Falling By Emma Kavanagh Book Review

Posted on November 12, 2014 by Catherine Balavage

A plane falls out of the sky. A woman is murdered. Four people all have something to hide.

This debut psychological thriller from former police psychologist Emma Kavanagh is stunning indeed. An engaging and exciting novel. This novel is brilliantly executed, it is a confident debut written by an extremely talented writer. You can tell that Emma Kavanagh was once a police psychologist: her novel is believable. She knows what she is talking about. The characters are incredibly well written and the nuances of life, grief and marriage are all well observed by the eye of a very adept writer.

The story itself is thoroughly engaging, drawing you in and making the book unputdownable. I love how the characters are woven together, how they end up dipping in and out of each other’s lives. This is a crime thriller that belongs on the same shelf as Nicci French. It is high praise indeed, but well deserved.

Jim is a retired police officer and worried father. His beloved daughter has disappeared and he knows something is wrong.

Tom has woken up to the news that his wife was on the plane, and he must break the news to their only son.

Cecilia had packed up and left her family. Now she has survived a tragedy, and sees no way out.

Freya is struggling to cope with the loss of her father. But as she delves into his past, she may not like what she finds.

Falling is available here. Read our Day in the Life piece on Emma Kavanagh here.

Sophie Duffy The Generation Game Book Review

Posted on September 24, 2014 by Catherine Balavage

The Generation Game is Sophie Duffy’s debut novel. And what a debut. This book truly is unputdownable. Wonderfully written, fresh, relatable and with enough surprises to keep you hooked. It captures family life and human emotion perfectly. In fact, it is now one of my favourite books and I will recommend it to everyone I know. The novel is inspired by Sophie’s childhood growing up in a sweet shop in Torquay

Philippa Smith is in her forties and has a beautiful newborn baby girl. She also has no husband, and nowhere to turn. So she turns to the only place she knows: the beginning.
Retracing her life, she confronts the daily obstacles that shaped her very existence. From the tragic events of her childhood abandonment, to the astonishing accomplishments of those close to her, Philippa learns of the sacrifices others chose to make, and the outcome of buried secrets.

Philippa discovers a celebration of life, love, and the Golden era of television. A reflection of everyday people, in not so everyday situations.

Sophie won the 2010 Luke Bitmead Writers Bursary and the Yeovil Literary Prize 2006. She has another novel that I will definitely be reading soon called This Holey Life.

I highly recommend this book. It is a stunning debut.

The Generation Game is available here.

Autumn Book Special

Posted on August 22, 2014 by Frostie

So many books, such little time. Don’t know what to read? Here is our little guide of books to read this Autumn. Each one is a corker.

Festive In Death J.D. Robb

The kitchen knife jammed into his cold heart pinned a cardboard sign to his well-toned chest. It read: Santa Says You’ve Been Bad!!! Ho, Ho, Ho!

It’s Christmas, but Lieutenant Eve Dallas is in no mood to celebrate. While her charismatic husband Roarke plans a huge, glittering party, Eve has murder on her mind.

The victim – personal trainer Trey Ziegler – was trouble in life and is causing even more problems in death. Vain, unfaithful and vindictive, Trey had cultivated a lot of enemies. Which means Eve has a lot of potential suspects. And when she and Detective Peabody uncover Trey’s sinister secret, the case takes a deadly turn.

Christmas may be a festival of light, but Eve and Roarke will be forced once more down a very dark path in their hunt for the truth.

Nora Roberts published her first novel using the pseudonym J.D. Robb in 1995, introducing to readers the tough as nails but emotionally damaged homicide cop Eve Dallas and billionaire Irish rogue, Roarke.

With the In Death series, Robb has become one of the biggest thriller writers on earth, with each new novel reaching number one on bestseller charts the world over.

This is a thrill-seeking unputdownable thriller. A great read from beginning to end. We loved it.

Festive in Death is available here. Out on September 11th.

Seven Wonders Ben Mezrich

From the New York Times bestselling author Ben Mezrich comes Seven Wonders, a globe-trotting thriller in the vein of The DaVinci Code – rife with historic secrets, conspiracies, intrigue, and a whole lot of adventure.

