Tag Archives: Reviewed

Sweet Tomorrows By Debbie Macombe Reviewed by Jan Speedie

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Sweet Tomorrows By Debbie Macombe Reviewed by Jan Speedie ,book reviews, Followers of Debbie Macomber’s stories of life at Rose Harbor Inn will be disappointed to learn that this is the fifth and final book in the series. Debbie has new projects she wants to do so sadly she must say goodbye to Cedar Cove and the people who live there.

Three years ago Jo Marie took over running the Rose Harbor Inn following the death of her husband.  Jo Marie has formed a close relationship with Mark Taylor but Mark had to go back to Iraq to complete a dangerous and difficult mission for the Army.  It is a year since Mark left Cedar Cove and there has been no news of him; Jo Marie’s heart is in turmoil should she wait and hope for his safe return or move on with her life.

Following a second failed relationship Emily Gaffney comes to stay at Rose Harbor Inn with the intention of finding a new home, starting her new job and absolutely no involvement with men.   Emily and Jo Marie form a close friendship and help each other through the difficult times life brings. Can the Rose Harbour Inn work its magic?

A delightful summer read just right for those lazy days on your holidays.

Debbie Macomber is one of today’s bestselling authors with more than 170 million copies of her books in print worldwide.  She has also produced two cookery books and two books for children.  In 2013 the Cedar Cove series successfully debuted on US cable TV.  Apart from her writing Debbie is also spokesperson for World Visions ‘Knit for Kids’ charity initiative.  Debbie and her husband Wayne live in Port Orchard, Washington and winter in Florida.

Published by Arrow in paperback on 11th August 2016 – £5.99

 

 

 

Ruby Slippers – by Tracy Baines Reviewed by Margaret Graham

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Ruby Slippers – by Tracy Baines Reviewed by Margaret Graham short stories reading, writing, booksTracy Baines has put together a collection of short stories previously published in Woman’s Weekly, My Weekly, Take A Break, Best and People’s Friend.

 

It is fascinating to read short stories written for women friendly magazines, stories that explore the everyday relationships of families, couples and friends.

 

This collection is filled with realistically imagined characters coping with life’s rich pattern, sometimes with aplomb, sometimes almost in spite of themselves, but always with humour and courage. I suppose that’s much as we all do, and this is the key to this collection, because Tracy Baines has a great understanding of women. To this end she has created real worlds with a few strokes of her pen.

 

Baines is such an expert at her craft that she hits the nail on the head for each one of her readers. Indeed, she has real understanding of the women’s magazine market, so much so that the short stories seem to flow effortlessly onto the page, solving the problem for the main character. But not just solving the problems of the main character, but through these stories she brings some sort of clarity to the muddle of our own lives. I said earlier, ‘effortlessly’ but bet it isn’t, because writing is a craft, and it takes time and  application to achieve this level of expertise.

 

Tracy Baines has got this expertise, in spades. Read Ruby Slippers and enjoy.

 

Whether you are a reader or a writer, do note that Tracy will be tutoring a Short Story workshop on September 25th 2016 at High Wycombe – so maybe attend and see behind the scenes of short story writing.

 

Writers’ Short Story Workshop: www.wordsforthewounded.co.uk

 

 

Her book will be available there, or find it on Amazon.co.uk

 

www.tracybaines.co.uk

 

 

 

Tiny Prisoners by Maggie Hartley – Reviewed by Frances Colville

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Pic 1 I normally try to avoid books with this sort of strapline - Two siblings trapped in a world of abuse. One woman determined to free them - partly because the horrors unfolding make for very uncomfortable reading and partly because with the best will in the world there seems to be a tendency to veer towards sensationalism. With Tiny Prisoners by Maggie Hartley however, the latter is absolutely not the case. I think this is largely because the story is told from the point of view of Maggie herself, foster carer to Evie ( 2) and Elliot (3) who have witnessed extreme abuse and been neglected and isolated throughout their short lives. Maggie relates her story and theirs in a matter-of-fact and understated way which feels very honest and is therefore all the more compelling. So even if like me you wouldn't usually pick up a book like this, I do recommend that you give it a go - you cannot fail to be moved, saddened, horrified and ultimately uplifted. And also like me, you won't be able to help admiring Maggie hugely. What an incredible woman she must be. Tiny Prisoners by Maggie Hartley is published by Trapeze on 28 July 2016 in paperback at £6.99 and eBook at £4.49

