Friday 15 August 2014

Review - Three Little Birds by Carol E Wyer

About the book

Two friends. Two Carpe Diem lists. One proviso. 

When Charlie Blunkett and Mercedes Thomson swap bucket lists, neither can possibly know how much their lives will change.  There will be challenges that neither expected to ever face, and for one of them, an insurmountable fear to conquer.

Charlie is about to discover the importance of seizing the day.  It is a journey that will take her to dark places, teach her to love again and to come to recognise who she really is.  However, it will be a rocky road and there is danger afoot that could threaten her happiness and her life.

What did I think?

This is a fabulous story about friendship, and love and about never giving up despite what has happened in your past.  It's about grabbing every opportunity which is offered to you and about living life to the full. 

It's massively inspirational, hugely motivational and makes you want to get up off your lazy ass and do something worthwhile and memorable.   Life is for making memories, you can't change the past, however traumatic it was and how it has affected your future, but you do have the chance to be happy again and deserve to take that chance.

There was laughter, tears and tons of fun written into this book and I felt like I'd gone on a rollercoaster of emotions but came out better for it at the end.  I'm sure lots of people will take lots of things from this book and feel completely compelled to do something inspiring!

I absolutely loved this book!

About the Author
After completing a degree in French and English, Carol E Wyer became a language teacher. She actually began her working life abroad, in Casablanca, Morocco, where she taught English as a Foreign Language in an American Language school. It was soon discovered that she could speak French rather well, and she became a translator and teacher to large organisations and companies such as ‘Regie de Tabac’, Morocco’s largest cigarette company, and the Mediterranean Shipping Company.
After a few years she was ‘head-hunted ‘to run the English as a Foreign Language department of a private school in the UK. (Imagine Hogwarts without the wizardry.)
Carol taught English up to, and including ‘A’ Level, along with English as a Foreign Language. She also qualified to teach pupils with Dyslexia and became Head of English for Special Needs.
In 1988, Carol set up her own language company called Language 2000 Ltd and worked in schools and for companies. She taught a variety of languages, including basic Japanese, to all ages and translated documents.
A recurrence of spinal difficulties that began when she was a teenager, forced her to give up teaching and choose a new direction. In order to deal with her health problems, Carol attended a fitness course (Premier), took the qualifications to become a fitness instructor and became a personal trainer. That led her to become a trainer for others, particularly for older people who, like herself, had undergone major surgery.
Thanks to older age, Carol now no longer trains people, but has written a series of novels, articles and books which takes a humorous look at getting older. It is her hope that they will educate through laughter and help others appreciate life.
Carol has also written several short stories over the years, including humorous books for children which served to teach them French.
 
Author links
Like Carol on Facebook            
Follow Carol on Twitter               
 

Thursday 14 August 2014

Review - Last Kiss by Louise Phillips

Her husband is having an affair with a woman who wants her life. How far will she go to take back control?            
 
In a quiet suburb, a woman desperately clings to her sanity as a shadowy presence moves objects around her home.
In a hotel room across the city, an art dealer with a dubious sexual past is found butchered, his body arranged to mimic the Hangman card from the Tarot deck.
But what connects them?

When criminal psychologist Dr Kate Pearson is brought in to help investigate the murder, she finds herself plunged into a web of sexual power and evil which spreads from Dublin to Paris, and then to Rome.

Will Kate discover the identity of the killer before it's too late to protect the innocent? But what separates the innocent from the guilty when the sins of the past can never be forgotten?
 
    
       
 
What did I think?
Wow! What a fabulously gripping thriller this was. 
 
The third in the series and in my opinion the best yet, meant that we get to know Dr Kate Pearson a little more in each book.  I love that!  She's a terrific character and I love that she's so flipping clever!  I could sit in a pub with her and listen to her talking for hours!  I wish she'd find as much happiness in her personal life.  She seems to struggle with juggling her work and being a parent as she did being a wife.  Let's hope that in the next book she overcomes those issues and gives love a chance with someone who understands her work a little more.  I hope Louise that there is another book, I'll be quite devastated if not!!!
 
I read the last 50 pages or so while I was in a kid's play area and I was literally sitting on the edge of my seat and holding my breath.  The suspense was incredible.  I actually tweeted Louise as at one particularly gruesome part when I felt myself pull such a "ew" face!
 
It reminded me of when I used to devour every James Patterson book.  I couldn't put Last Kiss down, was desperate to unravel more of this psychological tale! 
 
It was dark, it was deep, it was scary, it chilled me to the bone.  It was brilliant!
 
 
About the Author
Born in Dublin, Louise Phillips returned to writing in 2006, after raising her family. That year, she was selected by Dermot Bolger as an emerging talent in the county. Louise's work has been published as part of many anthologies, including County Lines from New Island, and various literary journals. In 2009, she won the Jonathan Swift Award for her short story Last Kiss, and in 2011 she was a winner in the Irish Writers' Centre Lonely Voice platform. She has also been short-listed for the Molly Keane Memorial Award, Bridport UK, and long-listed twice for the RTE Guide/Penguin Short Story Competition.
 
In 2012, she was awarded an Arts Bursary for Literature from South Dublin County Council. Her debut novel, Red Ribbons, was shortlisted for Best Irish Crime Novel of the Year (2012) in the Irish Book Awards.

The Doll's House, her second novel, won the Crime Fiction Book of the Year Award at the BGE Irish Book Awards 2013.

Find out more about Louise at her website http://www.louise-phillips.com/

Buy this book via Amazon UK

Follow Louise on Twitter

Like Louise on Facebook.

 

Friday 1 August 2014

Review - Addicted by Nigel May


Another cracker from Nigel May!
Getting clean is a dirty business 

The wine heiress, the faded entertainer, the operatic diva, the politician's wife - four women who can’t say no…. 

Four women who should be happy with what life has given them. Success, beauty, money and fame. But never judge a book by its cover, because on the outside they may all seem to be completely in control of their lives, but under their fashionable facades, deep within their souls, they are all battling with a common demon…they are all addicted. Addicted to things that could ruin their very existence. In fact for one, it will snuff it out for good. 

Four women…one death, one killer…


Nigel May sure does know how to write a glam fiction novel!  I loved Trinity, and Addicted didn’t disappoint in any way.  I can imagine both of Nigel’s books on TV and can’t wait to see what he comes up with next.   It starts with a cleverly written and mysterious prologue which keeps you guessing all the way through the book. 

The four characters are all glamorous, successful and gorgeous yet they all have issues that they are battling with and are a particularly catty lot.  I loved that! Their lives are all linked and that becomes apparent as the plot unfolds. 

This is a really entertaining book, full of intrigue, glamour and everything I come to expect from a Nigel May book. 

Four women, four addictions, one death….who survives..?
Find out for yourself.  You can buy ADDICTED now for all eReaders at http://myBook.to/ADDICTED_NigelMay - it's just 99p too! Unbelievable value!

Nigel’s first glam fiction novel TRINITY is available for 99p too at http://myBook.to/TRINITY_NigelMay
Nigel May is a TV presenter and journalist and regularly presents on UK shopping channels.

He has written for many of the UK's most successful magazines and newspapers, specialising in showbiz and celebrity, as well as writing on subjects ranging from relationships through to travel. He is also one of the UK's most popular craft personalities, having launched his own successful range, A-May-Zing.

Nigel is the only male writer amongst 44 authors featured in the chart-topping, perfect beach-read anthology of short-stories SUNLOUNGER & SUNLOUNGER 2. 

You can follow Nigel on Twitter - www.twitter.com/Nigel_May 
You can find out more about Nigel via his website www.nigelmay.net