When the reclusive mathematician Jeremy Grady is murdered, it’s up to his estranged brother Jack to find out why. His search leads him on a far-flung journey – from Brazil, India, Peru, and beyond – as he unravels the mystery that links the Seven Wonders of the World, and discovers that Jeremy may have hit upon something that has been concealed for centuries. With the help of scientist Sloane Costa, they discover a conspiracy to hide a roadmap to the Garden of Eden – and the truth behind a mythological ancient culture.

With a heart-pounding pace and panoramic backdrops, Seven Wonders is an electrifying read, and will be the first in a trilogy.

A fast-moving thriller that keeps you on the edge of your seat. Enjoyable and a huge credit to the imagination of Ben Mezrich. This book is the first in a trilogy so if you enjoyed it as much as we did, you will have more books coming along soon. It is also being turned into a film directed by Brett Ratner.

Seven Wonders is available here. Out on September 11th.

The Last Boat Home Dea Brovig

Explosive, dark and tender, The Last Boat Home is a devastating novel about sacrifice, survival and a mother’s love. If you loved The Light Between Oceans or The Snow Child, this is for you.

On the wind-swept southern coast of Norway, sixteen-year-old Else is out on the icy sea, dragging her oars through the waves while, above her, storm clouds are gathering. Surrounded by mountains, snow and white-capped water, she looks across the fjord and dreams of another life, of escape and faraway lands.

Back on shore, her father sits alone in his boathouse with a jar of homebrew. In the Best Room, her mother covers her bruises and seeks solace in prayer. Each tries to hide the truth from this isolated, God-fearing community they call home.

Until one night changes everything.

More than thirty years later, the return of an old friend forces Else to relive the events that marked the end of her childhood.

Explosive, dark and tender, The Last Boat Home is a devastating novel about sacrifice, survival and a mother’s love.

This is an intriguing, dark novel. It really grabbed us and would not let go. A very good debut novel, fresh and definitely worth a read.

The Last Boat Home is available here. Out on August 14th.

Ghost Child Caroline Overington

From the bestselling author of I Came to Say Goodbye. Can you ever escape the secrets of your past? Perfect for fans of Susan Lewis

The photograph shows four smiling children. But look closer and you can tell that one of the boys has been crying.

Weeks later, that little boy is dead. His mother and her boyfriend are in prison for his murder, and his brother and sisters have been fostered to separate families.

No one knows for sure what happened that day, except, possibly, the three remaining children, and they’re not talking.

But the past cannot be buried forever, and years later, when the truth about what happened is revealed, will it bring a final healing? Or will the legacy of fear that the children have lived with for so long, finally destroy them?

An amazing story told in an original way. A very good read and the characters are written so well. Recommended.

Ghost Child is available here. Out on September 11th.

Five Days Left Julie Lawson Timmer

Destined to be a book club favorite, a heart-wrenching debut about two people who must decide how much they’re willing to sacrifice for love.

Mara Nichols is a successful lawyer, devoted wife, and adoptive mother who has received a life-shattering diagnosis. Scott Coffman, a middle school teacher, has been fostering an eight-year-old boy while the boy’s mother serves a jail sentence. Scott and Mara both have five days left until they must say good-bye to the ones they love the most.

Through their stories, Julie Lawson Timmer explores the individual limits of human endurance and the power of relationships, and shows that sometimes loving someone means holding on, and sometimes it means letting go.

This is a deeply moving debut. This book is about heartbreak and human endurance. Unforgettable, thought-provoking and controversial. A brilliant debut.

Five Days Left is available here. Out on August 28th.

Which ones will you read?

Maeve’s Afternoon Delight Book Review

Posted on July 19, 2014 by Catherine Balavage

Maeve’s Afternoon Delight was included in our excellent summer reads piece, and with good reason. I read this book in the run up to my wedding and when I had no time to read it because of endless wedmin and work I kept thinking about it. Maeve is a wonderful character. A rather loveable heroine. Impossible not to like and even harder to not want her to get the best revenge anyone can have: living well and becoming happy.

After Maeve’s husband leaves her for her best friend it takes her a while to get back on track. She is understandably devastated and finds solace in her allotment and her baking. She has the support of her parents, her neighbours who think, quite rightly, that her ex is a terrible human being and a new friend who has an allotment near her, Larry. Her son, Andy, is still confused about his parents separation and can be mean. Will he grow up and stop listening to his fathers point of view? Read the book and find out. Maeve starts to put her life back together and it is fun to read as she gains confidence and starts to (finally!) rebel.

