Monthly Archives: June 2018

Sweet Pups, and honestly, they are.     By Milly Adams

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Hugely popular, we gather thousands of Sweet Pups fans have been trying to get hold of one via pre-launch competitions.

And they really are cute. My grand-daughter can vouch for that, and the children perform the magic themselves. They just have to turn the pastries inside out – voila. It’s a Sweet Pup they can name themselves.

Although, being a megalomaniac I perform the magic and consequently they think I’m wonderful. It doesn’t happen often, so take a tip, and YOU do it, especially if the tot is under three.

Frost is really impressed with these. They’re affordable at £7.99, someone has to DO something, they feel and look nice, they don’t rely on music, or IT. They are simple, and really sweet. There’re lots of them too, so a collection is calling…  something to save pocket money for, or for a treat.

Such a good idea. I’m sure we had similar things when I was growing up, which was in a simpler world.

There are 12 cute breeds in the range, the pastries look almost edible, and smell of pastries too, therefore the 3 year old age limit is wise so I repeat, don’t go beyond granny doing a party trick for the tiny tots.

The pastries include croissants, macaroons and sticky buns on the outside. Opening the pastry package, reveals the aroma of the pastry. And out comes the cute pup – soft and cuddly.

Bravo, great idea. Love ‘em.

12 adorable Sweet Pups to collect in series 1

The Sweet Pups are available from Claire’s Accessories and Amazon.co.uk  £7.99rrp.

Images with the permission of Wire PR

Milly Adams is the author of The Waterway Girls saga series for Arrow.  

 

 

A selection to keep you out of mischief on holiday by Milly Adams

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White Bodies by Jane Robins

Deep themes  in this dark gripping twister of a  novel set in the topical world of social media, internet ‘friendships’ online forums and heaven knows what. All things to chill the soul, and does it work? Oh yes.

Tilda is beautiful and successful, and Callie her sister loves her. Tilda loves her husband in spite of the fact he’s not the nicest chocolate in the box. Callie sees what Tilda doesn’t, or does Tilda really? Can Callie save Tilda? Read the book for the answers.

White Bodies by Jane Robins. pub HQ. pb £7.99 /ebook/audio

Sleeper 13 by Rob Sinclair

Another belter of a thriller from Sinclair. Aydin, trained as one of the most elite insurgents (or terrorists) of his generation (I’m not telling you who for) is doing things for a cause he doesn’t believe in and looking for a way out. But is there ever a way out for someone like him? And will Rachel, an MI5 agent, who suspects there is to be a big terrorist atrocity make others believe her?  Tension and action on every page as the two forces head for the denouement.

Sleeper 13 pub Orion pb £7.99 ebook and audiobook

GHOST by James Swallow

You could go straight from Sleeper 13 to Ghost because it will keep the adrenaline racing nicely as a devastating threat emerges from the dark net, and a betrayal a heart of a covert strike force doesn’t help matters. A deadly pursuit across a digital battlefield, and a terrorist out for revenge add to the building stress. Crikey. Will Marc Dane track down the mastermind, or will there be world war? Knife edge drama, tautly written, the pages turn like greased lightning. Enjoy, and don’t bite your nails.

Ghost by James Swallow. pub Zaffre hb £12.99

In the Dark by Andreas Pfluger

Fascinating novel with a blind detective on the trail of a psychopath. I found the plot riveting but also the world of the blind. A world dependent on sound, smell and intuition. It definitely builds in an important level of interest. So, Aaron receives a call. A prisoner has committed a brutal murder in his high security cell, and he will only confess to Special Agent Jenny Aaron. Do read this, it holds the attention on many levels. Bravo.

In the Dark by Andreas Pfluger pub Head of Zeus pb £7.99

Milly Adams is an author with Cornerstone, Random House

 

Sounds Of The Darkside
. Frost Loves The Original Stormtrooper Bluetooth Speaker

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The Original Stormtrooper Bluetooth Speaker is sure to send you to the dark side with its pitch perfect sounds.

