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Legacy by Hannah Fielding Review by Contributing Editor & author Margaret Graham

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legacy-by-hannah-fielding-reviewAward winning romance novelist, Hannah Fielding, has written the third book in her Andalucian Nights Trilogy and her readers will be relieved and excited to know that this epic, Legacy, is written with all the verve of her previous novels.

 

I say epic because it has a sweeping plot and setting. The author’s ability to sustain the story line and amalgamate the two main characters is impressive. Her setting is active. By this I mean that her descriptions don’t just sit like a sack of potatoes, but are interwoven into an action so they don’t stop the pace. She doesn’t however ignore the need for a pause to empathise with the setting, or for the reader to process a scene. This is something I try to encourage in those I mentor: pace is important, but so is pause.

 

She also ‘holds back’. This means that the reader has to wait for facts, secrets, feelings to be revealed, and this is an excellent use of tension. Fielding does this extremely well.

 

So, the plot in a nutshell: Luna Ward, a beautiful blonde journalist based in New York is commissioned to investigate – undercover –  the head of an  alternative health clinic in Spain. As one might expect she finds the man she has been asked to expose irresistible but  is he good, or bad? And what does her deception make her?

 

Secrets and lies threaten to destroy their lives, not to mention their love. So…?

 

Oh no, read it and see.

 

Hannah Fielding’s novel The Echoes of Love won first place in the Romance category at the Independent Publisher Book Award in New York in 2014, and in 2015 Indiscretion won 2015 USA Best Book Award for Romantic Fiction, and in April 2016  Gold Medal and Masquerade won silver medal for romance at the IPBA Benjamin Franklin Awards.

 

Frost Magazine is really excited that Hannah will be telling our readers of A Day in her Life very soon. Make sure you keep an eye out.

 

Legacy by Hannah Fielding  is published by London Wall Publishing.  £7.99

 

 

The Inheritance by Katie Agnew Review by Frances Colville

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Pic 1 If you like a good story with a variety of locations and some interesting characters, you'll love this new novel from Katie Agnew, whose first novel Drop Dead Gorgeous won a WH Smith Fresh Talent Award. The Inheritance is essentially the story of Sophia Beaumont-Brown who used to be an IT girl, but is currently single, cut off from her family and reduced to sofa-surfing. An appeal for help from her dying grandmother offers her the opportunity to turn her life around and to make sense of the past. Can she unravel the stories of her family's history and find what her grandmother wants her to find before it is too late? But The Inheritance is not just Sophia's story. Several different threads draw us into the lives of other characters in the book with settings ranging from pearl diving communities in Japan through pre-war and wartime England to 21st century London and New York. The plot is well handled and you'll be kept guessing until the last chapters as to exactly how it is all going to work out. An easy-to-read but fascinating story with some intriguing twists. The Inheritance by Katie Agnew was published in trade paperback by Orion on 21 July 2016 priced at £13.99.If you like a good story with a variety of locations and some interesting characters, you’ll love this new novel from Katie Agnew, whose first novel Drop Dead Gorgeous won a WH Smith Fresh Talent Award.

 

The Inheritance is essentially the story of Sophia Beaumont-Brown who used to be an IT girl, but is currently single, cut off from her family and reduced to sofa-surfing.  An appeal for help from her dying grandmother offers her the opportunity to turn her life around and to make sense of the past. Can she unravel the stories of her family’s history and find what her grandmother wants her to find before it is too late?

 

But The Inheritance is not just Sophia’s story.  Several different threads draw us into the lives of other characters in the book with settings ranging from pearl diving communities in Japan through pre-war and wartime England to 21st century London and New York.  The plot is well handled and you’ll be kept guessing until the last chapters as to exactly how it is all going to work out.  An easy-to-read but fascinating story with some intriguing twists.

 

The Inheritance by Katie Agnew was published in trade paperback by Orion on 21 July 2016 priced at £13.99.

 

 

The Stylist by Rosie Nixon Book Review

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Absolutely the novel for all those who love a really good romp with a bit of an edge.