Maeve attracts the unwanted attention of Archie, who is head of neighbourhood watch and the residents association. This brings in an extra twist to a well-written novel which has wonderful characters and brilliant observations on life, marriage and love.

I could see this book as a film and it would certainly appeal to many women who have had to deal with cheating spouses. It has a First Wives feel about it (and if you haven’t seen that film, get your hands on a copy now!) and the characters would certainly translate well to this medium. There is a love interest of course. The previously mentioned Larry. Younger, handsome, kind. Will they or won’t they make it work?

Maeve’s Afternoon Delight is available here.

The authors website.

Perfect Holiday Reading: The Books To Read This Summer

Posted on July 10, 2014 by Frostie

Stop! Do not buy any books, nor put any in your suitcase until you have read our essential guide of the best books to read this summer. This is our second instalment of great reads. We hope you enjoy some of the books below and feel free to add you own in the comments section or by emailing frostmagazine@gmail.com

Hard Choices by Hillary Clinton

Former United States Secretary of State, U.S. Senator, First Lady of the United States and possible future President. What a life, what a woman. We loved her previous book, Living History, and this one is equally good. Brilliant stuff that will also give your brain a workout.

Maeve’s Afternoon Delight by Margaret Graham

Margaret Graham is one of Frost’s favourite authors and this book is yet another winner. Less historical than the previous books of hers we have reviewed, this has a modern setting. It is a brilliant First Wives style book with a rather loveable heroine in Maeve. A character it is impossible not to love and get excited about. After her husband leaves her for her best friend Maeve starts to make changes in her life. She finds solace in her allotment and the friends she gains. Perfect summer reading. This book would make a great film.

The Cheesemakers House by Jane Cable
We have already reviewed this book before but wanted to include it on this list due to its great story and pace. Very readable and perfect for the beach.

Callum Fox and the Mousehole Ghost by AC Hatter

Well-written with great characters. Perfect for adults too. Great summer reading

Callum Fox’s summer holiday in Cornwall isn’t working out quite as he’d expected. His Grandad’s turned out to be a miserable old git and Sophie, the girl he met on the train to Penzance, seems to view him as more of a liability than anything else. However, his time in Mousehole starts to get a whole lot more interesting when he meets Jim, the ghost of a World War II evacuee. Seventy years separate Callum and Jim, but as their stories unfold Callum realises they have more in common than anyone could have imagined, and that some secrets last a lifetime… Callum is a fabulous, funny and feisty character who takes us on a roller-coaster of a ride around Cornwall.

Touched by Joanna Briscoe
This is a gripping, creepy, novel that never lets you go until the end. Highly enjoyable stuff. You won’t even notice the world going by. Perfect to read in a single sitting

Rowena Crale and her family have moved from London. They now live in a small English village in a cottage which seems to be resisting all attempts at renovation. Walls ooze damp, stains come through layers of wallpaper, celings sag. And strange noises – voices – emanate from empty rooms. As Rowena struggles with the upheaval of builders while trying to be a dutiful wife and a good mother to her young children, her life starts to disintegrate. And then, one by one, her daughters go missing …

Theatres of War by RJJ Hall

Perfect for those who love history and war novels. A very good book.
Winner of The People’s Book Prize (Fiction) 2013/14

On the landing beaches at Salerno in September 1943, two soldiers face the German bombardment together but they come from different worlds: Frank grew up in the backstreets of London but he’s clever and is now an officer; Edmund is a cricketer from a landed family.

Vermillion had fallen for Edmund in Cairo where she monitored German communications. Desperate to see him again, she gets transferred to war-torn Naples. But when Frank discovers an abandoned theatre and stages a revue, she can’t stay away. It proves such a success that Frank is ordered to stay in Naples and put on more shows. Vermillion joins him and her life becomes enmeshed with both men.

While Edmund fights in the bitter winter battles near Monte Cassino, Frank dreams of staging an opera. Vermillion still loves Edmund, but she doesn’t want him running her life. And working with Frank, she experiences the independence she’s longed for.

Vermillion feels fulfilled, but a time is soon coming when she’ll have to choose…

Theatres of War is a love story about sacrifice and duty, and a war story about self-discovery and love. Seen through the eyes of combatants and civilians, it evokes the convulsions of the ‘forgotten’ Italian campaign of World War II.

