Tag Archives: Helga Jensen

My Heart is in Venice by Helga Jensen Book Review

Posted on by

I love Helga Jensen’s books. They are the perfect mixture of exotic destinations and romance. Her character’s are always unique and different. My Heart is in Venice is set in Wales and Venice. It’s lovely to see a book set in Wales.

The characters are also older which is refreshing.
Helga has a way of writing highly original and fun characters. I loved Libby and was rooting for her. If you want a great midlife second chance romance novel then this is it.

I highly recommend this entertaining and enchanting novel. It has wonderful, unique destination in Wales and Venice, along with wonderful characters and a great plot. I loved this escapist novel. Grab a copy now.

Venice was where it all began… Libby and Will spent a glorious honeymoon in this magical city. They didn’t have much money, but they had a whole lot of love and a bright future ahead of them. And Venice was where it all went wrong… Two kids and twenty-five years later, they are struggling with money problems but somehow Will manages to fulfil his promise to Libby to take her back to Venice for their anniversary. This time, they are doing it in style and a masked ball awaits. But among the beautiful buildings and romantic canals, Libby learns that her husband has a secret that breaks her heart. The trust is broken and the marriage is over. But there are decades of love and two grown sons between them. Can they ever find their way back to each other or have they missed their chance forever?

CARIADS’ CHOICE: EXTRA WINTER READS

Posted on by

Angela Petch’s Mavis and Dot, reviewed by Jessie Cahalin

Embark on a series of adventures with Mavis and Dot but prepare yourself for a roller coaster of emotions. Humour and adorable, eccentric characters present a commentary on modern Britain.  Reading Angela Petch’s ‘Mavis and Dot’ is like delving into a large slice of Tiramisu: the pick me up dessert with a bitter sweet balance of perfection.

Like a quintessential seaside town, Mavis and Dot have Britishness stamped through their charming identities.  Though they are as different as builders’ tea and Lapsang Souchong, they are both women of a certain age from the same generation.    Beneath the façade of flamboyant Mavis and straight-laced Dot, there are secrets and loneliness.  Loneliness is a cruel companion who can be banished with the warmth of a cuppa and chat.  Peel away the faded glory of Mavis and Dot to reveal their secrets and warm hearts. I guarantee this story will warm your heart.

 

Callie Hill’s The Story Collector, reviewed by Helga Jensen

The Story Collector is a delightful compilation of short stories. The book starts with the wonderful character of Colin, a writer who you can’t help but love. The book grabbed my attention from the first chapter when someone was rather mean to Colin, and it said that ‘He would get revenge through other means. People really shouldn’t mess with a writer….’ What follows are the intertwined lives of compelling characters that bring on a whole host of emotions. Although this is a collection of short stories, each story is intertwined. There are references to some of the best works of literature, and there is even a rather wonderful magical mole. For this reason, I do think that this could be considered a fairy tale for adults! What is certain is that The Story Collector will take you on a magical journey. Callie Hill is exceptionally talented and a writer to watch in the future.

 

David Dodge’s To Catch a Thief and Jean Buchanan’s Mr Dodge, Mr Hitchcock, and the French Riviera, reviewed by Evonne Wareham

A double review here – the book that was the source for the Oscar winning film starring Cary Grant and Grace Kelly – Hitchcock’s glamorous confection of sunshine, jewel thievery and stolen gems – and the story of how the author David Dodge came to write it. An American thriller and travel writer, staying with his family on the French Riviera, Dodge was briefly suspected of being a cat burglar who had stolen a fortune in jewels from a neighboring villa. The plot of the book of It Takes a Thief concentrates on the efforts of John Robie, retired jewel thief, to stay out of prison when an imitator revives the interest of the police in the infamous ‘Le Chat’. Jean Buchanan’s book recounts the way Dodge made use of his brush with the law to produce the story that was immediately snapped up by Alfred Hitchcock.

 

Anita Frank’s The Return, reviewed by Jane Cable

Set immediately before and after the second world war, The Return tells the stories of Jack, Gwen and the people around them on the Berkshire farm where Gwen has grown up and Jack appears one day out of the blue. It is clear from the beginning of the book that he’s on the run for a reason, although he soon finds plenty of other reasons to stay.

