Monday, 18 November 2013

Review - Solomon's Tale by Sheila Jeffries

What a delightful story, but it should come with a warning - you may need tissues!
I first read this book last year, but was delighted when I was contacted to say that this beautiful book had been spotted by a top agent (Judith Murdoch) and was bought by Harper Collins for their Avon Books imprint.

It is therefore, with my very greatest pleasure, that I was invited to review a longer copy of this enchanted and magical book.

Solomon is a healing cat from the spirit world who is sent back to earth to be born again with the sole purpose of helping Ellen and her family. When his soul decides that he wants to be born again, he embarks upon an important and interesting adventure to find and help his precious Ellen who lives with her husband Joe, their son John and their very naughty cat Jessica. John has a foul temper and gets the family into financial difficulties but Ellen stands by him and when they lose everything they own, they start again in a small caravan.
Solomon and Jessica have fallen in love and while Ellen works hard so that they all have a nice life, John drinks and feels sorry for himself all the time and can be abusive towards Ellen both verbally and physically. Solomon is a healing cat and his healing ways bring healing, love and promise to this family but it all gets too much for Ellen to cope with and she becomes very ill. Solomon is guided by his angel who he sees and hears and who advises him how to deal with particular circumstances.

There was such a lot of emotion in this lovely tale. The love story between Jessica and Solomon is wonderfully told and Jessica’s appalling behaviour is quite hilarious at times. To talk about a love story between two cats sounds a bit bizarre but it really works well.

The story is actually told by Solomon which takes a little getting used to, but once I did, I really enjoyed the book and found it extremely emotional in parts with some very upsetting topics throughout, yet it was an absolute pleasure to read how this wonderful healing cat had such an impact on this families lives.

At the end of the book I cried and cried. In fact, I have to admit that I sobbed but in a good way and for a nice reason if that makes sense! What an amazing book! It covers the topics of reincarnation, spirituality, angels and death beautifully. I think this would be a good book to help children understand when a pet dies and help them feel a whole lot better about that situation. In fact the way that she described when an animal dies made me think about that happening when my mom died and that made me feel a whole lot better about that too!

I’m not a massive cat fan yet this book still appealed to me so you clearly don’t have to be a cat lover to get and love this book as much as I did. It really was a delightful tale of a love story between two cats and a cat and its owner. Simply beautiful!

Sheila Jeffries the author has a lovely style of writing, very relaxed and enjoyable. The words flowed well with the pages turning themselves and I read it very quickly. I can't review this book and not comment on the cover which is just one of the most sparkliest, beautiful covers ever! Matches perfectly the magical story.

This book was inspired by Sheila’s own cats and experiences that have happened in her life and it’s a book that could be read and enjoyed by both adults and children alike.

Sheila Jeffries wrote four full length children’s novels which were published before she left school. After studying at Bath Academy of Art, she trained as a teacher and taught special needs children. She started to write again full time in 1982, and had a further eight children’s books published.

A more recent project was a commissioned Mind Body & Spirit book called Talking to Fairies. Sheila is also an amazing artist and has had exhibitions in London and the West Country. In the 90’s she moved to Cornwall and had her own studio selling her paintings, cards and books and there she developed her interest is esoteric subjects, particularly healing and sacred geometry. This led her to discover a new landscape zodiac in Cornwall and to publish three books on the topic.

Sheila Jeffries has brought up a family, helped to run a small-holding, and planted a fifty acre wood with her husband Ted. In her spare time she likes to study ley lines, Feng Shui, and ecology. She writes and reads poetry and has won a number of prizes including the Southern Daily Echo Poetry Trophy and the Writers Forum Prize. Now living in Somerset, Sheila is writing some new books for children, an adult saga, and two non-fiction Mind Body Spirit books and also runs writing workshops.

You can follow Sheila on Twitter

You can learn more about her at her website www.sheilajeffries.com

You can buy the book via Amazon UK.

Review & Giveaway - It's Got To Be Perfect by Haley Hill

When Ellie Rigby hurls her three-carat engagement ring into the gutter, she is certain of only one thing, that she has yet to know true love.