Letters From Skye by Jessica Brockmole
This is a stunningly wonderful love story, told in a series of letters. Endlessly romantic and the letter format makes the characters feel very real. Wonderful stuff.

Elspeth is fond of saying to her daughter that ‘the first volume of my life is out of print’. But when a bomb hits an Edinburgh street and Margaret finds her mother crouched in the ruins of her bedroom pulling armfuls of yellowed letters onto her lap, the past Elspeth has kept so carefully locked away is out in the open. The next day, Elspeth disappears.

Left alone with the letters, Margaret discovers a mother she never knew existed: a poet living on the Isle of Skye who in 1912 answered a fan letter from an impetuous young man in Illinois.

Without having to worry about appearances or expectations, Elspeth and Davey confess their dreams and their worries, things they’ve never told another soul. Even without meeting, they know one another.

Played out across oceans, in peacetime and wartime but most of all through paper and ink, Letters from Skye is about the transformative power of a letter – the letter that shouldn’t have been sent, the letter that is never sent and the letter the reader will keep for ever.

The Fever by Megan Abbott
This is Megan Abbott’s seventh novel and is her best yet. That is saying something! A brilliant, gripping crime novel. Even the author of Gone Girl, Gillian Flynn likes it. High praise indeed.

The Nash family is close-knit. Tom is a popular teacher, father of two teens: Eli, a hockey star and girl magnet, and his sister Deenie, a diligent student. Their seeming stability, however, is thrown into chaos when Deenie’s best friend is struck by a terrifying, unexplained seizure in class. Rumors of a hazardous outbreak spread through the family, school and community.

As hysteria and contagion swell, a series of tightly held secrets emerges, threatening to unravel friendships, families and the town’s fragile idea of security.

A chilling story about guilt, family secrets and the lethal power of desire.

The Stealth Virus by Professor Paul Griffiths
Brilliant, fascinating and food for the brain.

Paul Griffiths, Professor of Virology at the Royal Free Hospital and University College London studied medicine at St Bartholomew’s Hospital in London and has spent his professional life in medical virology. He has an international reputation, unrivalled expertise and insight into the effect that viruses can have on patients and their families. Professor Griffiths uses this experience and stories of real patients to demonstrate how cytomegalovirus has avoided detection and treatment for so long. He introduces you to CMV, an intelligent virus which evolved millions of years ago intending to infect everyone on the planet during childhood, spreading silently throughout the world whilst remaining unrecognised. Professor Griffiths explains how modern living has jolted this stealth virus out of its complacency, rapidly altering the conditions it needs to survive.

Over a period of 100 years (a blink of the eye in evolutionary time) humans have changed their world to become cleaner, longer living life forms which avoid childhood infections, have babies later in life, swap organs during transplantation and even suppress their immune systems with drugs or HIV. Professor Griffiths describes how and why this virus has come out of obscurity to become a top target for elimination. Although you may never have heard its name, there is a good chance that you, your family and your friends have encountered it. After you have heard The Stealth Virus tell its own story, its victims are given a voice too. This book describes how CMV is being confronted and introduces the researchers who will defend us against its insidious and sometimes devastating consequences. This book brings medical virology to life. It is dedicated to those who have encountered The Stealth Virus and to those who have declared war upon it.

The Poet’s Daughters: Dora Wordsworth and Sara Coleridge by Katie Waldegrave
Well researched and fascinating. Waldegrave brings the lives of these two women to life vividly, telling a story that has never truly been heard before. Brilliant stuff.

‘You are the best poetry he ever produced: a bright spark out of two flints.’

Dora Wordsworth and Sara Coleridge, were life-long friends. They were also the daughters of best friends: William Wordsworth and Samuel Taylor Coleridge, the two poetic geniuses who shaped the Romantic Age.

Living in the shadow of their fathers’ extraordinary fame brought Sara and Dora great privilege, but at a terrible cost. In different ways, each father almost destroyed his daughter. Growing up in the shadow of genius, each girl made it her life’s ambition to dedicate herself to her father’s writing and reputation. Anorexia, drug addiction and depression were part of the legacy of fame, but so too were great friendship and love.

Drawing on a host of new sources, Katie Waldegrave tells the never-before-told story of how two young women, born into greatness, shaped their own legacies.

My Gentle Barn: The incredible true story of a place where animals heal and children learn to hope by Ellie Laks
This is an amazing story about healing, hope, love and forgiveness. It is also a powerful story about how well animals can heal things. Highly recommended.