I have to admit I almost gave up at the first hurdle – the lengthy descriptions of farming life in the 1930s slowed the narrative too much for me, and doubtless I missed out on some faultless prose by skipping them, but I am glad I persevered with the story. The characterisation is nothing short of brilliant, the atmosphere claustrophobic, the plot taut and once I was finally hooked there was no way I could put this novel down.

 

 

 

 

WELSH WRITING WEDNESDAYS: HELGA JENSEN ON WALES AS A SETTING FOR COMMERCIAL FICTION

Posted on by

When I was planning my debut novel, Twice in a Lifetime, there was only one place for me to set it in. Having been brought up in West Wales, I was determined that any book I wrote would focus on some of the stunning areas around us. How you could possibly put those scenes into words was a completely different challenge! However, I knew that I wanted to promote Wales and see it featured in more commercial fiction. We have many women’s fiction books set in Cornwall or Ireland, so why not Wales?

When I first queried my book and sent it to agent’s I had a mixed response. Some loved the idea of a different setting, but one agent stated that perhaps Cardiff would be acceptable for my romantic comedy, but nothing further west. I was quite surprised at this. We often see Cornwall with its beautiful beaches, so why not West Wales with its similar beauty?

Whilst I was surprised at this observation, as always, when someone tells me something might not be possible, it makes me more determined. Therefore, I persevered and, although my book is also set in New York, I finally saw success with my romantic comedy that features the beautiful township of Laugharne.

After all, Laugharne is famous for many things, including the more recent television series, ‘Finding Faith,’ which has helped put it further on the map. But, of course, the association with Dylan Thomas is probably the most famous claim to fame that Laugharne has, so as Dylan spent his time in New York too, I felt a setting for a book with Laugharne and New York were the perfect marriage for my debut novel.

Since Twice in a Lifetime was released, I have had lovely messages telling me how refreshing it is to have a romantic comedy set in Wales. Naturally, I was thrilled at this feedback, as this is precisely what I set out to achieve.

I am now working on book two, which will have a combined setting of Wales and Denmark. It remains my ultimate goal to promote Wales in the world of women’s fiction. There are so many opportunities for the glorious parts to be shown to the world that I simply can’t help promote it through my books. Just as there are many prolific Irish writers, such as Maeve Binchy, with her incredible story, ‘Circle of Friends,’ I hope there will be similar best-selling commercial love stories and adventures coming out of Wales.

Trends are certainly changing, and more and more books are getting published in the mainstream from the region, but I would still like to see Wales in more romantic comedies. We have ubiquitous books traditionally set in mining villages or used in historical fiction, so I would now like to see it featured as a setting in comedies and romance. After all, welsh men can be funny and romantic when they want to be!

So, there might be many tales of Wales in books on folklore, myth and magic and eras gone by, but here’s hoping for a future filled with books set in Wales for romantic comedies and similar commercial women’s fiction.

 

 

Twitter: www.twitter.com/HelgaJensenF

 

 

 

 

WELSH WRITING WEDNESDAYS: INTRODUCING DEBUT ROMANCE WRITER, HELGA JENSEN

Posted on by

As a young child, I was an avid reader, and I was very fortunate that my mother bought me many books. They were beautiful hardback copies of books such as The Waterbabies, Enid Blyton classics, and many books by Hans Christian Andersen. I particularly loved The Princess and The Pea and The Little Matchmaker. Although I grew up in West Wales, as I am half Danish, I was privileged to visit Hans Christian Andersen’s house in Denmark (Odense) many times. It was always a magical feeling when you walked out of there with a new book stamped with the official stamp from his house.

With my love of books, I dreamed of one day becoming a writer, just ‘like Enid Blyton.’ However, there were two dreams I had and being cabin crew was my other dream. Therefore, as soon as I was old enough, I applied to a few airlines for a job. My first dream came true when I successfully got a position with a great airline in Bahrain called Gulf Air. They were some of the best days of my life. I also went on to fly on private jets for royalty which was a fantastic experience.

Having had these experiences, the writer within me started to niggle away at me. So, I did a journalism course through the London School of Journalism in 2002 and started writing. My dream was to write a book, but I thought perhaps if I had published work in magazines and newspapers, it would put me in good stead to get a book published. This led to a successful career as a freelance journalist and I still write for publications in the Middle East.