Following months of disastrous internet dates and conflicting advice from her dysfunctional friends, she decides to take matters into her own hands. Although now, instead of just looking for a man for herself, she's certain her life's purpose is to find deep and meaningful love for all the singles in the world.

Five years on, running the UK's biggest matchmaking agency, and with thousands of engagements to her name, she has all the answers she needs. She knows why eighty-five percent of relationships fail. She knows why twenty-eight is the most eligible age for a woman. She knows that by thirty-five she'll have only a thirty-percent chance of marriage.

Most of all, she knows that no matter what, it has to be perfect. Or does it?

This was a thoroughly entertaining book. I really enjoyed reading it. It was full of laughs and full of energy. There was never a dull moment or a lull in the story which was constantly full-on.

Hayley has a lovely writing style which lead to me picking the book up at every possible opportunity and she takes real life experiences and writes some of them in a light-hearted way and others in a really dramatic way. She seems to take issues that I know between me and my friends we've all experienced and tackle them head-on. I did have moments when I thought she may have been listening to my friends and I when we've been chatting about everyday life! She has certainly done her research!

I shall really look forward to reading more of Hayley's work in the future.

Giveaway

For your chance to win one of three signed paperback copies please click on the following link and follow the instructions. Good luck!! a Rafflecopter giveaway

Other Reviews

Finalist - readers' Favorite (US) Book Awards

Finalist - Best Dating Book 2013

‘As deliciously gossipy as it gets’--Sadie Nicholas, journalist

‘High drama and lots of laughs’--Susan Quilliam, Fabulous Magazine

‘Hilarious and so very, very true’ -- James Preece, The Dating Guru

Excerpt

PART TWO

Chapter Fourteen

‘Blonde hair, blue eyes and big tits,’ he said to Mia.

Fortunately for him, in the four years we’d worked together, she had

learned to temper her eye rolls and her expression was fixed at

something that could have even been described as earnest.

‘Would you consider green eyes?’ Mia asked.

‘No,’ he said, pushing up his sleeves to reveal a diamond encrusted

Rolex. ‘I dated someone with green eyes once. It didn’t work

out.’

I continued typing on my keyboard on the table next to them,

brushing the hair away from my face to sneak a sideways glance at

him.

He wore a shiny grey suit, the garish end of Gucci. His watch

was obnoxiously bling like a bank balance on his wrist, his hair: blond,

highlighted. Tan: deep, natural. Eyes: blue, sparkling. Smile: cheeky,

lopsided. Teeth: even, white. Age: I’d guess, thirty-seven. Height:

around 5ft 7in, unfortunate considering his other physical attributes.

Body language: overtly male, legs splayed, hand near crotch, shoulders

wide. Eye contact: good. Champagne choice: predictably expensive.

Overall assessment: inflated ego, directly proportional to, and fully

dependent on, his net assets.

I looked over at Mia, watching how her dark hair hid her face

as she leant over a notepad and began writing. He sat opposite her, his

hands miming two large beach balls.

‘Like this,’ he said, a self-satisfied smile sweeping across his

face. ‘Are you looking?’

Mia raised her head and the curtain lifted. I could tell she was

fighting to suppress an emotion. I supposed it was either amusement

or rage, but I couldn’t quite tell.

‘Yes, got it,’ she replied. ‘Please continue.’

‘And I like nipples that point upwards.’

‘Upwards-pointing nipples,’ she said, scribbling away.

‘And I prefer pink to brown.’

‘Preferably pink.’ She paused and looked up, eyes narrowed.

‘Is that a deal breaker? The pink nipples?’

He weighed his head from side to side and I pictured a tiny

cluster of brain cells rolling around inside his skull.

‘Yes. Definitely pink. I’m not fussed which shade.’

‘There are shades?’

‘Of course, from light pink, like the colour of your nail

varnish, to a dark pink, a bit like your lipstick.’

‘Wow, you learn something every day.’

‘I’m surprised you didn’t know that.’

‘Surprised?’

‘Yes, you being a –’

‘Matchmaker?’

‘No, being a woman. You must have seen hundreds of your

friends’ nipples.’

