Saturday 22 December 2012

My Story by Dannii Minogue



From her early upbringing in Australia and finding herself in the spotlight at an early age, to her pop career, and her true feelings about her sister Kylie. With behind the scenes and gossip from the X factor and what really did happen with Sharon Osbourne. To the tragedy of losing friends to cancer and helping support Kylie through her own battle with the disease and to finding love and becoming a mother,

A well written and interesting account of Dannii Minogue’s life so far. From the lime light to her private life are covered in this book. We learn the truth behind the headlines and what really did happen.  If you are a fan or if you like reading books about people this is an enjoyable and entertaining read that is also quite touching in parts. I was surprised to learn just how much I didn’t know about Dannii Minogue.

To buy this book from Amazon UK click here http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00452V4CM

To buy this book from Amazon US click here http://amzn.com/B00452V4CM


Fire Brand by Gillian Philip



Seth MacGregor and his older half-brother Conal are part of a fairy like species called the Sithe. They live in a parallel world hidden away from mortals which is behind a veil that keeps the two worlds apart. The brothers find themselves exiled from their world and enter the mortal world in the last decade of the sixteenth century, a time of religious wars and witch-hunts. What follows is an action packed adventure as the brothers must fight for survival and to save the veil.

What a fantastic fantasy novel that really gets your imagination going. The Sithe are fairy folk, but forget all you think you may know about fairies, for in this book an original fresh idea, the characters in this book will make you look at fairies in a whole new exciting way. In particular the character of Seth is incredibly brave and arrogant and will go to great lengths to save his brother from harm. Not what you would usually expect a fairy to be like at all. Add to the mix an evil Queen and a gentle love story and you have a brilliant, well thought out book that sets the story for the sequels excellently. This is a book that will be liked by all and not just the young adult audience. I can’t wait to find out what happens in the next book.

To buy this book from Amazon UK click here http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B006PJWL3Y

To buy this book from Amazon US click here http://amzn.com/B006PJWL3Y


Monday 17 December 2012

The Quintessential Gemini by Linn B. Halton



Katherine Dale finds herself starting a new life after been made redundant. Katherine had been use to working the full-time nine to five routine and now she finds herself home alone apart from No 4 her cat. Katherine reads her stars everyday by well known astrologer Mark Ainsley-Thomas, finding her life is out of her control, she has come to depend on her stars as guidance in her decision making and looks for and lives her life according to her daily horoscopes.

When her horoscopes seem to go a little strange, by no longer seeming to tie in with her life, and have no relevance what so ever to her life, Katherine decides to email Mark Ainsley-Thomas to find out what is going wrong. Can assistant astrologer James Kingman know why this is happening?

When a series of coincidences then follow, is it fate and written in Katherine’s stars what her destiny will be?

Nothing makes me happier than when you start reading a book and you really get into the story from page one. This book is just one of those books. I could totally empathise with the character of Katherine who is at a cross roads in her life. We have all been there at some point in our own lives. When life seems so still for us and non moving. What a really interesting idea for a story to have the character turn to her horoscope to kind of give her a heads up of what will happen in her life. So she then tries and move her life inline with her stars. I found the story to be emotionally charged at times in parts. I found this to be very moving. An excellent story, that you don’t have to be into horoscopes and astronomy to enjoy the story, because this is not just what the story is all about, it is a story of change and excepting change, and moving forward in life and achieving your goals.

To buy this book from Amazon UK, click here http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1938404092

To buy this book from Amazon US, click here http://amzn.com/1938404092


Tuesday 11 December 2012

One of the Guys by Jessica Strassner



Kate Thompson just feels like one of the guys at her weekly poker game she plays with Max, Jackson, Kevin and Chris. Kate is looking for a loving relationship, like what her friends Lucy and Jackson have. Kate who works organising weddings, had yet to find a man that was marriage material or indeed worth having a serious relationship with. She has been seeing Max as a friend with benefits but when he hints at wanting more Kate backs off and starts to date Chris. But is getting involved with friends going to make things complicated and destroy their friendships?

