Wednesday, 21 January 2015

Depression Carpenter

                                                                           


About the book

A young man, Jackson "Jake" Ferry, born into a privileged New York family, loses them in a car accident. Young and wealthy, he needs to justify his existence during The Great Depression. He is skilled in carpentry and drives around the Gulf of Mexico, working on building projects with his peculiar friend and partner from Florida, Chin, who has cheerfully abandoned his family in favor of an adventure. Together, they travel an amazing road trip, helping poor folks along the way, repairing their homes and their lives.

From St. Augustine, Florida, through the Gulf states of Alabama, and Mississippi, Jake and Chin travel together as a team.  A falling out parts the men in Louisiana.

Jake stops in the capitol city of Baton Rouge to take care of some financial business.  He realizes that he can’t run forever from his responsibilities as a wealthy man.

Eventually, Jake lands in Galveston, where he stays to help rebuild the island after their first Great Flood, building an inter-racial school for the island's orphans.

Retracing his steps, Jake reconnects with Chin in Vaughanville, Alabama, and the two head back to St. Augustine together.

The road trip comes to an end with Jake back in New York City, an older and wiser man with an internal compass guiding his path.


AUTHOR LINKS:
Twitter: @javadavis
LINKS TO DEPRESSION CARPENTER:
Large print paperback: https://www.createspace.com/5131774


About the author


Java Davis spent fifteen years in the printing and marketing fields. After retiring early due to a disability, she turned to writing books as a way to work at home. A perpetual wanderer earlier in life, she draws heavily on a lifetime of diverse locales, unusual experiences and varied friendships.

My Review


Don’t let the title put you off – this is a quirky short story of Jake – a man who sets off on a two year hike around the deep South just after the Great Depression. His family has been killed and after inheriting a fortune, he decides to ‘find ‘ his purpose in life and discovers a talent for carpentry. I enjoyed the characters and the portrayal of the prejudices and bigotry of the time. I enjoyed the fact that his purpose has to be through finding God rather less so. Nevertheless this is a well written story and ‘Chin’ really is a character who stays with you.

4/5


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Tuesday, 20 January 2015

To fall in love again



                                                                                    

      

                                                                                   



Drew Nelson did not plan to talk with anyone that morning. He did not plan to make a new friend. He certainly did not plan to fall in love.
He resisted all of Amy’s attempts to draw him out− at the hotel, at the airport, on the airplane− giving hurried responses and burying his face in a pile of papers. It was only when the flight attendant offered coffee, and a muscle in Amy’s back twitched as she reached for it, and the cup tipped, and the hot liquid puddled in Drew’s lap that they began to talk.
Earlier in the year, each had lost a spouse of over thirty years. Drew’s wife had died of a brain tumor, Amy’s husband when his small airplane nose-dived to earth, the engine at full throttle − an accident, it was ruled.
They live in the same city. Both have grandchildren. They are about the same age. Consciously, or not, they both are looking to love again.
But relationships do not exist in vacuums. Drew is wealthy, and Amy is middle class. Amy is “new” in town – she and her husband moved to Charleston twenty-five years ago – while Drew’s family has lived there for three centuries. Drew lives below Broad, a code word for high society, old families, power, and money. Amy’s home is across the river.
Class warfare may be less violent than it was in the past, but when Drew invites Amy to the St Cecelia Ball, battle lines are drawn. In a city in which ancestry is important, the ball’s membership is passed from father to son, and only those from the oldest families attend.
Family, friends, co-workers all weigh in on their relationship and choose sides. Allies are found in unexpected places. Opposition comes from among those who were thought to be friends. Though they are gone, even their spouses − through things they have done and things they have said − wield influence in the conflict that follows.
Amy begins to suspect that Drew is one of them, the rich snobs who despise her, while Drew concludes that Amy neither trusts him nor cares for him. As each questions the other’s motives, their feelings for each other are tested, and Drew and Amy are challenged to consider if they truly want to fall in love again.

BUY LINKS

AMAZON UK

AMAZON US

About David Burnett


I live in Columbia South Carolina, with my wife and our blue-eyed cat, Bonnie. I enjoy traveling, photography, baking bread, and the Carolina beaches.
We have traveled widely in the United States and the United Kingdom. During one trip to Scotland, we visited Crathes Castle, the ancestral home of the Burnett family near Aberdeen.
My photographic subjects have been as varied as prehistoric ruins on the islands of Scotland, star trails, sea gulls, and a Native American powwow.
I went to school for longer than I want to admit, and I have graduate degrees in psychology and education. I was formerly director of research for our state education department.
We have two daughters and three grandchildren. To Fall in Love Again is my third novel.
http://davidburnett.yolasite.com
http://davidburnettsbooks.blogspot.com/
http://www.facebook.com/pages/David-Burnett-Author/447290468681693?ref=hl