As I lived in Dubai for almost 25 years, I was extremely lucky to have access to the Emirates Literary Foundation and their annual Literary Festival. At the festival, you had the opportunity to enjoy meetings with prominent writers and agents. At one of the meetings, I met a fantastic agent who encouraged me to keep writing. So, I did, and the following year, the first chapter of my debut novel was a winning entry in the Montegrappa First Fiction competition. Winning this gave me the confidence to believe that I must be doing something right. I then embarked on a BA Hons in English Literature and Creative Writing, which I finished last year. As covid hit, my degree ended a little earlier than expected, which gave me the chance to edit and polish my debut and submit it to publishers. I was delighted when I received two separate two book publishing contracts! I chose to publish with Hera Books, and my debut, Twice in a Lifetime, was released on June 23rd 2021. I am now working on a Creative Writing MA at Bath Spa University, and my second book is due out around spring next year. Both books include settings in Wales. Twice in a Lifetime is set in Laugharne and New York, and my second book will be set possibly in Llanelli and Denmark. I have a few meetings with agents coming up through the Romantic Novelists’ Association, so I am unsure what I will do next, but I still have lots of ideas bubbling away!

 

Follow Helga on Twitter @HelgaJensenF

 

 

 

CARIADS’ CHOICE: BANK HOLIDAY SPECIAL BOOK REVIEWS

Posted on by

Lizzie Lamb’s Harper’s Highland Fling, reviewed by Jessie Cahalin

Harper expected to travel to Tibet on her holiday adventure, but her niece decided to run away to Scotland with the son of the local car mechanic. Witty, feisty headmistress, Harper, meets her match and is forced to squeeze into biker’s leathers to travel with Rocco to Scotland.

‘At least she hadn’t fallen off the motorbike…or clung to him like a medieval maiden slung across a knight’s errant saddle.’

Forget Nepal, Harper must save Ariel, or does Harper really need to save herself? The novel is packed with expectation, and stereotypes of a headmistress and car mechanic are challenged as we get to know and love the characters – perfect.

Rocco is not about to save the feisty maiden but ‘without meaning to she’d got under his skin and he couldn’t resist winding her up.’ On the other hand, Harper thinks Rocco is ‘an enigma wrapped in a conundrum.’

 

Maggie Mason’s The Halfpenny Girls, reviewed by Susanna Bavin

What I loved about this book, and what made it, for me, a stand-out saga, was the concentration on family life. Sagas often revolve around the work-place, but this pre-war story is firmly rooted in the hardships faced by three close friends because of their family circumstances. Violence, alcoholism, betrayal and dementia are all woven into the tale – alongside love, loyalty and the determination of the three young heroines to do their very best for their nearest and dearest, despite every hardship. There are no easy answers to the problems each family faces – just a wealth of warmth and understanding from an accomplished author. This is a complex story with strong, cleverly interwoven plots; well-drawn, multi-layered characters; and, above all, a powerful sense of the importance of family.

 

Faith Hogan’s The Ladies’ Midnight Swimming Club, reviewed by Morton Gray

Loved this book on so many different levels – the characters and the challenges they face. I didn’t think I would like the book being written from so many different points of view, but it was seamless and added to the story. He doesn’t even feature in the novel, but I wanted to bop Elizabeth’s late husband on the nose, especially towards the end of the book. I was praying for Lucy’s son, Niall to make the right choices, shed tears over Jo and Dan. I want to go and stay in Dan’s rented house on the hill and take part in the Ladies’ Midnight Swimming Club. Great book and I’m off to find the author’s other stories.

 

Helga Jensen’s Twice in a Lifetime, reviewed by Natalie Normann

This book is pure enjoyment from start to finish.

Amelia is the mother of twin boys, recently divorced and mostly a sensible woman. She struggles  with how her life has turned out. When Amelia finds the phone number of a gorgeous man she met in New York years earlier, her best friend Sian starts looking for him. And despite all of Amelia’s attempts to hold back, she soon finds herself in a huge mess. It’s hilarious!

This book got me through tax season, by providing a wonderful distraction and lots of laughs. Amelia is such a lovely person who tries so hard, you can’t help falling in love with her. There are twists that I didn’t see coming, and I loved the surprises. All I wanted was for it not to end! Helga Jensen knows how to tell a good story that stands out in the crowd. It’s right there on my top romcoms list now. That’s a five stars from me!