Rosie’s #Bookreview Team #RBRT Palomino Sky by @JanRuthAuthor

Today’s team review is from Luccia, she blogs at http://lucciagray.wordpress.com

Luccia has been reading Palomino Sky by Jan Ruth

Review Palomino Sky by Jan Ruth

Palomino Sky is the sequel to Midnight Sky, both novels are named after horses on the farm where James lives and carries out his equestrian business.

Palomino Sky is named after another new horse. Liz (James’ bossy and independent sister) calls a ‘showy palomino’. I know very little about horses, and one of the joys of reading these two novels is learning more about them, like discovering that palomino is a coat color in horses, consisting of a gold coat and white mane and tail. Rhian, one of the staff says ‘Jamie reckons she’s a natural at hooking up, a joiner.’ James, the horse whisperer, needs horses like that to help recover the horses he heals from trauma and injury. Palomino is also a metaphor for Laura’s role in the novel. She will have to heal, or ‘join’ James in the second part of the novel.

Palomino Sky moves the story started in Midnight Sky in a much darker way, because there are various dramatic and violent events, which will seriously change the course of all their lives, especially in the case of Laura and James.

In book one, James helped Laura during a traumatic moment in her life, including her break up with Simon, but in book two, it’s Laura who will have to heal James from real physical injury and trauma. I can say no more without including a spoiler.

Maggie and Pete have set up a bed and breakfast to supplement their meagre income at Hafod House, the running of which brings some humorous relief to the dramatic action. I liked the way Maggie’s role as older and wiser sister is heightened, and she actually takes some very important and risky steps to help Laura with her personal issues with the men in her life.

On the other hand, Jess’s role as troublesome teenager, develops into a dangerous troublemaker. A violent boyfriend, and a new crush on James’s twenty-year-old American son, will lead to many unfortunate incidents throughout the novel, including an almost tragic event, which will rock their lives.

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

White Horizon by Jan Ruth

White Horizon by Jan Ruth

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

“The essentials of life; having someone to love, having something to do and something to look forward to,” advice that Daniel Woods would probably agree with on his wedding day but words which he wouldn’t actually understand until circumstances force his eyes wide open.

White Horizon is a contemporary family relationships/ romance set in and around Snowdonia and Manchester. Dan and Tina are about to get married, a regular Bonnie & Clyde in their youth, they are finally tying the knot.

With money behind him from a lucky inheritance and hard work Dan has bought Crafnant Hall and is turning it into a hotel. He’s worked really hard on getting it all set up and is looking forward to running it with Tina alongside.

Fellow guests at the wedding include old school friends Linda and Victoria, as Dan and Tina begin their married life Linda and Victoria both take a look at their own marriages and don’t like what they see. With Dan and Tina’s turbulent relationship everyone is in for a bumpy ride as Dan finds that he’s surrounded by needy people who all want a part of him.

Racing through life at the speed of the Porsche he drives Dan finds that there are some people you can’t live with nor can you live life without them. Another good book in a familiar setting from Jan Ruth.

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

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Rosie’s Book Review Team #RBRT Cathy reviews White Horizon by Jan Ruth

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

Cathy chose to read and review White Horizon by Jan Ruth

Daniel and Tina decide to cement their on-off relationship of twenty-five years with a marriage ceremony in the town they grew up in, near Snowdonia in North Wales. They start their married life living in the hotel Daniel is renovating. Things between the newly weds begin to crumble after just a few months. Tina is keeping an overwhelming secret and doing her best to deal with it in the only way she feels she can. Their old school friends, who haven’t seen each other for years, Victoria and Linda and their respective husbands, Max and Mike, are drawn into the resulting fall out which will affect not only those involved but their families as well.

Linda and Victoria are experiencing their own marital problems and all three couples find themselves in difficult circumstances and with friendships at breaking point. Their lives can never again be the same and each of them will face a future they couldn’t have imagined. The terrible culmination of Victoria and Max’s relationship breakdown is horrifying and dramatic, resulting in destruction and death which devastates everyone in the community.

The dynamics between the couples and their interwoven stories are written so well it’s impossible not to have a vivid picture of them, and be drawn in as they are ever more deeply involved in the developing story. Jan Ruth just seems to be able to get right inside the characters and make them totally real and believable, with well-developed and credible personalities. Their problems and emotions are handled sensitively and with honesty during the major life changes that affect them all. Serious issues, including spousal abuse and debilitating illness, are dealt with tactfully.

A really good mix of characters, Daniel stood out for me and Victoria, who was the most damaged by her awful experiences. Great writing and precise attention to details – such an enjoyable read. The scenic descriptions are beautiful and bring the area to life adding an extra element to the story. Mainly, though, this is about how the strength of love and forgiveness, having friends and family win out in the end.

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

Midnight Sky by Jan Ruth

Midnight Sky by Jan Ruth

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Midnight Sky has a lovely rural setting in North Wales near Snowdonia, with a smaller minor setting in Chester. Laura Brown lives with her partner Simon and together they run Dragon Designs. They are property developers.

Laura’s sister Maggie lives at Hafod House in North Wales and invites Laura to her birthday party where she meets locals Liz and James Morgan-Jones who run a stable yard. They have some cottages that need modernising and making profitable, Maggie hopes Laura can land the job for them but James is a difficult person to get on with and they start off on a bad foot.

