Review - Our Eyes Met Over Cantaloupe by Anee McAneny

A thoroughly enjoyable read from yet another author who is new to me. 

Journalist Millie Morris's Mom runs a very special cake shop - The Secret Lives of Cupcakes which one day gets a very special wedding order - Millie's ex boyfriend.  The rogue that one morning when cooking her eggs, announced that he was leaving her for someone else which came as a total surprise to her. 

When he comes around to her new home to talk to her about whether he's doing the right thing or not she tries to be nice, as that's her nature, even though she thinks she's really not the right person he should be discussing this with, her feelings for him are questioned.  When she finds herself covering an important court case, she discovers that the bride and the lady she was dumped for is the leading lawyer on this particular case, which puts her in a very bizarre position. 

Anne writes in a lovely way, her writing is extremely humerous and she has created the most delightful characters especially Millie, and her friend Pauline, that you 'get' right from the start.  Her style of writing is easy to read, and just generally enjoyable. 

Lots of laugh out loud moments from the moment you start reading along with a good storyline and the great characters hook you from the start of the book.  With twists and turns and hilarious events along the way to keep you interested, it certainly was a book that I'd recommend to others.  It was good fun, and really enjoyable.  I've read some great reviews from her other books too, details of which I've added below and I shall really look forward to looking them up and reading them soon. 

Anne McAneny, has also written two other books: CHUNNELING THROUGH FORTY (humor/chick-lit) and FORETELLER (fast-paced mystery thriller). She has written several screenplays which have been successful in contests and are now circulating through Hollywood in the hope of making it to the big screen. Anne lives in Virginia with her family, two ferrets and a cat whose name changes weekly. He currently answers to "Mythical Flarb" and "Food."

You can get more information about Anne and her books here. 

You can follow Anne on Twitter here. 

Interview With Jennifer Chase

Earlier this summer, I was lucky enough to review a fabulous book called Dead Game by Jennifer Chase.  It was a cracker of a thriller and I loved every minute of it.  Jennifer is an award winning author and criminologist and all round extremely interesting and very clever lady and I was lucky enough to poke my nose into her life when she agreed to answer some questions for my blog.   Thanks so much Jennifer, really looking forward to reading more of your work - you know I'm now a fan for life!

You have quite a CV Jennifer.  Can you tell us a little about you and your life?

Thank you for having me here today!

I’ve always loved to write whether it was scribbling out funny lines for my stuffed animals when I was a child or writing short mystery stories in high school.  I think I secretly wanted to be Nancy Drew! 

Things don’t always turn out the way you want – sometimes it just takes longer to get to where you want to go.  I ventured into the business and corporate world in the exciting occupation of accounting.  Yes, I know, I still get funny looks about transforming from accountant to thriller writer.  It’s a process!  I’ve written professionally in areas of copyrighting and articles in magazines and newspapers, but I still wanted to write a novel.  There’s that process thing again!       

As well as writing, you have lots of experience to offer people in many ways.  Can you tell us a little about what else you do?

Lately, I’ve been working on my latest novel project Dark Mind and keeping focused on the steadily approaching deadline before the holidays.  I offer assistance to other writers with blog articles, ghost writing, and research with crime scene and police procedures as well as publishing services.  In addition, I study crime trends and keep my skills and experience honed in criminal profiling as a consultant.  My plate is full, but I love every minute of it!       

What inspired you to create Emily Stone and how long was she a work in progress? 

Emily Stone was created out of a personal experience I had with a violent ex-neighbor who threatened my life for more than two years.  It was a hair-raising experience that seems more like a movie now looking back.  It was during that time that I became interested in forensics and criminal psychology before all of the CSI shows on television.  I was hooked and went back to school to earn a forensic bachelors degree and a masters in criminology.  I developed friendships with local law enforcement individuals.  But, writing kept surfacing in my mind.  My experience with the neighbor inspired Emily Stone who hunts down serial killers and pedophiles anonymously and then emails her findings to the local police.  I thought about this idea for about eight years before I wrote the first chapters of Compulsion.

I would love to see Dead Game as a film.  If you could cast a famous actress for the role of Emily Stone, and an actor as Rick, who would you cast and why?
I’ve thought about this because I love movies as well.  There are some wonderful actors out there.  I have to say I could see Angelina Jolie as Emily Stone because she’s proven that she can be tough as nails but feminine.  As for Rick Lopez, I could see Leonardo Dicaprio because he’s an amazing actor and I think he could bring this character to life.  Also, the serial killer Samuel in Dead Game, I could definitely see Christopher Walken playing the role.  What an incredible trio that would be!  