Founder Ellie Laks started The Gentle Barn after adopting a sick goat from a run-down petting zoo in 1999. Some two hundred animals later (including chickens, horses, pigs, cows, rabbits, emus, and more), The Gentle Barn has become an extraordinary nonprofit that brings together a volunteer staff of community members and at-risk teens to rehabilitate abandoned and/or abused animals. As Ellie teaches the volunteers to care for the animals, they learn a new language of healing that works wonders on the humans as well.

My Gentle Barn weaves together the story of how the Barn came to be what it is today with Ellie’s own journey. Filled with heartwarming animal stories and inspiring recoveries, My Gentle Barn is a feel-good account that will delight animal lovers and memoir readers alike.

Many celebrities including Pamela Anderson, Justin Bieber and Ellen De Generes support The Gentle Barn.

Dear Infidel by Tamim Sadikali
An interesting book on identity. This first book from Tamim Sadkali shows promise.

Two families reunite for a feast on Eid ul-Fitr, the day Muslims celebrate the end of the month of fasting. And boys who grew up together will meet again, as men. As the big day approaches two of the men go to the mosque, one leaves his girlfriend and another watches porn. Nevertheless, they arrive intent on embracing the day. Old enmities are put aside, as they take tentative steps towards each other.

This is a story about love, hate, longing and sexual dysfunction, all sifted through the war on terror. And how we drift from one another, leaving every man stranded across a wasteland of atrophied connections. And so we witness the realities of a post-9/11 world filter down, touch individual lives, combine with some internal tension, and finally spill over.

Rocking Your Role – The ‘How To’ guide to success for Female Breadwinners by Jenny Garrett
A brilliant and informative book for female breadwinners.

This book goes beneath the surface of what it means to be the Female Breadwinner and drags women kicking and screaming out of the closet. Why? Because, being the Female Breadwinner can fundamentally challenge women’s identity. It is the trigger, catalyst and cause for many complex issues that women have to manage. For a successful family life and career, women must address and examine these internal challenges for their physical, mental and spiritual well-being. Find out: where your guilt button is and who is pressing it, what you love about being breadwinner that you were afraid to admit, how you tackle the thorny subject of money, how to cure yourself of Superwoman Syndrome.

French Values by Gavin Morse
An interesting book on culture, identity and the differences between Britain and France.

Gavin Morse is a British national, living and working in Strasbourg, France. French Values is an account of things that may or may not have happened to him while living in the European capital. This is his first novel. It originally started as observations of the pleasures of living and working in a Gallic society. Enjoying writing, Gavin decided to create a novel. In his first piece, he illustrates his cultural views and compares the Ros’ Beefs to the Frogs. Through this fiction, he shares the best and the worst from both sides of the channel.

As They Slept (The comical tales of a London commuter) by Andy Leeks
A brilliant idea that is well executed. A very enjoyable read.

The autobiographical tale of a stubborn, thirty something commuter, who wasn’t prepared to lose a petty argument on Facebook.
Infuriated by the snoozing passengers surrounding him, Andy posted a status declaring that sleeping on trains is a complete waste of time. His friends disagreed. In a bid to prove them wrong, Andy set out to write a book from start to finish on the daily commute. “As They Slept” is a collection of comical tales of travel and trepidation, guaranteed to make you laugh. In his well received first book, Andy sets out to explain how to eradicate lost property, why women can’t use their pockets, and exactly when it’s ok to lie.

And if you are an actor, or want to be, then check out our editor, Catherine Balavage’s, new book How To Be a Successful Actor: Becoming an Actorpreneur. Here is a a five-star review it got on Amazon

“This really is an excellent guide book into the terribly difficult, but potentially rewarding life of an actor. Balavage tackles the often ignored questions that surround the inexperienced and/or young person who wonders what the best road to take is? She starts with the basics that encompass questions about whether to train at drama school (and thereby find the money to do so), or go another route by getting involved with fringe theatre and/or film school films. Throughout she weighs up the pros and cons in a highly informative and intelligent manner that are also highly credible as she is writing from first-hand experience. Her own entrepreneurship into film-making is included and offers fantastic tips and empowerment, to what is often a dis-empowering profession. She also demystifies the perceived ‘glamour’ of working as an actor and says it how it is. A good wake-up call for those out there that crave instant fame!