I normally try to avoid books with this sort of strapline – Two siblings trapped in a world of abuse. One woman determined to free them – partly because the horrors unfolding make for very uncomfortable reading and partly because with the best will in the world there seems to be a tendency to veer towards sensationalism. With Tiny Prisoners by Maggie Hartley however, the latter is absolutely not the case. I think this is largely because the story is told from the point of view of Maggie herself, foster carer to Evie ( 2) and Elliot (3) who have witnessed extreme abuse and been neglected and isolated throughout their short lives. Maggie relates her story and theirs in a matter-of-fact and understated way which feels very honest and is therefore all the more compelling. So even if like me you wouldn’t usually pick up a book like this, I do recommend that you give it a go – you cannot fail to be moved, saddened, horrified and ultimately uplifted. And also like me, you won’t be able to help admiring Maggie hugely. What an incredible woman she must be.

 

Tiny Prisoners by Maggie Hartley is published by Trapeze on 28 July 2016 in paperback at £6.99 and eBook at £4.49

 

 

Learning to Speak American by Colette Dartford Reviewed by Frances Colville

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Learning to Speak American by Colette Dartford Reviewed by Frances Colville

Learning to Speak American is Colette Dartford’s first novel and is based on her own experience of renovating and living in a derelict house in California’s Napa Valley.

 

Lola and Duncan Drummond are struggling to cope with life in their Somerset village home after the tragic death of their only child Clarissa.  An attempt, initiated by Duncan, to improve the situation by taking a holiday in California results in a sudden decision to buy a holiday home there. The ramifications of this trip combined with the continued unraveling of their lives in the UK take them on an emotional and sometimes heartrending journey.  But for the first time since Clarissa died, Lola feels able to let go off her depression and consider a future.

 

A moving story, sensitively handled, which draws you in and  keeps you reading. It’s a little bit predictable, but sometimes you just want a book which doesn’t require too much thought or analysis, which you can enjoy for its engaging characters and beautiful setting. and which tells a story you can involve yourself in.  This does the job well.

 

Learning to Speak American is published by Twenty7 – the new digital-first fiction imprint of Bonnier Publishing – and will be available as a Paperback Original, priced at £7.99, from July 14th2016.

 

 

Chains of Sand by Jemma Wayne Reviewed by Frances Colville

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Chains of Sand by Jemma Wayne Reviewed by Frances Coalville book review

Chains of Sand by Jemma Wayne will haunt you long after you have reached the last page.  It’s a wonderful story, which draws you in from the very beginning and grips you until the final reveal. And it’s well written too.

 

This is a book about identity, about what it means to be Jewish in London and in Israel, about what life is like for Israeli citizens, and for Palestinians living in Gaza. It explores religious beliefs, racism and anti-semitism, and looks at the strength of family ties and the power of relationships.  There is also a strong thread of feminism, cleverly worked into the story given that the two main characters (both of whom we can empathise wholeheartedly with) are male.

 

And for me, showing us more than one side of the debate is perhaps the main strength of this book; as we follow the lives of the two men, one of whom is desperate to leave Israel and the other to move there permanently, and also dip into the lives of several other characters, both male and female, we are made aware that of course there is no easy answer to any of the huge questions which the author raises.

 

But above all, this is a book about people, not facts or philosophies or doctrines.  And those people have lodged themselves firmly in my head.

 

Chains of Sand by Jemma Wayne is published by Legend Press and available as a Paperback Original priced £9.99 from 7 July 2016.

 

 

The Lazy Guru’s Guide To Life by Laurence Shorter Reviewed by Frances Colville

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The Lazy Guru's Guide To Life by Laurence Shorter Reviewed by Frances ColvilleAn amusing and at first glance lighthearted book, but one with serious undertones, The Lazy Guru’s Guide to Life by Laurence Shorter takes a fresh look at the very current subject of mindfulness and offers suggestions for de-stressing, and making life flow as it should.  By using the simple techniques described in the book and learning how to embrace your inner Lazy Guru, you can improve your quality of life and understand how to achieve more by doing less.