This is a really enjoyable and entertaining read. With likable characters, a nice storyline about looking for love and finding it in the last place you would think of looking. I will certainly be looking forward to reading more of Jessica Strassner’s books in the future.

To buy this book from Amazon UK click here http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00A88KAN6

To buy this book from Amazon US click here http://amzn.com/B00A88KAN6

The Bodhisattva of Carraigmore by Paul A. Barron



Eddie Doyle is returning home to Carraigmore Ireland, to deal with a family matter. A large American company is buying up the land around his mother’s land. The land is surrounded in superstition about folklore and legend.

For such a short story this is a really enjoyable and remarkable read, which is written to a very high standard of writing and in a very talented way to get such a good story together in such few words.

To buy this book from Amazon UK click here http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B007KB0CAA

To buy this book from Amazon US click here http://amzn.com/B007KB0CAA


Monday 10 December 2012

Nocturne Number Eight, Opus Twenty Seven by Paul A. Barron



A very short story about Captain James Fletcher, who is having unwelcome memories about the war and he is trying to deal with this. He meets Celia Hammond in tragic family circumstances and this sets the tale for an unexpected climax.

To buy this book from Amazon UK click here http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B006TZ69MS

To buy this book from Amazon US click here http://amzn.com/B006TZ69MS



Midfright Tales Two by P.A. Hilton and V.Z. Hilton



Midfright Tales Two is a collection of fantastic, fabulous and frightening tales that have the reader sitting on the edge of your seat, gripping tight to the book in anticipation and suspense at what will happen next. Sending shivers down your spine. You will not be able to put this book down. The Devil, Mummies, ghosts and werewolves are just some of the scary characters that appear in this book and much, much more. Be prepared to expect the unexpected. An excellent selection of horror that is highly entertaining.

To buy this book from Amazon UK, click here http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B007P6IF90

To buy this book from Amazon US, click here http://amzn.com/B007P6IF90




Running with Zombies by John MW Smith



Once in a while it is always great to be given the opportunity to read a book from a genre I would not normally read from. I must admit when I saw the word Zombies in the title of this book I had prepared myself for the worst, blood guts and horror, which even though I am into the paranormal, I am so not into this kind of horror! But I have to say this book is not like that it is much gentler. The story is more about the characters and their lives and pulling together for the greater good. The storyline is fresh and original.  It did take me a while to get into the story, but like I say this is not my usually genre of books, so this may have been the reason. I did enjoy the change though reading this book and it is different from other books I have read.

To buy this book from Amazon UK, click here http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B006ZC53E0

To buy this book from Amazon US, click here http://amzn.com/B006ZC53E0
 

Friday 7 December 2012

You Only Get One Life Brigitte Nielsen



From her troubled childhood in Denmark, through to her modelling days and her life in Hollywood. Sylvester Stallone’s ex tells her story in her own words. A remarkable story, there is something intriguing about Brigitte Nielson and this book does not disappoint and I learnt much more about her. I always thought she came across as quite tough but the book shows her more sensitive and vulnerable side, the real Brigitte Nielson underneath all the hype.


Permanently Temping by Lauren Milner-Howells



Hollie Cooper is a university graduate who signs up with a temp agency for an opportunity to try out lots of different jobs, before finally deciding on her permanent career choice. But it is not only her career life choice that Hollie must make a decision on; her love life also will face some tough choices.

Although a little cheesy in parts and slightly predictable, all in all not too bad a story, told in a warm light-hearted way with good humour and it managed to keep me entertained right up to the end.