‘My friends don’t have hundreds of nipples.’

‘You know what I mean.’

‘Oh, you mean all those topless pillow fights we have?’

He nodded and winked.

She locked him with Medusa eyes. ‘Right, now your turn.’

‘What else do you need to know?’

She ripped out a sheet of paper from her notepad and slid it

across the table along with a pen. ‘Draw an outline of your penis for

me, please.’

‘An outline?’ he asked.

I giggled inwardly and wondered if he had selected the wrong

word for clarification.

‘Yes, sketch the outline and then add in any unusual features.’

Her expression remained fixed at a plausible serious.

He picked up the pen. ‘Does it have to be to scale?’

‘Preferably. Or else you can indicate the measurements.’

With an expression of intense concentration and with a tight grip on

the pencil, he soon completed the sketch. Then after a further five

minutes of shading and corrections, he held the sheet of paper aloft

for Mia to see.

‘Obviously we’ll have to verify this with a photo,’ she said,

taking it from him and studying it.

He leaned back in his seat. ‘Will you want that signed by my

bank manager?’

‘Ex-girlfriend will do. But if your bank manager is happy to do

it …’

Moments later, after he’d left and the buzz of his phone was fading

into the distance, Mia turned to me with a tight smile.

‘Another Prince Charming,’ she said, handing me the sketch.

‘Good sport though.’

I looked at the drawing, winced and then quickly folded it

away. It appeared, his ego wasn’t the only thing that was inflated.

‘So, what were you scribbling down?’ I asked. ‘A full

psychological profile?’

She shook her head. ‘Shopping list.’

I sighed. ‘Mia.’

‘What?’

‘He’s a client. You’re supposed to be focused on helping him.’

‘I am.’

‘Go on then.’

She laughed. ‘Well, under all the bravado, there’s probably a

lost little boy who just wants to be loved.’

‘Mia. Stop it.’

‘Know any stupid girls with big tits who want a rich guy?’

My mind flicked through its archives. ‘Yes,’ I said, nodding

slowly, ‘but she’s not stupid. She’s quite intelligent actually. Her name’s

Kerri.’

‘We don’t care about her name. What’s her cup size?’

‘FF.’

‘Nipples?’

‘Hang on.’ I picked up my phone and typed her name into

Google images, then handed the phone to Mia. ‘There you go, pink

nipples.’

Mia sniffed. ‘Of course, a glamour model. She looks so

… what’s the word?’ She drummed her fingers on the table.

‘Yes, that’s it. Intelligent.’

I rolled my eyes, something I appeared to have acquired

from Mia. ‘You okay to arrange the introduction?’

‘Sure,’ she said, stuffing her notebook back into her bag.

‘Living the dream.’

About the Author

Haley was born in London in 1977, with a big heart, big feet and big ideals. In 2005, she set up what turned out to be the UK's biggest matchmaking agency. She has since sold it and drunk the proceeds. She lives in Battersea with her husband James, a wine merchant and consequent enabler of her habit, their twin girls and a scruffy hound called Rufus. She spends her days chasing her toddlers around the house, trying to write but mostly just messing about on Twitter.

Links

Amazon

Publisher

Blog

Twitter @HaleyHillnow

Facebook Book Page

Thursday, 14 November 2013

Forbidden by Linn B Halton

This is a delightful romance that explores the possibility of there being something more than just the ‘here and now’. If that were the case, how would it work? What keeps us on the path determined for us, when we have free will? How would the spirit world link with us as we go about our lives? Love is a powerful emotion, but can it change the course of someone’s destiny?

In Forbidden Ceri and Alex find it difficult to let go of the guilt they carry for things that have happened in their past. No two lives are the same and each of them has their own emotional baggage. But what if someone else calls the shots and you are simply meant to follow the path that is set out before you? Will that take Ceri and Alex in different directions, no matter how hard they try to stay together? Ceri’s journey continues …

Linn has a wonderful writing style and you very easily lose yourself in her books. This is a great trilogy that I have thoroughly enjoyed reading. I could read Linn's work continuously and my only negative about these books is that they finish too soon!

