Thursday 30 July 2015

Secrets of the pomegranate



SECRETS OF THE POMEGRANATE
 BY BARBARA LAMPLUGH



Contemporary Women’s fiction/ Reading Group fiction
Release Date: 23/4/2015
Publisher:  SilverWood
Passionate, free-spirited Deborah has finally found peace and a fulfilling relationship in her adopted city of Granada - but when she is seriously injured in the Madrid train bombings of 2004, it is her sister Alice who is forced to face the consequences of a deception they have maintained for ten years. At Deborah's home in Granada, Alice waits, ever more fearful. Will her sister live or die? And how long should she stay when each day brings the risk of what she most dreads, a confrontation with Deborah's Moroccan ex-lover, Hassan? At stake is all she holds dear... '
Secrets of the Pomegranate deals with topical themes such as inter-cultural relationships and the moral dilemmas around truth and lies – whether personal or political. It explores, with compassion, sensitivity and - despite the tragic events - humour, the complicated ties between sisters, between mothers and sons and between lovers, set against a background of cultural difference and prejudices rooted in Granada's long history of Muslim-Christian struggles for power.
“Lamplugh does a great job of unveiling a little at a time – but still maintaining tension until the surprise of the final revelation.” Rebecca Foster, Bookbag



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About the Author


Barbara Lamplugh has been writing since the 1970s. Her love of adventure and travel took her first on an overland journey to Kathmandu, which inspired her to write Kathmandu by Truck (1976) and then on the Trans-Siberian railway, by boat to Japan and around SE Asia, which led to her second book, Trans-Siberia by Rail (1979). Becoming a mother put a stop to such long travels but not to writing. She turned instead to fiction, inspired by the often fascinating and unexpected stories of ordinary people she came across in her work in the community. She also wrote occasional articles for magazines and newspapers, including The Guardian and Times Educational Supplement. In 1999, with her two children now independent, she moved to Granada in Spain, where Secrets of the Pomegranate is set. Her encounters and experiences of life in Granada provide her with abundant inspiration. For several years she worked as a features writer for Living Spain magazine, contributing around a hundred articles on topics ranging from Olive Oil to Machismo to Spanish names. Alongside her writing, she teaches English, edits and translates. With two children and five grandchildren in the UK, she makes regular visits there. Other passions include cycling, dancing, travel, jazz and reading.

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A SIGNED COPY OF THE BOOK (Open Internationally)

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My Review

This book has one of the best openings I’ve read in a long while and immediately grabbed my attention. Add a long-held family secret to the mix and this is compulsive reading. Although I guessed Deborah’s secret long before we were told, there were sufficient hints after all and it didn’t spoil my enjoyment, despite the fact that it would have been very difficult to actually pull it off.
The author captures the real Grenada with all its undercurrents, racism, mistrust and kindness too. This deals with relationships on all levels, between sisters, mother and son, inter-racial and I enjoyed every minute of this book despite knowing that I was also going to shed a few tears. Very moving, well-written and has put Grenada to the top of my ‘to visit’ list.


5/5 

Monday 27 July 2015

While I was waiting - Georgia Hill


Georgia Hill

About the author




About the book

June 1963, Clematis Cottage, Stoke St. Mary, Herefordshire

I am really not sure why I am writing this. A foolish whim by a foolish old lady and it will probably sit in a box unread and decay much like its writer when Death makes his careless decision.

But perhaps someone will find it. Someone will care enough to read and somehow I know that will happen.
April 2000, Clematis Cottage, Stoke St. Mary, Herefordshire
Tired of her life in London, freelance illustrator Rachel buys the beautiful but dilapidated Clematis Cottage and sets about creating the home of her dreams. But tucked away behind the water tank in the attic and left to gather dust for decades is an old biscuit tin containing letters, postcards and a diary. So much more than old scraps of paper, these are precious memories that tell the story of Henrietta Trenchard-Lewis, the love she lost in the Great War and the girl who was left behind.
                                                                         





My Review

I really enjoyed reading about Clematis Cottage and following the story of Rachel as she settles into her new life. Cleverly interwoven through a diary that Rachel discovers, we find out about Henrietta. Somehow, it never seems jumbled or confused as can happen with this kind of two-in-one story and there are also some delightful minor characters. Essentially a romance but at the same time, this book offers so much more. A very enjoyable read.


5/5

The rest of my Life - Cover Reveal



THE REST OF MY LIFE
 BY SHERYL BROWNE


Genre: Contemporary Romance : Release Date: 1st July 2015
Publisher:  Choc Lit @ChocLituk

The Rest of My Life
“You can’t run away from commitment forever … “
Adam Hamilton-Shaw has more reason than most to avoid commitment. Living on a houseboat in the Severn Valley, his dream is to sail into the sunset – preferably with a woman waiting in every port. But lately, his life looks more like a road to destruction than an idyllic boat ride…
Would-be screenplay writer Sienna Meadows realises that everything about Adam spells trouble – but she can’t ignore the feeling that there is more to him than just his bad reputation. Nor can she ignore the intense physical attraction that exists between them.
And it just so happens that Adam sees Sienna as the kind of woman he could commit to. But can he change his damaging behaviour – or is the road to destruction a one-way street?


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Want to be part of the review tour 3rd-7th August? Email brookbooks@hotmail.co.uk

ABOUT SHERYL BROWNE


Heartache, humour, love, loss & betrayal, Sheryl Browne brings you edgy, sexy, poignant fiction. A member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association and shortlisted for Innovation in Romantic Fiction, Sheryl has seven books published with Safkhet Publishing.
Sheryl’s new contemporary romance novel was recommended to the publisher by the WH Smith Travel fiction buyer. THE REST OF MY Life comes to you from award winning Choc Lit.



Giveaway
a £5.00 Amazon Gift Voucher



Monday 6 July 2015

Racing Heart

RACING HEART
BY JUNE MOONBRIDGE


Desiree Hart in desperate search for her kidnapped son, does everything in her power possible to find him. Due to a letter she receives after official search was closed, she changes everything; her appearance, her hometown and even her name.

When she meets Lorcan Shore, the Five Times F1 World Campion, their encounter is everything but ordinary. Out of pure fear for her life, she loses her temper and spits over everything he is absolutely certain he can do the best; how to drive.

Leaving him alone on Grand Corniche she is certain she would never see him again. But the next morning proves her being totally wrong. He was no quitter and no matter how she tries to run and hide, her heart desires at the end come back to the surface…

Will the man of her dreams be able to fulfil them all? Including the most important will he help her find her missing son?




About June Moonbridge


The person behind the name of June Moonbridge, has many names and many faces too. Although living in the same area, she was born and raised in one country  and now living in another.
She studied economics, and quickly realised she hated it. Afterwards, she found herself working in mainly male businesses; at first in automotive and later - steel products productions. She can choose for you the best steel you need, but don't, please don't, ask her which lipstick to use.
She started to write in her high school and was negatively criticised by her teacher. Stubborn as she is that didn't stop her. Under different pen names for her stories she tried to get some independent opinions, which came back as good reviews in magazines and later she published three books.
Giving birth to two children, and learning that her second child has Autism, she married the father of them and continued to work. All that together took all of her free time. But the desire to write didn't die. When life somehow sorted itself out, she decided to write her novel in English and her first submission to Safkhet was rejected… 
For what happened later… read third paragraph, second sentence.
https://twitter.com/JMoonbridge
@JMoonbridge



Giveaway
An amazon gift card to the value of the book