Being nosey, where do you find your most inspiring place to write?

Inspiration can strike me at any time especially when I’m out walking with my dogs on the beach or in a large park.  Nature and solitude seem to strike an inspirational chord with me and my mind freely contemplates all sorts of ideas.  However, I find that I do my best writing when I’m in my home office.  I feel comfortable, relaxed, and everything is right where I need it. 
 

As you know, I'm a huge James Patterson fan and Dead Game reminded me very much of his style of writing.  What types of book do you like to read and who are your favourite authors?

First, wow, thank you for that wonderful compliment.  I love Patterson novels too.  I think his earlier novels have influenced me with the short, quick chapters that keep you reading.  I love to read suspense thrillers as you can imagine and there are many, many authors out there I love to read.  I’m finding new independent authors everyday!  I enjoy reading Dean Koontz, Stephen King, Jeffrey Deaver, Tess Gerritsen, David Baldacci, Lee Child, Vince Flynn, and oh my, I could on and on.  I do try and read other genres such as science fiction and horror.   

What role does social media now play in the promotion of a book for an author?  How do you relate to the whole social media revolution?

Social media has made so many opportunities possible for authors, whether they are independent or mainstream.  It’s amazing.  However, there are so many opportunities and ways to promote your books that it can be overwhelming.  How do you choose?  What really works for your specific genre?  There are not enough hours in the day to do everything.  I’m the type of person that asks a lot of questions.  I’ve spoken to other authors, promotional specialists, and publishing companies to try to gain some insight.   

I’ve approached social media with the basics, such as Twitter, Facebook, and blogs with people who love to read and write crime fiction.  I’ve found great connections, increased book sales, and found real friends, which are priceless to me.  Also, I have an active blog that I write about 2-3 articles weekly.  I try to keep things simple and not jump into the newest social media craze until I see what it has to offer and the time it takes. 

What's next for you, are you writing more and if so, can you tell us a little more?

I’m just completing my third Emily Stone novel Dark Mind, which will be available in time for the holidays.  Emily’s next adventure takes her to the island of Kauai hunting a child abductor, but she runs into the island’s first serial killer.  It’s her toughest investigation yet because of the difficult island climate, unprepared police department, and uncooperative local community.  I’ve created this thriller to have several suspects to keep readers guessing too! 

Blog: www.authorjenniferchase.com/
Website: www.jenniferchase.vpweb.com/
Crime Watch Blog: www.emilystonecrimewatch.wordpress.com/
Book & Crime Talk: www.blogtalkradio.com/jennifer-chase/
Books: Compulsion = Dead Game = Silent Partner = Screenwriting

 

You can read my review of Dead Game here.

Review - The Secrets Between Us by Louise Douglas

WOW! This book had me completely mesmerised and once again not getting much housework done on a Saturday afternoon! This third novel from Louise Douglas was quite simply amazing!

Sarah, has just left her husband, finding out that he was having an affair with her best friend following the traumatic experience of having a stillborn baby.   To temporarily escape the hurt and devastation that has rocked her life, she takes a holiday with her sister and husband, and meets handsome Alex, father of 6 year old Jamie who has recently found out that his wife and Jamie's Mom Genevieve has left them.  Alex and Sarah have a brief encounter one afternoon, and when Alex offers her the job of housekeeper and looking after Jamie while he works, out in the countryside far away from Manchester where she lives, she jumps at the chance, much to the disappointment of her family who think that she's avoiding her issues.  Sarah sees this as a way of getting away from the people who have hurt her, and not having constant reminders of her terribly sad ordeal.   What Alex hadn't told her was that his wife was a well known and well loved local celebrity and the villagers and her family who were all upset by her disappearance, think that there is a strong possibility that she has been murdered.   Even more so, now that he has moved in what they think is his mistress, he is under suspicion and she does not get a warm welcome. 

Sarah feels that Alex is holding such a lot back from her, and as she starts to clean the house and get it back to being a lovely home for them, she comes across many discoveries that have even her doubting the integrity of this man who she is becoming growingly involved with.  She also feels a deep and eerie presence of Genevieve in the house, seeing and feeling things that don't feel right. Does she continue to defend Alex, or are the discoveries she keeps coming across just confirmation of what he has done?