Her approach is wholly professional and fundamentally knowledgeable: she interviews working actors, alongside well-known casting directors who give an insider-view into what is required to get ‘ a foot in the door’. I would highly recommend this book to anyone interested in becoming an actor.”

What would you add?

12 Books To Read In 2012

Posted on September 27, 2013 by Frostie

Peter James Dead Man’s Time

Few things in life are as fun as a hardback crime thriller in your hands and a few hours of spare time. This well-researched and fast paced book is an exciting roller-coaster of a book. I found it really hard to put this book down. Peter James is obviously a brilliant crime writer. Prepare to be blown away. Peter James is also a film producer, producing the Merchant Of Venice which starred Al Pacino and has worked as a screenwriter. Talented man. The hardback edition is an interactive book.

SOME WILL WAIT A LIFETIME TO TAKE THEIR REVENGE . . . A vicious robbery at a secluded Brighton mansion leaves its elderly occupant dying. And millions of pounds’ worth of valuables have been taken. But, as Detective Superintendent Roy Grace, heading the enquiry, rapidly learns, there is one priceless item of sentimental value that the old woman’s powerful family cherish above all else. And they are fully prepared to take the law into their own hands, and will do anything, absolutely anything, to get it back. Within days, Grace is racing against the clock, following a murderous trail that leads him from the shady antiques world of Brighton, across Europe, and all the way back to the New York waterfront gang struggles of 1922, chasing a killer driven by the force of one man’s greed and another man’s fury.

Jim Pinnells Saturn’s Daughters: The Birth of Terrorism

I really loved this book. We interviewed Jim Pinnells so have a read. This book is a great insight into terrorism and revolutionaries. It mingles real and fictional characters brilliantly and really draws you into the world of 19th century Russia. Pinnells is a Russian Historian and it really shows. A brilliant book which will keep you gripped until the end, whilst giving you a fun history lesson. What more could you want?

Claire Garber Love is a Thief

An entertaining book which comes with a smart premise: what has love stolen from you? Heartwarming, smart, addictive and very, very funny. I also love Claire’s bio, ‘Claire did nothing remotely of interest until aged 26, when she visited the French Alps and fell in love with every single French man she met’.

Kate Winters is an ordinary girl, with a not-so-ordinary mission: take back what love stole!

Kate Winters might just be ‘that’ girl. You know the one. The girl who, for no particular reason, doesn’t get the guy, doesn’t have children, doesn’t get the romantic happy ever after. So she needs a plan. What does she like doing? What didn’t she get to do because she fell in love? What would she be happy spending the rest of her life doing if love never showed up again?

This is one girl’s journey to take back what love stole and maybe find love again along the way Feel-good, witty and addictive; Love is a Thief is the book everyone’s talking about.

Daron Sheehan The Socrates Project

An eco-thriller. Yes, en eco-thriller. Described as ‘Michael Crichton meets George Orwell’. The smart thing about this book is that it takes entertainment and combines it with the very real problem of the damage to our environment and global warming. We went to the launch and had a chat with Daron and adventurer Mark Beaumont. Daron went through quite a few drafts of The Socrates Project and you can tell his friends didn’t hold back as the novel is not a brilliant read which has started its own genre in literature.

The Socrates Project is a secret attempt by the United Nations to avert the predicted collapse of our civilisations. Simon Oceandis heads up the sicads, who must blend modern science and ancient wisdom to find the solutions before time runs out.

Not everybody welcomes the Project. An influential secret society plots to discredit and destroy the sicads. Torn between the love of a beautiful scientist and a fiery tribeswoman, Simon discovers an exotic world of adventure and wonder. To find the answers to save humanity, he must undergo a deep inner journey, yet his life becomes a frantic race for survival…

Is it happening? Could it happen? Should it happen? Decide for yourself! Live the story…

Charles Dubow Indiscretion

If you want a glamourous book about love and betrayal, desire and deceit, then Indiscretion is the book for you. Indiscretion is the first novel from Charles Dubow but it is a confident and powerful debut.

The Great Gatsby meets The Secret History in this torrid novel of love, lust and deception.

Harry and Madeleine Winslow are blessed with talent, money, and charm. Harry is an award–winning author on the cusp of greatness. Madeleine is a woman of sublime beauty and grace whose elemental goodness belies a privileged upbringing. Bonded by deep devotion, their marriage is both envied and admired by friends who spend summers at their East Hampton idyll.