Featuring full-size helmet design and a limited edition of just 450. Includes Certificate of Authenticity signed by Original Stormtrooper creator, Andrew Ainsworth. This beautifully crafted, sleek and stylish speaker has been made in collaboration with Andrew Ainsworth, the man who created the armor and helmets for the original Stormtrooper in 1976. Andrew made the original mold and it has become iconic ever since.

The full size helmet speaker will sky rocket your party into a new galaxy. With 2 x 10w speakers that combine to make a galactic soundwave of 20W, it’s sure to liven up any gathering.

With crystal clear clarity, pure sound and superb bass it is the perfect speaker for any fans home. It’s set to be one of the speakers of 2018 and with its unrivalled and distinct design, who wouldn’t want as their centerpiece?

It works via Bluetooth and easily syncs to your devices and with a range of 10 meters it won’t miss your favorite tracks.

In 1976 prop maker Andrew Ainsworth of Shepperton Design Studios created the original Stormtrooper helmets and armor for the first movie. These products are based on the original molds Andrew produced, as close as it is possible to get to the original film props.

The Thumbs Up Original Stormtrooper Speaker costs £299.99 from Amazon.

 

The Best Kitchen Scissors Ever?

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Having a pair of scissors in the kitchen is essential. Now the The AnySharp Smart Sizzors are multi-function scissors for general purpose use in the home, kitchen, office or workshop. So not just the kitchen. But they open bottles and crush garlic so that is where we will be keeping ours. The are without doubt the best scissors EVER. They also look pretty cool. Get yourself a pair. They make life much easier.

The hardened, curved blades blades are razor-sharp and perform brilliantly where other scissors just won’t cut it. Incredibly versatile, ergonomic, safe and durable, they feature razor sharp, tough hardened steel blades with a special ‘cut anything’ blade design and adjustable tension. These professional grade blades are so effective, you can cut through anything from paper to tough materials like blister packs, credit cards, carpet, tough boxes – even chicken bones.

 

Smart Scissor Design

The blades are not like normal household scissor blades. Instead, they are manufactured from special steel that has been hardened using a series of heating processes. The hardening process not only keep the scissors sharper, but also makes them last much longer. Over time, most scissors tend to stop working because the blades work loose, not because they go blunt. When the blades work loose, the shearing scissor action is not as effective. AnySharp Smart Sizzors include a tensioning bolt, so they can simply be tightened again and continue working perfectly.

Special ‘Cut Anything’ blade design

Whether it’s annoying, tough blister packs, old credit cards, twigs, layers of cloth, or even chicken bone, the AnySharp Scissors makes light work of them all. Added serrations on the blades help prevent sticking when dealing with tough objects, and allow the scissors to glide through.

Curved for Safety

Curved blades allow your hands to stay away from the material and any freshly cut edges, preventing contamination and injury. The curve on the blades improves the angle of your hand, and makes the scissors comfortable to use for extended periods.

Soft Comfort Grip

To make them even more usable, the specially designed handle is fitted with a soft grip wherever your hand applies pressure. This makes the AnySharp Scissors very comfortable, and allows you to apply more force without discomfort or slipping for really tough jobs.

Left or right handed use

As the handles are larger than normal, they are great for all sizes of hands, whether you are left or right handed.

Ecological

AnySharp saves money and waste. Because of the adjustable tension and the hardened blades, they last a long, long time.

Product Lifetime Warranty

The AnySharp Scissors comes with a No-Quibble performance guarantee for the operational lifetime of the product.

The Smart Sizzors by Anysharp are available from Amazon.co.uk for £9.99.

 

TAKE FOUR WRITERS: CELEBRATING, RESEARCHING, WEEDING, WAITING

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JACKIE BALDWIN… CELEBRATING

A very exciting month! Publication Day of Perfect Dead came and went in a blur. I embarked on a blog tour organised by the fabulous Love Books Group. I’d already submitted the guest posts and extracts in advance so all that remained was trying to keep up with all the posts on social media. I also managed to trip over a boulder and smash up my face again, leaving me looking like I had taken up cage fighting!

