She writes in a coffee shop nicknamed Terence and also - when it's not too chilly - in the shed.

Why not connect with Poppy on Twitter @poppydwriter and on Facebook at PoppyDolanBooks. She doesn't bite. Unless you are a muffin.