When a holiday fling turns disastrously wrong, 26-year-old Claire falls into the Winslows’ welcoming orbit. They are enchanted by her youth and intelligence. In turn, Claire is entranced by Harry and Maddy. The love that exists between them is something of which, until now, she could only dream.

Seen through the omniscient eyes of Maddy’s childhood friend Walter, Indiscretion is a story about the complexities of love, the dangerous nature of desire and how obsession can tear apart even the most perfect of worlds.

This ebook edition also contains an extended extract from Maggie Shipstead’s award-winning, New York Times bestseller, Seating Arrangements.

Brigitte Cobb Make it Fly!: The step by step guide to make ANY idea, project or goal take off

I love how this book is layed out. It has exercises, tables, steps and a Do it! summary at the end of each chapter. Perfect for motivation and to get you started on your goals, whatever they may be. The tone is positive without being annoying and it is impossible to not feel inspired reading it. It is no nonsense, firm but fair and does the important thing of telling you to look after yourself. If you have an idea, project or even just a vague dream, buy it and you are on your way. I loved it.

Whether it’s a project at work or a dream for life, Make it Fly! is the ultimate success plan
for making things happen.

Its proven, step-by-step approach will make even the biggest goal achievable, giving you that vital first push and all the know-how, inspiration and practical techniques you need to see things through.

Discover how to:

Appraise your idea to make sure if it’s really ready to fly
Get the planning right so you know what’s happening now and what you’re doing next
Hurdle all the annoying obstacles that will try to put you off course
Stay motivated focused by taking every step in the right way and at the right time

Stop talking about what you’re going to do, and start doing what you’re talking about. It’s time to make it fly!

Dr Patrizia Collard Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy For Dummies

With the stigma of mental health problems being eroded all the time, mindfulness and cognitive therapy are both huge topics and if this book shows anything, it is how mainstream mental health issues are now, which can only be a good thing as people who are ill are not suffering in silence. With this great book you can also download audio files. Like any ‘For Dummies’ Book, it is easy to read and understand. With great programmes and chapters on stopping the cycle of depression and breaking free from addiction, this is a very good book; if you have any problems or or just having a hard time, this book has a large amount of knowledge that can you put your life back on track.

It has a complete eight-week MBCT course, mindfulness exercises and even meditation practices. A must buy to get you over any bumps in the road.

Break the mental chains that keep you stuck in the past and start living a fuller, happier life If you suffer from depression you know how it feels to be dragged down by past hurts, regrets and disappointments. In this book you’ll learn an amazingly simple, yet highly effective, approach to breaking free of past woes (and future worries) and beating negative ways of thinking. Therapist Dr Patrizia Collard takes you on an eight–week journey of self–discovery, arming you with powerful tools for warding off future depression and related problems, such as anxiety, addiction and low self–esteem. Make room for peace of mind – learn to prepare a physical (and mental) space conducive to meditation practice Take a good look at what’s hurting you – find the courage to confront your demons, face–to–face, rather than pushing them away Break those mental chains – become aware of the background noise and static that’s distracting you from clarity and purpose Pay attention to the here and now – master mindfulness techniques for living in the present moment, rather than fixating on the past or worrying about what the future may bring Expand your focus – apply what you learn to beating an array of specific problems from addiction to depression, including eating disorders, pain, anxiety and more Audio download includes Seven guided meditations, including the sitting with difficult thoughts meditation and mindful breathing meditation Step–by–step advice to prepare yourself for effective meditation

Tiffany Reisz The Mistress

Perfect for people who have read 50 Shades of Grey and are now not only huge fans of erotic fiction, but want to go further. Reisz’s writing really draws you in. Perfect for fans of erotic fiction. Is the latest book in the Original Sinners series. Hot, spicy, sweet and well-written.

Nora Sutherlin, Dominatrix-turned-literary-star, is held prisoner by two dangerous men. Under different circumstances she would enjoy this immensely. These men aren’t lovers, however, but tools of vengeance from an old adversary. Possessor of the hearts of two men, she plays her hardest hand. But her captor isn’t interested in play. Or pity.