What a cracking read this was!  It was full of drama, suspense and many breath-holding moments.  It was exhilarating and exciting.  The descriptions of the locations were so well written that you felt that you were there, and were able to touch, smell and feel the places in the book.  The mystery behind the story as it unfolded was incredible, with so many twists and turns along the way.  The characters were fabulous, they developed well and were easy to relate to.  The book was dark and it was deep and it was SO enjoyable and un-put-downable!  I am definitely a massive Louise Douglas fan and can't wait to read her other books. 

Louise was born in Sheffield but has lived in North Somerset for the past 20 years. She has three beautiful sons, and lives with her partner, who works in construction.  She has earned her living through writing for years, firstly as a journalist and, more recently, copywriting for a variety of clients, but had always dreamt of becoming a published author.  In 2006, when she decided that her sons didn't need constant attention any more, she decided to bite the bullet and took various courses in fiction-writing and began to write The Love of my Life which was published by Pan Macmillan in January 2009 which was long-listed for the Romantic Novel of the Year Award and the Waverton Good Read award.  Her second novel Missing You won the People’s Choice Award in the 2010 Romantic Novelists’ Association Pure Passion Award. 

Louise still has her day job, which she thoroughly enjoys, and she has continued to save her fiction-writing for the evenings when the words seem to come more easily.  When she's not writing, she enjoys reading, drawing, evening classes, drinking wine, cooking, listening to music and especially walking.  You can read about her at her website and you can also follow her on twitter.

You can purchase The Secrets Between Us here via Amazon. 

Win some chocolate goodies by entering Crystal Jigsaw's Caption Competition

I'm delighted to be invited by my good friend Kathryn Brown to help her choose a winner for the caption competition that she is running on her blog this week.  

Pop over to Kathryn's blog, have a look at the gorgeous and hilariously funny picture of one of her dog's Sparky and get your suggestion in before 30th to be in with a chance to win some chocolate goodies. 

Review - The Very Picture of You by Isabel Wollf

I’ve read every book that Isabel Wolff has written so it was with trepidation that I approached Isabel to ask her whether she’d allow me to review her latest book.  As a massive fan of her work, I was delighted when she said that she’d love me to. 

I was even more delighted when I discovered that The Very Picture of You was every bit as good as every other book of Isabel’s. 

This was the story of Ella, a portrait artist whose reputation is growing through painting some very high profile people as well as some sitters that she thought would be normal but that told some extremely interesting, emotional and heart warming stories.   When her mother cajoles her into giving away a portrait for a charity auction prize, she is devastated when her sister Chloe pays for her to her paint her fiancé Nate who she really dislikes due to a conversation she has overheard him having whilst on the way to her sister’s party.   Being the professional that she is, and out of duty to her sister she agrees, and after a deep and meaningful conversation with Nate, they declare a truce so that the sittings can go ahead.  As the portrait develops, she sees a side to Nate that comes as a complete surprise.   All this at a time when her sister and Nate’s wedding looms nearer and nearer!

Ella has always wondered about her real father, even though she loves her step-father more than anything, and when he contacts her after seeing an article in the newspaper, she is thrown into complete turmoil as to whether she should contact him or whether he should stay firmly in the past where she believed he chose to be!

As I may have mentioned earlier, I love her work, and when Isabel described Ella as a child looking out of the window waiting for her absent father to come home, it just tugged massively at my heart strings.  The contrast of emotions that Ella felt about her sister’s fiancée were so well detailed, that you felt every single one of them.  The pages seemed to turn themselves in this wonderfully gentle story of love, family and regret.  When an author such as Isabel (have I mentioned that I love her work lately?) continually turns out such a fantastic quality of writing, time after time, it shows what a very clever lady she is. 

This is a lovely, gentle, heart warming, delightful story and I thoroughly enjoyed reading every page of it.  Keep on writing please Isabel, I can’t wait to read your next one! 

Born in Warwickshire, Isabel read English at Cambridge and after working in both the theatre and in advertising, she began to work at the BBC where she spent twelve very happy years at BBC World Service radio both producing and reporting in the Features department and in Current Affairs, and she also wrote freelance articles for newspapers and mags.  She was commissioned to write a column - Tiffany Trott - which along with Harper Collins developed into her first novel The Trials of Tiffany Trott, a hilariously funny book which introduced me to the world of Isabel Wolff.  I have since gone on to read all her other novels – and enjoyed every single one - have I mentioned I’m a fan?

Click here to buy The Very Picture of You from Amazon. 

For more information about Isabel and her work, please take a look at her website. 

You can also "follow Isabel on Twitter" or "like her Facebook page" with these links. 

