Rosie’s #BookReview Team #RBRT LOVE AND DEATH IN BLUE LAKE by @CynthiaHarriso1 @WildRosePress

Today’s team review is from Terry, she blogs at http://terrytylerbookreviews.blogspot.co.uk/

Rosie's Book Review team 1

Terry has read Love and Death by Cynthia Harrison

LoveAndDeathInBlueLake_w9872_300

Love and Death in Blue Lake by Cynthia Harrison

 

4 out of 5 stars

Reviewed by me as part of Rosie Amber’s Book Review Team

Courtney and Eddie were high school sweethearts who married young and split up over Courtney’s desire to start a family. Courtney moved to California and became a successful force behind the scenes in the music industry, while Eddie opened a bar and became a ‘love ’em and leave ’em’ type. A school reunion brings Courtney, now trained as a psychiatrist, back home to Blue Lake…

I’ve read another of Cynthia Harrison’s books, Lukes #1 Rule, and I felt the same about this one ~ her writing is so readable, almost conversational. It’s very American, in a way that I like, as it highlights the differences between English and American language and attitudes in that the books are about ordinary, small town people. I loved this passage, with Eddie commenting on Courtney’s engagement ring from her California lover: ‘Huge stone. Not the kind of ring people wore round here, no matter how much money they had. Sucker was the size of a quarter.’ Or one of the gossipy, narrow minded school reunion guests, when Courtney considers ‘setting up shop’ in Blue Lake: ‘Nobody here needs a shrink. Well, Spence had issues, but he’s from downstate.’

There are two stories running through this, one being the complex relationship between Courtney and Eddie, and the other a revenge scenario between camera girl Lily and bad experience in her past. I was most interested in the former, but the two come together to make this more than just a contemporary romance/drama.

Ms Harrison’s writing is clear and honest, with emotional statements that appear to come from the heart. ‘Why does youth squander happiness like there is a never-ending supply?‘ Courtney is a terrific character, I believed in her completely; a well drawn main character will always make a novel a ‘page turner’.

This book is due to be published on December 18th. Find a copy here from Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com

 

 

September Edition of Fleet Life and Elvetham Heath Directory

Here are the books that I have had featured in this month’s Fleet Life magazine. For the online version go to http://www.fleetlife.org.uk, click on the online directory and once it is loaded find my page of book reviews on page 6.

September Fleetlife

This month you’ll see;

Gypsy by Cynthia Harrison

Archer of the Lake by Kelly R Michaels

The Silence of Juliet Mann by Joanne Phillips

Ignoring Gravity by Sandra Danby

and The Last Observer by Dr Gary Vasey.

For the Elvetham Heath Directory, find a copy of the online version at http://www.ehd.org.uk. Click on the online directory and once it’s loaded turn to page 6

EHD Sept

This month you’ll find;

Kings and Queens by Terry Tyler

Business As Usual by E.L. Lindley

Some People Prefer Hotels by Nigel Hicks

The Birr Elixir by Jo Sparkes

A Woman’s Choice by Annie Thomas

 

August Editions of Fleet Life and Elvetham Heath Directory

I am lucky enough to write book reviews for 2 local magazines, for which I receive no monetary compensation. Approximately 7000 paper editions go out locally and both magazine have on-line versions too.

The August Edition of Fleet Life can be found at http://www.fleetlife.org.uk. Click on the on-line directory, then find my reviews on page 6.

August Fleet Life

This month the following books have been reviewed;

A Woman’s Choice by Annie Thomas

Fallen For Rock, by Nicky Wells,

The Rubicon Effect by Roy Dimond,

Some People Prefer Hotels, Motorhome Novices Tour Cornwall by Nigel R Hicks

and Irish Inheritance by Paula Martin.

The Elvetham Heath Directory has the following books. Go to http://www.ehd.org.uk, click on the on-line directory and turn to page 6 as well.

August EHD

Suppose by Kathy Steinemann

Reborn by Cherie Reich

Gypsy by Cynthia Harrison

A Gunman’s Destiny by Randy Mixter

and A Change of Heart by Adrienne Vaughan.

Really fab to hear back from authors when my reviews get them sales, thanks Cherie.