Absolutely the novel for all those who love a really good romp with a bit of an edge. Pic 1 Written by Rosie Nixon, the Editor-in-Chief of HELLO! The Stylist is the Cinderella story for our time. Amber Green is an ordinary sales assistant in an exclusive London boutique – so admittedly she doesn’t slog away in a kitchen, but the girl needs a few princes in her life. Then lo! Amber is mistakenly offered a job with Mona Armstrong who seems to exist on coffee, water and champagne, with not a morsel of food passing her lips. Mona is a ‘stylist to the stars’. Written in the first person, Rosie Nixon whooshes Amber into the exotic world of the glamorous and famous where she has to style some of Hollywood’s hottest celebrity stars at the LA Award Season. (Though she travels in economy while Mona doesn’t, of course) The pace of The Stylist must replicate the frenetic life of just such a stylist, and Rosie Nixon with her experience of women’s glossy magazines, will know all about that. I thought the juxtaposition of Amanda, unspoilt by her life with the stars, longing to be home, the Eastenders theme tune playing through her mind as she struggles to sleep on her return to Britain, was touching amongst the glitz. This normality does actually keep us empathising with her. Clever, I thought. The Stylist is a serving of sun, fun and a real look behind the scenes. But it is a novel that doesn’t ignore the core of the protagonist. Does Amber find her prince? Ah well, read it, enjoy the ride, and find out for yourselves. A really fun read. A success. Keep your eye on Frost Magazine next week, because Rosie Nixon’s A Day in the Life will be published. See if the glitz extends into this extraordinary young woman’s every day life. Crikey, she’s busy, and quite lovely. Life ain’t fair, says Granny Graham. The Stylist available now, published by HQ in paperback £7.99.Written by Rosie Nixon, the Editor-in-Chief of HELLO! The Stylist is the Cinderella story for our time. Amber Green is an ordinary sales assistant in an exclusive London boutique – so admittedly she doesn’t slog away in a kitchen, but the girl needs a few princes in her life.

 

Then lo! Amber is mistakenly offered a job with Mona Armstrong who seems to exist on coffee, water and champagne, with not a morsel of food passing her lips. Mona is a ‘stylist to the stars’.

 

Written in the first person, Rosie Nixon whooshes Amber into the exotic world of the glamorous and famous where she has to style some of Hollywood’s hottest celebrity stars at the LA Award Season. (Though she travels in economy while Mona doesn’t, of course)

 

The pace of The Stylist must replicate the frenetic life of just such a stylist, and Rosie Nixon with her experience of women’s glossy magazines, will know all about that. I thought the juxtaposition of Amber, unspoilt by her life with the stars, longing to be home, the Eastenders theme tune playing through her mind as she struggles to sleep on her return to Britain, was touching amongst the glitz. This normality does actually keep us empathising with her. Clever, I thought.

 

The Stylist is a serving of sun, fun and a real look behind the scenes. But it is a novel that doesn’t ignore the core of the protagonist.

 

Does Amber find her prince? Ah well, read it, enjoy the ride, and find out for yourselves.

 

A really fun read. A success.

 

Keep your eye on Frost Magazine next week, because Rosie Nixon’s A Day in the Life will be published. See if the glitz extends into this extraordinary young woman’s every day life. Crikey, she’s busy, and quite lovely. Life ain’t fair, says Granny Graham.

 

The Stylist available now, published by HQ in paperback    £7.99.

 

 

The Cockney Sparrow By Dilly Court Review by Jan Speedie

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An enthralling and gritty saga which highlights the poverty and deprivation seen in London at the turn-of-the-century.

Clemency Skinner is gifted with a beautiful voice which will help her leave behind the appalling life she leads with her mother and crippled brother. Abandoned by her father the family exist in a damp hovel in Stew Street paid for by working on the streets. Each day Todd Hardiman, an evil, unscrupulous pimp, threatens their daily existence. Escape to a better life comes for Clemency when she joins Augustus Throop and his troupe of street buskers and through her singing is asked to join the cast at the Strand Theatre – stardom beckons.  Life is looking up for Clemency and her family but then Jared Stone enters her life and everything changes but maybe not for the better…

Dilly Court is a well published author of 20 titles – her research into the setting of the story and the depth of her characters makes this an interesting and enjoyable read.