There are some wonderful engaging characters in this book to get behind, Maggie’s daughter Ellie is mildly autistic and learning to ride is an ideal therapy for her. Whilst her older sister Jess is wild, out-spoken and has a major crush on James. Maggie herself is wonderfully protective of all her brood and will go to great lengths for them all.

Then there is Simon, Laura’s partner, struggling through a divorce with a demanding ex-wife and children who take up much of his time and energy. Yet nothing prepares you for the harrowing heart-ache that James is suffering and only Laura can penetrate the walls of mental protection he has built when she becomes equally as vulnerable in her own life.

This book mixes rough, rugged Welsh countryside with a busy horse-yard, property developing and interior design, plus the all important possibility of romance to make your heart melt.

Find a copy here from Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com Just 77p or $1.24 for a limited period

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Rosie’s Book Review Team #RBRT Honor reviews Wild Water by Jan Ruth

Today we have a review by team member Honor, she blogs here http://honoradawson.wordpress.com/

She chose to read and review Wild Water by Jan Ruth

Here is her review.

Wild Water 1 — Jan Ruth

The story has some good characterisation that draws in the reader. I felt very sympathetic to Jack, who came across as hard working and sensible. It did make me wonder if it was realistic for him to be with someone like Patsy for as long as he had, she appears such a “high maintenance” woman expecting to achieve so much for little effort. Nonetheless, it made for an enjoyable read.

On the downside, as I read some passages where vital pieces of information were missing, there were times when the writing jumped around a little too much, leaving me confused. I didn’t always feel a situation was finalised before another started, since neighbouring paragraphs were often disconnected.

As a romance I would expect some spontaneity in some of the situations, as we are dealing with an emotional set of circumstances. I also felt some of the more dramatic moments in Jack and Anna’s lives were not told first hand, as it happened. I had gotten to know the characters so well, that I wanted to be there for the most stressful moments of their lives. Instead, I felt a little cheated to be hearing of things second hand without much detail.

The geographical setting was of minor importance as the story played out, we could have been anywhere in the UK, a pity for me as I have spent time in Cheshire, participated in some superb outdoor activities in North Wales particularly Snowdonia. I believe some description of the landscape and history would have been appropriate as it engenders passion among it’s peoples and vistors.

For me, the book was in two parts, with the first concentrating on the separation of Jack and Patsy. This was a very engaging read.

The second part, however, seemed to drift a little, and the divorce settlement, which was paramount at the start, was glossed over.

I am sure the writer has progressed much further and her more recent novels are more consistent in structure and quality. In all walks of life there are steep leaning curves, excellence comes at a high price. So I wish Jan Ruth well in her efforts.

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

Guest Author Jan Ruth

Today our guest is Jan Ruth, author of yesterday’s book Wild Water. Here is a link to the post if you missed it. http://wp.me/p2Eu3u-5vR

Let’s find out more about Jan and her books.

1) Where is your home town?

My home town is in Conwy, North Wales. I wasn’t born here, I’m originally from Cheshire – so not Welsh either! However, I’ve always felt Wales is my spiritual home and it features as a setting for all of my books

2) How long have you been writing?

I’ve been writing for about 30 years. Back in the days before self-publishing I had various dalliances with traditional agents and publishers with my first book ‘Wild Water’ but sadly it didn’t really go anywhere. My stumbling block – at the time – was that it fell between genre and the male voice was too unusual. This was 20 years ago. I thought it made me unique but what did I know!

3) Do you have a preferred writing genre?

I write about people, the Welsh landscape and about situations I have knowledge of. This brings me firmly into the contemporary mould. I think genre is difficult to pin down with a lot of self published works, but without the confines of publishing houses the freedom of writing what feels natural can now (and should) come first.

4) What was the one idea which sparked off “Wild Water” ?

I wanted to write about the impact of a marriage breakup from the male point of view. At the time of writing, there were issues in my personal life which provided lots of accurate detail and fodder for fiction. Standard chick-lit is always about the hard-done-by female character and I set out to write about the other side. The book then developed into something deeper than chick-lit, with mature characters and of course, the Snowdonia setting.

5) Can you tell the readers a little about Conway?

Conwy is a medieval town set on the River Conwy in North Wales, UK. It is coastal and rural. The Snowdonia National Park provides a fabulous backdrop and the town is steeped in history, with a castle dating back to 1283.

6) Tell us about the buyer lined up to buy Anna’s Farm.

He’s intent on buying Gwern Farm to develop it into a leisure hotel. Anna doesn’t want to sell her rural idyll to this man, in order to have it destroyed, but her fiance, Alex, is determined to see the sale through.

7) What is Anna going to do once she’s sold the place?

Alex wants to buy a restaurant in Cornwall, but Anna’s heart isn’t really in it.

8) Why does Jack end up convalescing at Anna’s?

Jack is on a downward spiral, trying to keep his business afloat and stay sane in the face of his wife’s betrayal. His accident is a turning point for Jack and Anna when she offers a respite at Gwern Farm.

9) What are some of the tourist attractions that Anna’s B&B guests come to see?

The area around Gwern Farm is a paradise for walkers, bird-watchers, photographers and artists. There are many National Trust properties, castle and period houses in the whole of Wales and of course, it is a popular coastal area with many beaches.

10) Tell us where readers can finds out more about you and your books.

My website is: http://janruth.com/*WILD WATER is currently on sale at 77p. The sequel, DARK WATER, is my latest title.*

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