Rosie’s Book review Challenge – A review by Cindy

Today we have a review from book review challenger Cindy Harrison. Her website is http://cynthiaharrison.com/

Rosie's Book Review Challengers 1

Cindy chose to review “The Black Hours” by Alison Williams.

The Black Hours - Alison Williams

The Black Hours – Alison Williams

Here is her review.

Although the chilling historical novel The Black Hours by Alison Williams is fiction, it is written with such detailed realism that readers will feel they are in the village of Coggeshall where the story is set. In this bucolic and tranquil place, Alice Pendle and her grandmother are midwives and herbalists with a deep affinity for helping those in need. When they come under the jealous eye of a competing midwife, Annie Everard, this woman spreads rumors about the Pendles, hoping to blacken their name and steal their business. In this, she more than succeeds.

Matthew Hopkins is an historic figure who here is known as the Witchfinder. When he comes to Coggeshall searching for witches, Annie is more than willing to point the finger at the Pendle family. With excruciating detail, Williams describes the horrors that were the witch hunts of old. Midwives were often blamed when a mother or child died, and herbalists were celebrated when they brought the ill back to health. As we now know, these early keepers of medicinal knowledge did not have the power or the wish to kill, only to heal. This is especially true of the Pendles.

                Superstitions of the times swept the lands and the horrifying portrayal of the torture and degradation suffered by Alice Pendle and her grandmother as they is put through the dishonest and shameful rigors of Hopkins’ Witchfinder ways is not easy reading. Williams is a skilled storyteller, but make no mistake, this tale is a dark one from a black chapter in human history. Williams does not shy away from the details that make it so, and for that she deserves highest praise.

                There are also moments of light, but to tell these would be to spoil the story for readers. Suffice to say, there is evil afoot in Coggeshall, and the good news is it does not entirely prevail. Williams is a writer of power and strength and deserves a wide audience for her compelling work. – Cynthia Harrison

Find a copy here from Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com

Sweet Melissa by Cynthia Harrison

Sweet.MelissaSweet Melissa by Cynthia Harrison

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I read Sweet Melissa straight after Gypsy, the first book in this Traveling Girls series. I really enjoyed the first book and was equally thrilled with the second, reading it all in just one night.

Melissa is aged 16 years old, she lives in West Port, Washington. Her best friend Popcorn persuades her to take off on a reckless adventure. Melissa agrees hoping her wildness will attract Popcorn’s older brother David, lead guitar player in an up and coming band.

The two girls hitch to Colorado Springs lurching between danger and safety with the rides they accept. When they finally arrive a Jeff’s place it’s not the homely welcome Melissa had hoped for.

In West Port, Natalia’s Romany gifts take her to Paradise Fields. It’s a place across the veil where she is contacted by her Spirit Guides. It has fields, oceans and mountains where the spirits dwell. Aunt Fadelty has died and contacts Natalia asking her to find the person who murdered her. A dark entity known as The Dark Initiate. He tried to hitch a ride to Paradise Fields with Fadelty’s spirit when she died. He’s dangerous and he’ll try again.

When Melissa and Popcorn are reported missing, Natalia’s Dad, Detective Haywood is given the case. He’s a Rom cop who prefers traditional police methods to crack a case, but does allow his own Romany gifts to help when necessary. When Natalia becomes Melissa’s guide to keep her safe Natalia’s Dad’s not happy. When the runaways split, disaster happens. The need to track down a murderer brings Natalia and her Dad together, but Natalia’s parents must work together and be the ones to finally stop the evil force.

This book was just as good as the first, there are lots of twists and turns which had me pointing my finger at several suspects then changing my mind. I love the role of the spirit guides and the whole idea of Paradise fields. A really great series.

Find a copy here from Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com

View all my reviews on Goodreads.

Gypsy by Cynthia Harrison

GypsyGypsy by Cynthia Harrison

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Laurel Berman has been travelling whilst asleep, helping poor souls pass over as they die. She’s been helped by a wise boy called Ryan who she meets in a place called Paradise Fields.