Dilly Court began her career writing commercial scripts for television. She grew up in North East London but now lives in Dorset with her husband and Archie, a large yellow Labrador. She has two grown up children and three grandchildren.

Published by Arrow on 8th September 2016, £5.99

 

 

The Ice Beneath Her by Camilla Grebe Review by Margaret Graham

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Does anyone out there enjoy the plethora of Scandinavian noir on the television? Or is enjoy the wrong word?  After all, noir is not an idle threat. If you do, or even if you don’t, you should try this novel.

Grebe has been compared with Jo Nesbo – you know the thing ‘if you like Jo Nesbo you’ll love this’. Well, I think that Swedish Camilla Grebe stands alone.

With The Ice Beneath Her,  we have a craftswoman at work. Camilla Grebe’s clarity of language  reminds me of my friend Nikki Gemmell’s writing, who reworks, and reworks  to present a vivid empathy that is almost too inclusive, because all that happens to her characters, happens to the reader. I use her regularly as an example of an author for those aspiring to write. I think I will now add Grebe.

Now, I’m not comparing Grebe with Nikki but I am saying that I felt her writing to be   as finely tuned as Nikki’s. Perhaps while waxing lyrical I should include Elizabeth Clark Wessel, who translated the novel from Swedish to English, and in so doing, faithfully stayed as close as anyone could, to the  author’s vision.

So, what is this vision? What is this novel about, the one that is already making waves with film rights sold to Warner Brothers’ New Line Cinema, and international rights that have already sold in 20 territories?

A thriller, or perhaps crime novel, that introduces us to Emma, a mousey sales assistant who is swept off her feet by a charismatic CEO and whose life is opened up to love. But life ceases to be peachy after her lover runs off (perhaps). It is then that  the mouse transforms into a welter of furies. A murder is then lobbed into the mix, the detectives use a brilliant criminal profiler who is in the early stages of dementia. Soon Emma, the transformed mouse and the detectives are on the heels of the mystery man and it is clear their paths will cross.

I know, I know, I’m not making this easy to follow, but it isn’t. It’s complex, and as you read it, it is hard to even guess at what’s going on under the surface. This isn’t a weakness, it’s just a puzzle, and the power of the writing. plotting and general structure is such that you more than stick with it, sure the writer is leading you somewhere. It was disturbing, and exercises the grey matter, but was unputdownable. I didn’t read it before I needed to go to sleep. BEcause I would be tossing, turning, and fretting.

A must read book about obsession, betrayal and of course, love.  Highly recommended.

Published on 8th September  by Zaffre at £12.99  E-book available.

Next week, Camilla Grebe will be telling us of A Day in her Life. Make a date to be with us.

 

 

Hunting The Eagles By Ben Kane Review by Jan Speedie

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HUNTING THE EAGLES BY BEN KANE Review by Jan Speedie book reviews, books, reading

This is Ben Kane’s second book in his trilogy about the Roman invasion of Germania.  Following his first book covering the invasion of AD9 in which the Roman’s were ambushed and defeated in the Teutoburg Forest. Carefully researched military history, passionate and violent perhaps not for the squeamish or weak hearted.

The first part of ‘Hunting the Eagles’ is planning the revenge for the ambush and the loss of the legions gold Standards. Centurion Tullus, a veteran of many battles, is determined to avenge the loss of 15,000 soldiers and regain his Eagle.

Part 2: Germanicus is now in charge of the Roman forces and planning an invasion of Germania in the autumn of AD14.  In Germania, Arminius and the local warriors are determined to repulse the Romans once again.  Legions and tribes clash in bloody battle, who will survive, who will conqueror……….

Immerse yourself in this story of Roman legions; it’s cruel, relentless and compelling reading.

Ben Kane was born in Kenya. The family moved to Ireland where Ben completed his education and then studied veterinary medicine at University College, Dublin.  Ben always had a passion for ancient history and travelled the world visiting and collecting facts and incredible stores about Roman history. Ben lives in North Somerset with his wife and children.