I have to say, though, that publication day was not even close to being the highlight of my month. My proudest moment by far was watching my lovely daughter graduate in zoology from Aberdeen University. It was such a special day for all of us. I’m now home catching up on my blog tour before escaping to a Greek island on Friday to try and calm down!

 

LUCY COLEMAN… RESEARCHING

I’m a Gemini, so when asked what I wanted for my birthday I said ‘A trip to Versailles’ because I have an idea for a contemporary love story. I’ve been there twice before but I needed to soak up the ambience again – and grab photographs!

The final proof read of my next book, due to be released by Aria Fiction on 4 September 2018, arrived the day before I left for my holiday. But authors take their work with them, anyway, so after foot-wearying days my bedtime reading was sorted.

The palace at Versailles is enchanting, opulent and the stuff that dreams are made of – I fell in love with it all over again. Coming home I had to hit the ground running. New graphics to produce, two work-in-progresses on the go and a contract to sign … exciting times! But now I want to write about Versailles …

 

ANGELA PETCH… WEEDING

Suddenly, the writing road ahead is a flat path through wild flower meadows instead of a craggy climb. I always find calm in Tuscany where we live for six months each summer. After an initial panic over the edits needed for “Mavis and Dot”, I went for a long walk to untangle my thoughts and to face reality. I’m now acting on comments from my editor and Beta readers and rewriting sections. I’ve got my trowel out and I’m digging out the weeds, rearranging the beds. And I want “Mavis and Dot” to be as perfect as I can manage.

My husband helped devise a spread sheet for my illustrator. Her main job is busy editor of a Sussex based Arts Magazine called Ingenue, so she was pleased to work to a schedule. She hit the bullseye with two illustrations she subsequently sent and produced smiles of delight and relief.

 

CLAIRE DYER… WAITING

This month I want to talk about waiting. As a poet and an author I, like many others in the same fields, do a lot of it!

Consider this: I submitted some poems to a well-known literary journal in March of 2017. They accepted one of those poems in February: that’s eleven months of waiting. Also, I sent my agent a manuscript last September and waited for her valued and considered feedback which I got in December and it was well worth the wait! That manuscript then went on journeys out and about into the big wide world and there was more waiting and, as I write this, I still don’t know where its future might lie.

There are many more examples. In answer to the usual, ‘Where are you at the moment?’ the standard writer’s reply is ‘I’m waiting for my agent/editor/publicist/’ and/or, ‘I’m waiting to see the cover/get my first reviews/hear about a TV deal.’

Then there’s the fictional world of say, ‘The Truth about the Harry Quebert Affair’ by Joël Dicker where the fictional author is hounded by his fictional agent who calls constantly asking, ‘Where is the manuscript you promised me?’

I’m not sure how one goes from the one who waits to the one who is awaited, but there’s something tantalising about imagining this. Just think, one day I may get an email which says, ‘Dear Claire, We were wondering if your new book is ready as we have the perfect cover for it.’

 

 

 

You’re going to need a large suitcase if you have been following our summer reads by Milly Adams

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Lightning Men by Thomas Mullen:

It’s not an easy read, and I don’t mean the writing, I mean the subject. Dark, gritty.

Part social history, part crime, and violent crime at that. Lightning Crime explores the complexity of relationships in the southern states of America in the 1950s, or perhaps in any chaotic unstable inner city ‘whenever’.

White officer Rakestraw joins Lucius Boggs and Tommy Smith from Atlanta’s Negro Officer precinct to face the Klan, gangs and family. Working on many levels the story is never forgotten as it swirls in the relentlessness of the world as it was in Atlanta – back then.

Pub Abacus pb £8.99

Ultima by L.S. Hilton

The conclusion the the international bestselling phenomenon that began with Maestra, the premise seems to be, if you can’t beat them, kill ’em.