Laurel reads her Tarot cards which help her in life. Her mother reads Tea leaves and Laurel and her sister have always believed they are part Romany. They live in Westport, Washington and had their house burnt down as part of a hate campaign against Romany people. She meets Nate Haywood a cop, asking for her help to begin a re-housing support group for victims of the fire. He suspects Vince Vale of the arson attacks, but he has no proof.

When her sister Ann is raped one night, Laurel uses her powers to stop the attacker murdering her sister. She knows who this man is, but who will believe her when she cannot prove she was at the scene? Nate believes her and they find a Romany connection.

The spirits help Laurel fulfil her previously agreed destiny. She finds a lost child who will bring families together and melt hearts while business partner Sibyl cooks up a great money-raising event. Habitat for Humanity reels Vince Vale closer, but he has his own secrets which place Laurel in grave danger in Paradise fields.

I thought this was a great read, it mixed mystery with spiritualism and romance in a way which really worked.

Find A copy here from Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com

View all my reviews on Goodreads

Good Deeds Year 2, Week 7

Welcome to my second Year of Good Deeds, a challenge I set myself during April 2013. I decided to do at least one Good Deed a day for a whole year.

New Good DeedsDuring my week I’ll also being updating you on My Kindness Challenge which I’m also doing. I read about a new challenge to make the world a better place to live in. “Speak Kind Words, Receive Kind Echoes” see the inspiration on  The Kindness blog . During my learning process I’m donating money to charity for my slip-ups to make me work harder to achieve results. I earn no money from any of my book reviews, so having little to spare should focus my mind.

This week I’ve been doing the following;

June 1st – Today the two local magazines that I write book reviews for uploaded their online versions, so I sent out my promotional post and tweeted and e-mailed the authors who had books featured. Any appreciation you feel for the book review features can be e-mailed to the editor alex@fleetlife.org.uk or alex@ehd.org.uk Here is a link to my post http://wp.me/p2Eu3u-5eS

June 2nd – I’m getting better at the kind comments if I don’t rush into a conversation, but stop and think about my reply first. Today was my morning helping out at school, the first Monday back after a week of school holidays. Finished reading Gypsy by Cynthia Harrison and sent off my review.

June 3rd – Stayed on at work today and did some extra filing that I hadn’t been asked to do, but which needed doing. Went straight on to read book 2 in the Travelling Girls series by Cynthia Harrison and finished reading Sweet Melissa in one evening.

June 4th – Sent off my review for Sweet Melissa and began reading A Gunman’s Destiny by Randy Mixter. Went to see my parents and sorted a couple of computer queries. Thought I did pretty well with my kindness challenge when Mum talked about all the latest village goings on.

June 5th – Sent off my review of A Gunman’s Destiny. Went into town and bought a shirt at a charity shop rather than brand new, for a fancy dress party we are going to in a couple of weeks time. Met friends and now I need to add a £1 to my charity Kindness pot, let my mouth run away with me again! But I am learning from it.

June 6th – Had my hair cut today and left tips for the lovely ladies. Oh Goodness!  A kindness challenge! Once we’d covered my weekend and holiday plans the conversation just waited to be filled with a good moan. I had to dodge several pot-holes in the conversation and tried to disappear into my book, but eavesdropping on other clients was interesting, most were failing in areas of kindness. Am reading Archer of the Lake by Kelly R Michaels.

My son has 6 cricket matches in the next 7 days so think of me will you;

CHEF – “quick get in the car, I forgot to turn the vegetable off before I rushed to pick you up from school, I was trying to get dinner cooked early” Rally drives out of the car-park on two wheels!

TAXI DRIVER – Late to match, abandons car in a great space, later realising the front windscreen faces oncoming hard cricket balls when hit for a 6.

WASHER-WOMAN – Tries hopelessly to get grass and mud stains out of cricket whites, sends son off in “nearly whites”

SUPPORTER – Sits dutifully on the side-lines for 2.5 hours, freezing as the sun goes down and the wind blows. Misses all of son’s best moments because I was either chatting to someone else or secretly reading a book behind large dark glasses and feigning interest in the game.

LISTENER – Dutifully nods and makes appropriate noises to the post-match blow-by-blow analysis which lasts all the way home and for the rest of the day or night with rest of the family joining in. Not expected to make any useful contribution as calling the Umpire the “Referee” and asking why they didn’t use the “off-side ruling” doesn’t go down well.

