THE WINNERS! #TuesdayBookBlog #RBRT Bookreview team presents: The Gold & Silver 2016 Book Awards

The Winners!#RBRT Rosie’s Book Review Team presents: The Gold & Silver Rose Awards 2016

 

*Cough* … On behalf of my team, I’m delighted to announce the winners and runners-up in the #RBRT 2016 book awards!

Books were selected from the several hundred submitted to our team for review over the past year, with the 24 finalists voted for by the reviewing team. These finalists were then offered up to the public for voting. Congratulations to the 8 winners and runners up!

A click of the book’s title will take you to Goodreads, where you can see reviews, and also leads to the Amazon, etc, buy links.

 

Fantasy / SciFi/ Horror

Winner: The Prince’s Man by Deborah Jay

Runner-up: Passing Notes by D G Driver

Historical Fiction

Winner: The Elizabeth Papers by Jenetta James

Runner-Up: Back Home by Tom Williams

Mystery Thriller

Winner: On Lucky Shores by Kerry J Donovan

Runner-Up: Rack & Ruin  by Carol Hedges

Contemporary

Winner: The Disobedient Wife by Annika M Stanley

Runner-Up: Scotch On The Rocks by Lizzie Lamb

 

Congratulations to all the following finalists:

The Black Orchid by Celine Jean-Jean

Blood Of The Sixth by K R Rowe

Flesh by Dylan J Morgan

The Final Virus by Carol Hedges

La Petite Boulain by G Lawrence

When Doves Fly by Lauren Gregory

Jasper by Tony Riches

The Code For Killing by William Savage

Trust Me I Lie by Louise Marley

Wings Of Mayhem by Sue Coletta

Murder at the Lighthouse by Frances Evesham

Trust Me by Earl Javorsky

What Jennifer Knows by Wendy Janes

The Bad Girl by L Donsky-Levine

Silent Water by Jan Ruth

The Brazilian Husband by Rebecca Powell

Rosie’s #BookReview Team #RBRT PASSING NOTES by @DGDriverAuthor #TuesdayBookBlog

Today’s team review is from Teri, she blogs at http://teripolen.com/

Teri chose to read Passing Notes by D.G Driver

Mark has finally gotten the attention of the girl of his dreams. Only, his lame attempts at romance through texts and emails seem to be turning her off. When he gets put in the back of the room in an over-full class at school, he begins to discover old notes giving advice about how to write a great love letter. At first he thinks he’s stumbled on some long-forgotten notes passed in class ages ago, but every time he reads them they seem directed specifically to him. They also appear at the perfect moment each time he needs more advice. It’s like someone is haunting him.

How do the notes keep appearing? Who’s writing them? Why?

And if Mark follows the ghostly writer’s advice, will he win Bethany’s love? – Goodreads.com

As the mother of teenage boys who can be completely clueless about teenage girls, I especially enjoyed this heartwarming novella.  Having just a hint of Cyrano de Bergerac combined with light supernatural elements, this story grabbed me immediately and can easily be finished in one sitting.

With today’s technology changing the way we communicate, the handwritten letter is truly a lost art form.  Passing Notes is a reminder that pouring your heart into an actual love letter can mean so much more and is something tangible a person can keep forever.  I think most of us still feel a certain twinge of excitement when receiving a letter in the mail.

The author brings to light something I’ve noticed with our school systems – cursive writing seems to be almost nonexistent and is rarely taught anymore.  Who decided this was a good idea?  Although they’ve improved, my sons struggled early on to read anything written in cursive and to this day, both still print when writing.

Passing Notes is classified as YA, but don’t let that stop you – this is easily a crossover novella and you’ll be glad you gave it a chance.

Five stars!

I received a digital copy of this story in exchange for an honest review through Rosie’s Book Review Team.

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

Rosie’s #BookReview Team #RBRT PASSING NOTES by @DGDriverAuthor #SundayBlogShare

Today’s second team review is from Cathy, she blogs at http://betweenthelinesbookblog.wordpress.com

Cathy has been reading Passing Notes by D.G Driver

This novella highlights today’s changing world and how the ways of communication differ from not that many years ago. The art of letter writing is becoming obsolete along with the need for cursive writing, as computers figure largely in education and people use texting and emails to keep in touch. When Mark Dowd finds himself having to use a very old, odd-looking piece of furniture as a desk in his English class he notices a half hidden carving in the wood. A heart with the name Eileen stylishly carved inside. Mark tries to copy the carving, eventually with a marker pen on the back of his hand as he runs out of space on the paper.

“I pressed my pencil tip into the carving and traced the heart and cursive letters. Some dust came up when I pulled my pencil out. Whoever had done this had carved it pretty deep, probably with a knife not a pencil. I wondered how long ago that could have been because kids got expelled these days for having plastic butter knives in their lunch boxes. We’re supposed to spread mayonnaise with our fingers, I guess. Anyway, I decided the kid with the pocketknife had to have carved this valentine at least a decade ago, if not two.”

Mark thinks he’s making progress with Bethany, the girl he’s had a crush on for years, but his texts and emails don’t seem to be having the desired effect. Ever since Mark drew the heart on his hand he’s been receiving hand written notes from an unknown source, with advice on how to win Bethany back by writing traditional love letters.

This is a lovely, well written narrative with strong messages; love lives on and if a heart is set on someone special, the relationship is more than worth the thought and effort that goes into it. The underlying story of Mark’s grandmother is an emotional one, the last chapter is very moving and powerful, bringing everything to a wonderful conclusion. I enjoyed the slightly different slant on the supernatural aspect very much. And who wouldn’t love a hand written love letter as opposed to a quick text or email. The story has thought provoking content and it would be an awful shame if this creative skill and expressive method of communication is lost completely.

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

Rosie’s #BookReview Team #RBRT PASSING NOTES by @DGDriver #ShortStory #YA #Fantasy #wwwblogs

Today’s second team review comes from Chris, she blogs at http://cphilippou123.wordpress.com

Chris has been reading Passing Notes by D.G Driver

A charming novella about the power of words in love.

Mark is not a good student, and his inability with words leads to his new girlfriend cooling off his advances. Drastic action comes in the form of notes that seem to directly apply to him… and guide him towards reigniting Bethany’s love.

Although short, this story packed quite a punch in the form of charm, drama, and life messages. Part magical tale, part coming-of-age, this is beautifully written short fiction.

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