In Nora’s world, however, no one is ever truly powerless. Her friends and lovers will do anything to save her – even if the only certainty seems to be sacrifice and heartbreak. The stakes are high in a dangerous game of love, lust and passion

Lucy Cruickshanks The Trader of Saigon

The Trader of Saigon is a book you can really sink your teeth into. Cruickshanks really brings post-civil war Vietnam to life. You can almost smell and taste it. With a clever plot and characters that you really care for, this book is well-researched that is atmospheric and thought-provoking. An amazing debut novel.

From Hanoi to Saigon, a tale of one woman’s search for a better life – and a thriller that strikes to the merciless heart of post-civil war Vietnam. In the chaos and corruption of 1980s’ Vietnam, three seemingly unconnected lives are brought together by greed, fear and hope.

As a US Army deserter, Alexander is a man without country; trapped in a life he no longer controls and embroiled in the dark business of trading women. His latest victim is Hanh, a rural girl who moved to Hanoi to escape inevitable poverty and who sees Alexander’s arrival as the answer to her prayers. Neither of them has ever met Phuc – a Vietnamese businessman who backed the wrong side in the war and is now unable to pay his financial and political debts to the Party. But his struggles are about to change both their lives.

From a society torn apart by war comes a tale of redemption and salvation; a thrilling saga and an explosive debut novel.

Anouska Knight Since You’ve Been Gone

This is a beautiful story that you can really lose yourself in. It is a slow burner and a heartwarming, witty and funny read.

How do you learn to love again?

In one tragic moment, Holly Jefferson s life as she knows it changes for ever. Now to the external world, at least she s finally getting back on her feet, running her business, Cake. Then she meets Ciaran Argyll.

His rich and charmed life feels a million miles from her own. However, there s more to Ciaran than the superficial world that surrounds him, and he too is wrestling with his own ghosts. Will Holly find the missing ingredient that allows her to live again and embrace an unknown and unexpected tomorrow

Victoria Fox Wicked Ambition

Victoria Fox is single-highhandedly bringing the bonkbuster genre back. We interviewed Victoria a while ago and her books are pure escapism. You get the feeling that she is not making it all up, but is a Hollywood insider who really knows her stuff and is spilling secrets. Fox is a brilliant writer and this is another great book from her. Believable fantasy.

If not victory, revenge!
Some will do anything for fame.
Others will do anything to bring the famous down.
Three superstars. Three secrets.

For Robin, Turquoise and Kristin, the spotlight shines brightly. They’ve reached the glittering heights of stardom, and are adored the world over. But in the shadows lies the truth… An expose could be their end.
Because not everyone is happy about their success. Not everyone wants the best for them. Some people want to reveal the real stories behind the luxury parties and gorgeous men, and bring their dazzling worlds crashing to the ground.
Who will fall first

Cathy Kelly The Honey Queen

A very talented writer. Her books are beautifully written. A wonderful book about life and friendship and all of the trials that come with it that will warm your heart. A gripping book to get lost in and a joy to read.

Can she find the strength to help the family she never knew she had?

Vibrant and warm, Frankie manages people as a career – so her husband’s silence on redundancy comes as a shock. Suddenly both their dream house project in pretty Redstone and their marriage are under terrible strain.

Only twenty-seven, Peggy is opening her own knitting shop in town but her past threatens to unravel any prospect of love and a family of her own.

Lillie is the friend they both need. Newly arrived in the small Irish town from Australia, she’s no stranger to secrets and heartache. Wrapped in the warmth of the community, Lillie must help herself and her new friends rediscover the joy in life…

What book will you read?

Top 10 Summer Reads 2012: Take 3kg Off Your Luggage With Kobo.

Posted on July 10, 2012 by Catherine Balavage

Take 3kg Off Your Luggage Allowance With Kobo’s Top 10 Summer eReads

Want a summer holiday filled with fantasy, adventure and gripping thrillers?

To make sure thousands of Brits have a vacation to remember, Kobo, the digital eReading company, has hand-picked this summer’s top 10 must-eReads – to enlighten your holiday and take pounds off your luggage allowance!

The Kobo Touch also comes with a signature quilted back for comfort, in four great colours including lilac, silver, blue and black, with an anti-glare screen perfect for the sun, at just £79.99 at WHSmith.

Relax and take a journey of unrequited love; Greek tragedy, game playing, secrecy; and even murder! With these top ten summer eReads:

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Top 10 Summer Reads 2012: Take 3kg Off Your Luggage With Kobo.

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