BEST MUM THERE IS  – Replying to all the e-mails from the team managers, providing cricket teas when asked, finding the obscure village cricket pitch on an old fashioned paper map when Google gets lost, making sure there’s a fresh drink in the bag for each match and taking out the stale bottle days later. Washing all those sets of whites in time for the next match and being there for when things didn’t go too well.

June 7th – Finished reading Archer in the Lake and sent off my review. Rain this morning meant cricket was cancelled, we had a game last evening at a picturesque village cricket green out in the English countryside with warm sun and a win for our team. The sun came out this afternoon and I went for a lovely walk this evening and picked up litter along my way.

 

Good Deeds Year 2, week 6

Welcome to my second Year of Good Deeds, a challenge I set myself during April 2013. I decided to do at least one Good Deed a day for a whole year.

New Good DeedsDuring my week I’ll also being updating you on My Kindness Challenge which I’m also doing. I read about a new challenge to make the world a better place to live in. “Speak Kind Words, Receive Kind Echoes” see the inspiration on  The Kindness blog . During my learning process I’m donating money to charity for my slip-ups to make me work harder to achieve results. I earn no money from any of my book reviews, so having little to spare should focus my mind.

This week I’ve been doing the following;

May 25th – Finished reading Fallen for Rock by Nicky Wells and sent off my review. Will be starting The Birr Elixir by Jo Sparkes next. Have agreed to read and review two more books, Fairy and Blood: Lilac by William Crisel and Archer of the Lake by Kelly Michaels. Cricket was cancelled this morning so my chance to lend some plastic cups out as a good deed was scuppered. So it’s all book good deeds today.

May 26th – Continuing with my big book edit of my own book to make it a much better read. I’m procrastinating too much, but when I do sit down and get on with it I enjoy myself mixing with all the characters again. Finished reading and sent off my review of The Birr Elixir by Jo Sparkes Today I’m reading Derek’s Good Relations by Mac Black. We have the in-laws coming for tea, this will be a big challenge for my kind comments because they love a good moan and have a lot of negative talk. Perhaps I can find a lovely reward for myself if I make it through, there’s chocolate in the cupboard! Hmmm!

May 27th – The baby birds have flown, (we had a camera in a bird-box and watched as a blue-tit laid 7 eggs and raised her young) but sadly nature has been cruel, Magpies have seen the flight and at least one has bitten the dust. I’ve been out to chase them away but they have their own young to feed.

Picked up some litter this evening.

May 28th – Finished reading Derek’s Good Relations by Mac Black. Sent off my review. Picked up some litter whilst out for a walk. The kindness challenge is going well this week, it helps that we haven’t been out for a couple of days.

May 29th – The June issue of Fleet Life has been delivered today. My book reviews are on page 6 this month. The on-line version will be out shortly, meanwhile the following books have been featured; Tall, Dark and Kilted by Lizzie Lamb, The Black Hours by Alison Williams, The 20’s Girl, The Ghost and All That Jazz by June Kearns, Saving Our Pennys by Roy Dimond and Jeff Leitch and Black Rose by Jenna Ryan.

Bumped in to a friend in the supermarket and practised by Kind words challenge. Rose to the challenge when my brother phoned wanting accounting work started and completed before tomorrow, definitely one needing special care with the kind words.

May 30th – An opportunity to help out a friend in need today, with a broken car and a child in hospital we are able to pick up her son and take him to cricket.

Have just written the book review drafts for the July issues of Fleet Life and Elvetham Heath Directory. Just awaiting the June editions to go on-line.

May 31st – Finished reading Fairy and Blood: Lilac by William Crisel and sent off my review. Went out for afternoon tea with friends and took flowers for my hostess. Tested my kind words challenge again this afternoon. May have to put a £1 in the pot! Am now reading Gypsy by Cynthia Harrison.

Good Deeds Week April 13th – 19th my 52nd week.

Welcome to my weekly roundup of my year long challenge to do one Good deed a day for a year. This challenge began back in April 2013 and is still going strong, I’m now entering my 52nd week. My inspiration came from reading “A Year of Doing Good” by Judith O’Reilly. Here is what I’ve been up to this week.