Published by Arrow in Paperback £6.99

 

 

The Umbrian Thursday Night Supper Club By Marlena de Blasi

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The Umbrian Thursday Night Supper Club By Marlena de Blasi

REVIEW BY JAN SPEEDIE

 

The Umbrian Thursday Night Supper Club By Marlena de Blasi REVIEW BY JAN SPEEDIE pic 1 The true life stories of four Italian women – the food is delicious, the recipes closely guarded secrets, the friendships lifelong. Marlena is an American author living and enjoying life in Italy with her Venetian husband Fernando. They have settled in the small town of Orvieto in Umbria where Marlena enjoys exploring the friendship of some local women and their love of cooking. Marlena discovers that on a Thursday evening four local women meet in a derelict stone cottage to gossip, laugh and argue but mainly to cook. She is delighted when she is invited by Miranda, the group leader, to join them. Slowly she is accepted by the other women and invited to cook for them. Sitting in the candle lit room, following good food and local wine the women Miranda, Ninucua, Paolina and Gilda tell their intriguing individual life stories. Glorious Italian food. If you are keen on simple authentic dishes Marlena’s book is for you. Remember no Italian meal is served without a simple pasta dish to start to assuage the appetite and here are recipes galore. Marlena de Blasi has been a chef, journalist and restaurant critic; now an author of international best seller books with her memoirs and a novel. She has also published two cookbooks of Italian food. Marlena and her husband live in Orvieto in Umbria, Italy. Published in Paperback by Windmill Available from May 2016. Priced £8.99 Also available in ebook., good reads, books, book review

The true life stories of four Italian women – the food is delicious, the recipes closely guarded secrets, the friendships lifelong.

Marlena is an American author living and enjoying life in Italy with her Venetian husband Fernando.  They have settled in the small town of Orvieto in Umbria where Marlena enjoys exploring the friendship of some local women and their love of cooking.

Marlena discovers that on a Thursday evening four local women meet in a derelict stone cottage to gossip, laugh and argue but mainly to cook. She is delighted when she is invited by Miranda, the group leader, to join them. Slowly she is accepted by the other women and invited to cook for them. Sitting in the candle lit room, following good food and local wine the women Miranda, Ninucua, Paolina and Gilda tell their intriguing individual life stories.

Glorious Italian food.  If you are keen on simple authentic dishes Marlena’s book is for you. Remember no Italian meal is served without a simple pasta dish to start to assuage the appetite and here are recipes galore.

Marlena de Blasi has been a chef, journalist and restaurant critic; now an author of international best seller books with her memoirs and a novel. She has also published two cookbooks of Italian food. Marlena and her husband live in Orvieto in Umbria, Italy.

Published in Paperback by Windmill

Available from May 2016. Priced £8.99

Also available in ebook.

 

Polly’s Angels by Katie Flynn Review by Jan Speedie

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book reviews, books, reviews, good reads, Polly’s Angels by Katie Flynn Review by Jan Speedie

Katie Flynn first published Polly’s Angels in the year 2000; if you missed it then it is well worth a catch up. A classic saga of the O’Brady family .

In 1936 the O’Brady family’s circumstances change and they are forced to move into central Liverpool to find work.  Life in Liverpool is very different from the countryside home they loved.  Polly is a bright, popular 13 year old who does well at school and always follows the rules.  Local bad boy Sunny Anderson is very taken with Polly and tries hard to lead her astray.

In 1939 as war looms, Sunny, for all his wayward ways, joins the navy and trains as a signaller. As soon as Polly is old enough she enrols into the WRNS. Polly’s childhood sweetheart Tad Donoghue, trains as an RAF pilot and hopes to reunite with his first love.  Secrets about Polly’s past come to light – who does she really love Sunny or Tad?

Katie Flynn’s knowledge about wartime Liverpool is extensive, the bombings, food shortages and the strength of the citizens to endure all that is thrown at them.

Katie Flynn is a compulsive writer starting her career with short stories broadcast on Radio Merseyside.  Her Liverpool series was inspired by hearing reminiscences of her family’s lives during the war.

Katie has lived for many years in the north-west.

 

Published by Arrow in June 2016

 

£6.99 in paperback