Review - The One That Got Away by Jessica Strassner

A delightful, romantic, sentimental read!

Lucy, Kate and Jackson were all high school best friends, yet Lucy and Jackson’s relationship was “special”  and even thought they were they were true childhood sweethearts, it didn’t work out and they both went on to live other lives.  They both considered the other as “the one that got away”.  Jackson is now a successful businessman who is married to Sloane, a very intense and overpowering wife and they are trying to get pregnant.  Lucy lives with Matt, and is in an OK relationship, even though she doesn’t spend a lot of time with Matt as he is always working in his busy restaurant and she does most things alone. 

Ten years later, at Kate’s birthday party, she announces that she’s invited Jackson, much to Lucy’s surprise and eventually when the news has sunk in, delight.  He and Lucy meet up again at another time and it’s as if the years between haven’t happened.  They fall in love all over again.  But their lives are different now, are they meant to be together or are they just meant to continue their lives apart?  Are they going to cause upset to everyone around them, or do they just get on with their lives the way they are?

You can see the book trailer here :

This is a fairytale romance, and even with the moral dilemmas thrown in, it had a really big feel good factor.  It was a pleasure to read and you can so feel the love between Jackson and Lucy and are quite concerned about what the future holds for them both.  I felt as if I was following them, when they went on their moonlit walks on the Florida beaches and felt the deep love that they shared. 

The characters develop quickly and strongly so that right from the beginning you feel like you’ve known them forever.  I couldn’t wait to find out what was going to happen in the end, but if you think I’m going to tell you that – think again!

Jessica Strassner was born in Pittsburgh and moved to Florida in 1992.  It was when she was at high school that she decided that she would like to become a writer.  She met her husband in 1999 and she has been teaching since 2002, which is the same year that they were married.    

You can find out more about Jessica at  her website.

You can "like" her page on Facebook

and you can follow her on Twitter.

Review - Stolen by Susan Lewis

O.M.FlippinG! 

That was my reaction when I finished this book.  Another amazing and incredibly emotional story from the fabulous Susan Lewis who comes up with the most unexpected plot lines that you can imagine.

Stolen is a story about Lucy Winters, whose parents have always been nothing but wonderful to her, who decides that she’d like to leave a life in London where she has always felt that something is missing, to take over the family auction business in a small village in the country.  Her daughter Hanna is going with her, much to Hanna's disgust, while son Ben is taking a year out to travel the world.  Lucy sees this as a trial separation from husband Joe who she is leaving behind in London.  He is an out of work actor and is in her eyes a drain on her and her resources.   When she arrives in Cromstone, she couldn’t be made more welcome and makes some wonderful new friends, not realising just how much of an important part they will be playing in her future.    She finally feels that she is starting to get her life together when astonishing events that she discovers, uncover a lifetime of lies and deceit and she is not sure if she will ever be able to forgive the people who are involved.   

I simply could not tear myself away from this book.  With the riveting story spanning 584 pages, I found that I had to make myself go to sleep at night and was very nearly late to take my little boy to school one day as I’d been reading it far longer than I should have!  I thought about it while I was at work, trying to put the pieces of the jigsaw together.  I even forgot about the dinner in the oven last night, as I was so into the story trying to find out how on earth it would end.  I sat and sobbed my heart out at one point last night, quite devastated by the actions of some of the characters.  This book really got under my skin – can you tell?

Susan is an incredible author.  The characters are so real and the places so authentic that you become involved in the plot very quickly becoming mesmerised and extremely concerned about people and events and I even heard myself sighing and gasping in certain places! Yes ok – a bit freaky even I admit!  She weaved a web of intriguing coincidences, which finally came together in a stunning climax and I honestly felt that I’d really gone through the mill with the characters in this book and felt completely exhausted when it was over.  I love it when you have finished a book, but are still worried about the people in it.  Ok - I think I’m going to quit now before you all realise that I really do need to get out more! 

Susan Lewis is the bestselling author of an impressive twenty-six novels.   Born and raised in Bristol, she started her career in the world of TV and after launching her writing career she moved to France, then California, back to England and once again in France.    After meeting her partner James, she has now settled in Gloucestershire.  You can find out more about Susan and her books at her website.

Susan is a supporter of the childhood bereavement charity; Winston’s Wish and of breast cancer charity; BUST.  She became involved in both of these charities as she tragically lost her young Mom to breast cancer when she was a mere nine years old and wanted to do what she could to help others in the same situation.