Good deeds

April 13th – Still going strong promoting #OperationMallory to help a fellow author out who has Cancer, see my post and PLEASE share as much as you can, or even better, buy his books. http://wp.me/p2Eu3u-55W

Posted reviews for Johnny Nothing by Ian Probert, my review will appear on the blog in a few weeks time a long with an author interview for you.

April 14th – Picked up lots of litter on my way to the post box. Am talking to author June Kearns about reading and reviewing a couple of books for her. Finished reading and wrote a review for Personal Alchemy: The Missing Ingredient For Law Of Attraction Success by Michelle Martin Dobbins.

April 15th – Had a wonderful delivery of 4 books in the post today, it felt like Christmas! So what will I be reading and reviewing for you? Tall, Dark and Kilted and Boot Camp Bride by Lizzie Lamb. The 20’s Girl and An Englishwoman’s Guide To The Cowboy by June Kearns.

Just hand delivered a birthday card and present and on my way back picked up litter.

April 16th – I woke up this morning and realised that I’VE DONE IT, I’ve completed a Year of Good Deeds! Blow up the balloons, pop the Champagne, how great is that? I am writing a big post to release on Sunday all about my year.

Helped out fellow author Sean Flynn with a bit of advice after he’d had a 1* abrasive review. Suggested he didn’t dive in with a rebellious reply, reminding him that he’d never win the argument, and just to let it go no matter how annoying. You’re never going to write a book that everyone will enjoy. He’d had plenty of good reviews, so I told him to hold his head up and move onwards and upwards.

Agreed to read and review two more books; Secrets of the Unaltered by Leti Del Mar , this is the second book in the series, I’d previously read and reviewed her first one, so I’m looking forward to this book. Also Irish Inheritance by Paula Martin. I love a book which has Irish mysteries in it, I’m sure there’s a bit of Irish blood flowing through my veins, although I’m hard pushed to find it on the family tree at the moment.

April 17th – Book review requests coming along like buses at the moment, all or nothing! I’m going to be reading and reviewing the first book in The Georgie Connelly series, Business as Usual by E.L Lindley, I’m super excited about this after featuring them under letter G of my tour. I’ve read some other books by this author and thoroughly enjoyed them all. I’m also equally excited to be getting my hands on the very latest book by Terry Tyler called Kings and Queens. (Due out very shortly)

Invited friends to join us at the park for some cricket. Looks like I’ll be getting my hands on some more books by author Cynthia Harrison too. It’s all happening!

April 18th – Hubby’s birthday today, so we are entertaining the in-laws with high tea (written especially to make certain readers salivate) Have finished reading Tall, Dark and Kilted and Boot Camp Bride by Lizzie Lamb and written my review. Went to the local market and bough some delicious homemade cakes for later.

April 19th – Kids sporting events clashing meant I was on cricket practise duty. Alternatively froze and boiled as the sun played cat and mouse with the clouds. Picked up litter. Got home to find some more books have been delivered for review. Today I’ve got The Hollow Heart and A Change of Heart both by Adrienne Vaughan.

Don’t forget to come and read my celebration post too.

Thanks to everyone who has followed and supported me during my year long challenge.

Sarah’s Survival Guide by Cynthia Harrison

Sarah's Survival GuideSarah’s Survival Guide by Cynthia Harrison

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Sarah’s Survival Guide is a short story. It is a companion story for a character from “The Paris Notebook”, but it is easily read as a stand alone story too. Sarah is a pregnant college student who is forced to find her own feet when her mother gives her the ultimatum; Have an abortion or leave my house.

It’s about growing up fast and facing your responsibilities. Sarah is lucky she finds help from her teacher, Deena. This snowballs into help from another teacher and her son. Myra has had a fall and needs someone to help her while she recovers. David will pay Sarah to look after his mother and also helps Sarah find a waitressing job.

I wasn’t sure of the relationship between David and Sarah, my mind went off on its own and I imagined him to be years older than he actually was, thus I judged him and his motives poorly, until I was slapped in the face by the ending.

Sarah was lucky, she had friends and support when she needed them most. An interesting read.

Find a copy here on Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com

View all my reviews on Goodreads