Falling (Angels Among Us #1)

Forbidden (Angels Among Us #2)

Now available to pre-order:

Forever (Angels Among Us #3)

Website

Twitter: @LinnBHalton
Facebook: Linn B Halton and Author Linn B Halton

HarperImpulse author page

Romantic Novelists’ Association page

Sunday, 10 November 2013

Festival of Romance 2013

Wow! What another fab day!

I knew it was going to be a great day when I bumped into Sheryl Browne, a fellow LAHE member and person from my neck of the woods, in the hotel reception! Big hugs from this lovely lady made a wonderful start to the Festival of Romance for me.

Coffee and cake was just what I needed and there were readings from 14 brilliant authors. I love to hear authors read from their own books as they were written to be read. It's especially poignant for me when I've read the book too.

Great to finally meet my fellow book blogger JB Johnston who had flown over from Northern Ireland. Joined by the lovely Carol Wright (DizzyCLLB) too it's just so good to meet up with people you mix with daily on line. Lovely also to meet Lou Graham again.

We headed over to the Romance Fair where it was wonderful to see Linn B Halton, Janice Horton and Mandy Baggot on the Love A Happy Ending stand. Again hugs all round. Fab also to see Sheryl again, Nicky Wells, Will Sutton and others on the Safkhet Publishing stand too.

An interview with last years award winners (Rowan Coleman (aka Scarlett Bailey), Fiona Harper, Pia Fenton (aka Christina Courtenay), Nicola May and Pippa Croft (aka Philippa Ashley) was really informative and interesting with questions from Lou Graham then from the audience. Fab to hear so many different experiences and opinions on writing, publishing and romance.

Lovely for me to meet the fantastic Nicola May who I feel I already know so well through her books and social media and I got the squeeze I'd been promised from her.

More readings in the afternoon from a number of again more fabulous authors and the opportunity to chat with them and buy their books made this another day to remember. The bloggers then went off for a cuppa and a chat with a Festival Organiser, Literary Agent and Publisher Kate Allen before they all headed off to get ready for the ball and I headed home. Next year Cinders will go to the ball!

I will announce the winners later today but just wanted to write briefly here about what a fab day out the Festival of a Romance 2013 was and share some of my pics. Roll on next year!

Kim

Xxx

Sunday, 3 November 2013

Review - Dead Burn by Jennifer Chase

I do love to read about the vigilante pursuits of Emily Stone!

We join Emily in her toughest case yet, when a serial killer is on the loose in California, tracking down and gruesomely killing it's victims in a string of vicious arson attacks. Emily, Rick & Jordan work as a united team in an attempt to track down the killer and find and protect his targets before he strikes again.

She thrives on danger, but this time, someone has their eye on her too! Will she get to them, before they get to her?

When Jennifer asked me if I would like to review the latest book in the Emily Stone series, I jumped at the chance. I've read all the others in the series and they are brilliantly written thrillers. Within a few seconds of opening this book, I was very quickly reminded of Emily's determination, courage and highly protective personality and continued to read most of the book whilst holding my breath.

There were times when I wanted to shout at Emily because I knew she was in danger and she couldn't see it. I've always compared Jennifer's writing to James Patterson and I still think this way, yet I do think it also improves if possible with each book. Her writing is full of suspense, intrigue, thrill and mystery. You just want to keep on turning the pages even though your heart is pounding away like mad!

I could read about Emily Stone all day long. She is one hell of a courageous, independent, gutsy, tough cookie, prepared to take on the world in an effort to help others. I'd love her to be watching my back!

It would be brilliant to see this series transferred to TV. It would make for a riveting watch on the edge of your seat!

Jennifer Chase lives in California and holds a bachelor's degree in police forensics and a master's degree in criminology. She also holds certifications in serial crime and criminal profiling and is a member of the International Association of Forensic Criminologists so she definitely knows what she's talking about. Compulsion is the first novel that stars Emily Stone and Dead Game the second. I love that Jennifer has a section of her website that is dedicated to Emily.

Blog/Website

Books: Compulsion Dead Game Dark Mind Dead Burn Silent Partner Screenwriting

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

Friday, 1 November 2013

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

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/