This is, as the previous two in the trilogy have been, dark, decadent and shocking. Incisive writing, a sharp humour, a driving plot – what could be better. And by the way, why not start thinking about who Judith Rashleigh really is, and is she really this killing machine? I’m not telling you.

pub: Zaffre hb £12.99 ebook £8.99

Here’s another that welcomes us into safe hands:

Insidious Intent by Val McDermid

Anything by McDermid is going to be good, and this is. A quiet night on a quiet road, but not for long. A car engulfed in flames, a burned body… DCI Carol Jordan and psychological profiler Tony Hill realise this is more than just an accident. The hunt begins for someone who believes he is untouchable, invisible and all the rest. More and more women are found, and more must be at risk. I see and hear the great Robson Green in the role, and know I’m going to be in for a bumpy ride, but probably get out safely at the end. Probably…

Pub: Sphere pb £7.99

Finally Mark Billingham – Love Like Blood. Such a cracker, but then his novels usually are.

DI Tom Thorne and DI Nicola Tanner investigate a series of brutal killings in London. – arghhh.

Nicola is personally involved when her partner is one of the victims, and Thorne puts himself in danger when he is drawn into the disturbing world in which families will do ANYTHING  to protect their honour. It is a world that seems real, and sadly probably is. Quite unputdownable, quite unbearable.

pub Sphere. pb £7.99

Milly Adams writes for Random House, as does her alter ego Margaret Graham.

Frost Loves The Hape Discovery Box

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Frost loves The Hape Discovery Box. It keeps little ones entertained for hours. Colourful and well made, it lets little ones play and learn at the same time. It packs a lot in considering what little space it takes up. Brilliant. 

Worth £32.49 from Amazon. Suitable for 24 Months + Five sides of activities keep little hands in constant motion including wire bead maze, abacus, mirror, color wheel and spinning face, a wonderful learning and play station.

 

Heathcliff – his untold story – just one of the books picked by Milly Adams

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I spent a fabulous weekend with my friend Maggie in Haworth, ages ago now, and stayed in the pub overlooking the graveyard, as yer do. And stormed across the moors, and imagined Heathcliff.

Ill Will, The Untold Story of Heathcliff by Michael Stewart is worth a read if you like gothic fiction. Stewart explores the untold story of this anti-hero, who does brooding like no-one else. Stewart captures the tone of Emily Bronte’s novel, which was so reflective of the bleak moor itself. Heathcliff has left Wuthering Heights, and travels across the moors to Liverpool in search of his past. He finds time time to save Emily, the less than ladylike daughter of a highwayman. Together they lie and steal, and cheat before Heathcliff is finally in a position to return to Wuthering Heights. I always felt that Heathcliff was understandable, he’d been dealt an outrageous hand. This is interesting. Well worth reading.

Ill will by Michael Steward. pub HQ hb.£12.99 ebook and audio.

 

Her Mother’s Secret by Rosanna Ley.

Yet again a novel which is partly set on the Cornish coast but not for long, for Colette heads to her home in Southern Brittany when her mother’s health begins to fail. Once there Colette’s ghosts of the past reveal themselves – here it  comes, the secret. Aaah. It is one she is determined to unravel at any cost. The sun is out, the tone lighter. Not a Heathcliff – lighter and feel good.

Pub. Quercus. pb. £7.99

Workhouse Angel by Holly Green

A saga which takes Angelina from the Workhouse to an adoptive family who are not the benevolent guardians one might wish for.  Then hope spring eternal when Angelina hears of a man  who visited the workhouse looking for his daughter. So perhaps Angelina isn’t an orphan after all.

This is the second in the Brownlee Workhouse series.

pub Ebury Press £5.99.

I have lost my Way by Gayle Forman

This is told over the course of a day from three different perspectives. I love this sort of book. It’s one I give my groups often, because it helps them imagine themselves deep into several personnas.

Around the time that Freya loses her voice while recording her debut album, Harun is making plans to run away from home to find the boy he loves, and Nathaniel is arriving in New York City after a tragedy leaves him isolated.

The three of them reveal the parts of them past when they collide in Central Park, and then find their way back to who they’re supposed to be.

Lovely jubbly. Great jacket, good premise. Give it a go.

pub Simon and Schuster UK pb £7.99