GIVEAWAY LINKS

a Rafflecopter giveaway

My Review


A very sensitively written book, seen from the points of view of both Amy and Drew. I particularly enjoyed the development of their relationship, both of them doubting whether they are right for each other. There are some brilliant characters too in the form of Barb and Amy’s daughter. It was also interesting to see the class- ridden society of ‘Old Charleston’ although if I were Amy, I’m not sure that I’d even want to belong to such a club of snobs and bigots. There were a few coincidences and personally I found the fact that both their spouses died on the same day a bit of a leap too far. Nevertheless, this is a lovely heart-warming story that you won’t want to put down.
4.5/5

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Sunday, 18 January 2015

Missing in Somerville - A.J Raven


                                                                                                       


 The beautiful young bride of the town’s wealthiest man has been missing for several months and rumors of her whereabouts are rampant. Some speak of murder at the hands of her husband. Others claim that the young beauty died at the hands of a jealous ex-boyfriend. She could have run away, but why would a woman throw away a life of luxury? When a group of friends begin to search for her, they quickly discover that their lives are in danger by those determined to keep the woman’s whereabouts unknown.



About the author


24 year old male writer of mystery/paranormal/crime books. Also like to read and write stuff on the internet...you know, blogging about TV shows, comic books, anime, manga, and all that stuff. Did my B.Sc (hons) in Bio-technology and B.A (hons) in Psychology. Currently doing M.Phil in Bio-technology so, hopefully that'll work out!

I have written six books in total, that make up two mystery series. 'Arousing the Legacy' is actually four books in the Colville Mystery series together! It features Anya, a female teenager, and her friends trying to survive paranormal occurrences. I've always been a fan of complex female character so, you'll see a lot of that in my books. 

The other mystery series follows a bespectacled boy named Jerry as he tries to cope with high school drama, growing up, and solving crime cases in his town. The series includes two books "Missing in Somerville" and "The Game Master of Somerville". I am currently working on the third book!

Maybe the two series will have a cross-over in the near future. Who knows!
Author links: 

My Review


This is a YA story as a group of High School students try to track down a missing woman. I think the reader will enjoy the interplay between the students although I’m not sure that having Jerry question his sexuality brings anything more to the story. It feels like it’s been added to tick a box especially since it seems unresolved at the end.  The story is well told for the most part and as Jerry puts himself and his friends in danger, the pace is just right. However, the twist at the end is great but comes so quickly that I’d finished the book without realizing. I think this could be a very good book with a few tweaks.


4/5


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Thursday, 15 January 2015

The Curvy Girls Club

                                                                       




A hilarious, heart-warming read about normal women who decide to ditch the weighing scales and love themselves just the way they are.
Perfect for fans of Sophie Kinsella and Bridesmaids.
Can the curvy girls have their cake and eat it?
Meet best friends Pixie, Ellie, Katie and Jane. Fed up with always struggling to lose weight, they start a social club where size doesn’t matter. Soon it’s the most popular place to be – having fun instead of counting carbs. And the girls suddenly find their lives changing in ways they never imagined.
But outside the club, things aren’t as rosy, as they struggle with the ups and downs of everyday life.
In this funny, heart-warming read about normal women learning to love themselves, the curvy girls soon realise that no matter what life throws at them, together, anything is possible . . .
Liked The Curvy Girls Club? Try Perfect Girl – Cinderella meets Falling Down in a wickedly funny tale about having it all.

“You are not fat”: http://youtu.be/qsNP-ganYno
“Bloom”: http://youtu.be/zdMTumzl_cE

 Amazon links (it’s available in all eBook formats and paperback):
UK: http://amzn.to/1pa4yDZ

About the author

Michele Gorman
Michele Gorman is the USA TODAY bestselling author of eight romantic comedies. Born and raised in the US, Michele has lived in London for 16 years. She is very fond of naps, ice cream and Richard Curtis films but objects to spiders and the word "portion".

You can find out more about Michele by following her on twitter, Facebook and by reading her blog or website. Do chat with her online - she's always looking for an excuse to procrastinate!

Twitter:@MicheleGormanUK
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/MicheleGormanBooks
Blog: www.michelegormanwriter.blogspot.com
Website: www.michelegorman.co.uk

My review


If you’re looking for a light-hearted read after pigging out on too much Christmas dinner then this is the book for you. A club where being curvy is the norm rather than the exception is the aim when it is set up, a club where everyone is accepted for who they are. Of course things don’t go exactly to plan and there are some funny moments too that will have you giggling. A great easy light-hearted read which I really enjoyed.

5/5




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