 

You can read this book (and appreciate the beautifully simple and very effective line drawings) at one sitting in less than an hour, or you can take it one page, one thought, one session at a time.  It’s the sort of book you can return to again and again. The way of the Lazy Guru is to make space in your life by stopping, tuning in and letting go.  Learn how to beditate, or to clear out the crud or to dump your shoulds (I should be doing this or I should be liking that).  I particularly enjoyed the illustrations of a thunderous herd of shoulds (aka wildebeests) first shown charging through our hectic lives and then slinking away quietly once they have been tamed.

 

Laurence Shorter is an author, leadership coach and stand-up comedian and this book successfully combines those diverse elements.  Recommended for anyone in your life suffering from depression, or  those energy-sapping, life-affecting illnesses like fibromyalgia or ME, but also one to buy for yourself if you want to improve the quality of your own life.

 

The Lazy Guru’s Guide to Life is published in hardback by Orion Books, priced £14.99 and available now.

 

 

Ascension by Jeannie van Rompaey Reviewed by Frances Colville

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Ascension by Jeannie van Rompaey Reviewed by Frances ColvillePlanet Earth is depleted and rendered unlivable by its inhabitants. New satellite stations are built to house those with the money or good connections to get themselves there and the rest of the (now mutant) population of ‘humanoids’ is condemned to a restricted and closely monitored life in compounds built on Earth and surrounded by ‘the wilderness’. Can this be a happy-ever-after situation? What happens when the status quo is questioned and challenged? Jeannie Van Rompaey in her new book Ascension, the first in the Oasis trilogy, follows the lives of both mutant and ‘complete’ humanoids and explores what happens when they begin to connect.

Not the most original storyline perhaps and not at first glance a book which appealed to me – not being an avid fan of sci-fi. But it turned out to be worth persevering. Ascension has its roots firmly set in 21st century environmental concerns and failed political systems, and it asks questions about what we are doing to our planet, what the consequences are likely to be, and how people will cope if/when we do end up destroying Earth as we know it. I found it intriguing and more than a little worrying.

A few niggles. I was annoyed by the use of words such as bunku instead of bunk, compu instead of computer, even humanoid instead of human. What was the point, I wondered. Then there are too many things which seem implausible and which therefore need further explanation. The lack of originality continued to be an issue throughout the book. Even as an infrequent reader of science fiction and dystopias I felt that this had all been done before. And yet Ascension has something very compelling about it – and perhaps that is at least in part the knowledge that this type of scenario could indeed happen. And probably will if we don’t pay more attention to the lives we lead.

By the end of the book we are left with many unanswered questions. But that of course is the way it always is with a first book in a planned trilogy. And I can honestly (and rather to my own surprise) say that I am looking forward to books 2 and 3. Who knew??

The Oasis Series:Ascension is published by Clink Street Publishing and available in paperback (£8.99) and as an e-book.

Under Italian Skies By Nicky Pellegrino Reviewed By Frances Colville

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Under Italian Skies By Nicky Pellegrino Reviewed By Frances Colville

Frost writer Jan Speedie reviewed Under Italian Skies, now Frances Colville giver her opinion.

Stella, in her 40s, divorced, no children, loses a friend and a job she loved, and decides to embark on an adult gap year beginning with a house swap from her London flat to a beautiful old villa in southern Italy.   As she settles into her new life, makes new friends, explores new ideas and falls in love with Italy, she maintains an email exchange with the owner of the Italian villa, builds an idea in her mind of what he is like and wonders if she will ever meet him in person.  And of course if she does, will the reality live up to the image she has created of him in her head?

 

That Nicky Pellegrino knows Italy well and is passionate about the country and the people who live there is obvious on every page of this book.  The story flows, the characters are easy to identify with and the descriptions of lifestyle and food just make the reader want to be there, living the dream.  The sort of book that you can read purely for pleasure, Under Italian Skies is perfect for taking on a summer holiday – or for that matter enjoying with a glass of wine and a box of chocolates on a cold winter’s evening.  Either way you won’t be able to help feeling warm and happy

 

Under Italian Skies is published by Orion Books and is now available in paperback £12.99 and as an Ebook at £6.99