To buy this book from Amazon (UK) click here http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0084KZ88W

To buy this book from Amazon (US) click here http://amzn.com/B0084KZ88W


Christmas with Mr Darcy by Victoria Connelly



Dame Pamela Harcourt is an established actress, who is most well known for starring in television adaptations of Jane Austen novels. Dame Pamela now organises and hosts Jane Austen Conferences for Jane Austen fans. She is about to put on her first Jane Austen Christmas conference at Purley Hall. But when it starts to snow will the Austen addicts be able to make it? Then when Dame Pamela’s brother Benedict who is always in a fix or trouble calls to say he is coming too and not long after he arrives a first edition of a Jane Austen book goes missing, will this become more like a whodunit than a Jane Austen experience?

A fabulous cast of characters that are so well written, that they could all easily have their own spin off books that would make great reads too. I can think of nothing better as a reader than to attend a Jane Austen Conference and how magical that would be at Christmas.

To buy this book from Amazon (UK) click here http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B009JTNIKC

To buy this book from Amazon (US) click here http://amzn.com/B009JTNIKC



Thursday 6 December 2012

Winter Warmers by Carole Matthews



Three fabulous festive short stories told with great humour and fun from author Carole Matthews.

 

All I want for Christmas

After spending the last three years as a single girl at Christmas, could Maria’s luck begin to change, when a mysterious secret admirer starts to leave her a gorgeous gift everyday.

 

Cold Turkey

Tara is in a complicated relationship, and when her man lets her down and leaves her alone at Christmas … until a chance meeting with a handsome stranger.

 

About Gardening

Sam is feeling she is drifting apart from her husband. Can she find some common ground and save her marriage.

A wonderful warm winter read, that can be read in one sitting perfect for chilling out and relaxing with after a hectic day Christmas shopping.

To buy this book from Amazon UK, click here http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00A3BO78C

To buy this book from Amazon US, click here http://amzn.com/B00A3BO78C

Tuesday 4 December 2012

A Divorce for Christmas by Lavada Dee



Lori and Brad are a married couple whose marriage is falling apart, they have been trying for a baby for over a year and now Brad has had enough and feels that Lori is just becoming too obsessed with becoming pregnant and does not see him as a husband and partner, but a father. So now Brad wants a divorce and it not the best timing, Christmas is almost here and Lori still deep down loves him very much. 

Set at Christmas time, this is a short story by Lavada Dee that can easily be read in one sitting.  A wonderful story about a couple who have it all, but for just one thing, that could tear them apart.

To buy this book from Smashwords, click here https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/248506

Twelve Days of Christmas by Trisha Ashley



After tragic family circumstances happened in her past at Christmas, Holly Brown is now more than happy to spend Christmas alone, and working for a company called Homebodies, a company that provides a house sitting service for people, gives Holly the perfect opportunity to do just this, when a job comes in to house sit a house in a remote location, where nobody knows her, over Christmas this is perfect for Holly and she takes it, thinking she will be isolated and alone and that she can just forget all about Christmas happening. She intends to spend the time reading through some of her Gran’s old journals.

However things do not go quite to Holly’s plans when she is invaded by various family members and animals of the owner of the house she is taking care of, a lively bunch that are all out to celebrate Christmas.

How will Holly avoid it all now?

And is it a coincidence or a connection she will find to the family through her Gran’s journals that could change Holly’s life forever?

A story that is set in the run up to Christmas, this is a story perfect for this time of year. With lots of interesting, lively and fasinating characters, which make this a nice warm hearted read, which even though tragedy had happened in the story, the book is written in a  warm and bubbly way, with a touch of suspense and mystery and a touch of romance that add to the brilliantly thought out storyline. This is a story of moving forward and leaving the past behind. Twelve Days of Christmas is a book well worth adding to your Christmas reads.

Trisha Ashley was born in St Helens, Lancashire, and gave up her fasinating but time-consuming hobbies of house-moving and divorce a few years ago in order to settle in North Wales.

To buy this book from Amazon UK, click here: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1847561152

To buy this book from Amazon US, click here: http://amzn.com/B0048EJTQA