Tag: love

Books · Life · Self-publishing · Uncategorized

Hello 2016, Goodbye 2015

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As the year nears its end, we all take a little bit of time to reflect on our year and make plans or resolutions for the year ahead.

For those who have enjoyed a good 2015, their hopes are that 2016 will be just as kind and for those who have suffered through 2015 the hope is that 2016 will be a better one for them.

Earlier today I saw a friend on Facebook mention that it is in reality only passing from one day to another as it does every other day of the year. She mentioned that she set goals or resolutions throughout the year. She is correct, and I think we should all do that, but there is something about the idea of an ending and a beginning that we as a species tend to like. It feels as though you can package the previous year up in a box, gift wrap it, tie it with ribbon and consign it to the dusty realms marked as the past. As the clock chimes midnight signalling the beginning of a new year we take out a new box, all neatly wrapped up and inside is a blank journal that we will write our new experiences, joys and sorrows on. It seems exciting because we feel as though we can do anything, fill it with adventure. It lets us know that we still have hope and while we have hope we can achieve so much.

I have been blessed with a good year. In January, I self-published a short story and followed up with another short story in February. Since then I have been working on a number of projects all in various stages of completion. I have learnt to do things that I wouldn’t have dreamt possible, faced things that scared the bejeebers out of me. I have made some amazing friends that I have never met and may never meet. I have read books that have transported me to other worlds. I have been lucky enough to have gone on two holidays this year: Malta and Maldives. I have also experienced some personal sadnesses this year that I won’t dwell on. I also achieved a half-marathon and a whole day sponsored silence. I also am now the proud owner of a Honda CG125 motorbike which I love.

I would like to thank everyone who has been part of this year with me, those who have bought my books and kindly left me reviews. More than anything I would like to thank my family and friends who are always there when I need them.

2016 for me will be about pursuing my writing further, publishing my WIPs and hopefully getting some more sales.

So I will bid a fond farewell to 2015 and greet 2016 with open arms and a bottle of Prosecco 😉

Both of my books are on sale until the end of Friday 1st January 2016. If you are interested in making me smile on New Years Day then click & buy

🙂

As Dreams are Made on: myBook.to/Adamo

A Lifetime or a Season: myBook.to/ALifetime

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Books · Self-publishing · Uncategorized

My Review of Wings of Darkness: Book 1 of the Immortal Sorrows by Sherri A. Wingler

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Wings of Darkness.jpg

 

Over the last year I have read some phenomenal books by Indie Authors, books that made me laugh till my sides hurt, cry real tears & books that were addictive.

A friend of mine recommended this book to me a long time ago and I picked it up on my kindle in March where it has sat with so many others on my TBR list.

I finally decided it was time to read it. It isn’t generally a genre I read but I am open to all genres. The cover appealed and I liked the sound of it. The moment I opened this book I was dragged in minus the kicking and screaming.

The prologue pulls you in from the first word. I can’t really put an example on here otherwise I would have to copy and paste the whole prologue.

Izzy is a young American girl who is involved in an accident and although she meets the Angel of Death it is not her time to die. What Asher (Angel of Death) does is unheard of and it changes her life forever as it does his existence.

I loved this book from the beginning to the end, if I could give it more than 5 stars I would. The flow was strong throughout. There was excitement and edge of your seat drama and quieter moments as the author allowed you to really get to know the characters. Not only was Izzy and Asher extremely well developed by the other characters, Gwen & Grim and all the other bit players.

It is fantasy but I believed it. I lived it and I can only say thank God I have book two to start straight away.

There is nothing about this book that I think didn’t work or could be improved on. I can’t wait to finish leaving this review and getting a few tedious chores out of the way so I can read Book Two: Wings of Shadow.

Note to author: Please have book three finished within the week I can’t wait any longer.

Books

My Review of The Lake of Lilies by Julia Sutton

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Lake of Lilies

 

A thoroughly enjoyable read. The main character, Lisa Reynolds, is a likeable and believable woman who is a witness to a scene that ends in a murder which changes Lisa’s life.

There is a lot of description which keeps you on the edge of your seat as you wonder what might happen. It is a beautiful story of love and loss.

I wanted to keep reading, picking it up each day was a pleasure.

My only real issues were that there were too many speech tags that became distracting and slightly annoying but not enough to put me off reading. I think removing some of these could make the book stronger.

Without wanting to give anything away, I also felt that the resolution was a packaged a little too neatly. It was reminiscent of a 70’s or 80’s crime shows. I think it could have benefitted from a little more grit at this point.

Overall I loved immersing myself in this book and the lives of the characters. I look forward to seeing what this talented author writes next.

Books

My review of Cross Stitch- Amanda James

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Cross Stitch.jpg

So this is the second book I have read by this author and it did not disappoint. This book leads on from A Stitch in Time.

We enter Sarah Yates’ world again in this book. I did wonder how this book could be different from the first one, would it be more of Sarah’s adventures which would have been fine as I thoroughly enjoyed them in the first book. Ms. James introduced an unexpected complication into this book when Sarah meets a woman in 1930’s London who makes her life and her time travelling more complex. Their destiny’s are entwined and woven beautifully together.

Another fantastic read. Hope you are writing Ms. James I want more.

Books

My review of A Stitch in Time – Amanda James

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A stitch in Time

http://amzn.to/1OgZ1r8

I love a good time slip novel and this book ticks that box with spades. The author utilises an intelligent use of common saying and “stitches” them into the fabric of the book in such a way that you can believe that these were the origins for them.

This is a story of love, of past hurts, compassion and humour all rolled into one. Sarah Yates is an ordinary woman who has been been betrayed. She meets an unusual man and embarks on some scary adventures.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who likes this genre. I would go onto say that I would read another book by this author but I already have. The review for the sequel Cross Stitch will follow soon.

Books · Uncategorized

My Review: The Religion of the Heart by D.M Miller

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http://www.amazon.co.uk/Religion-Heart-D-M-Miller-ebook/dp/B015RYHZ8S/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1449165737&sr=1-1&keywords=the+religion+of+the+heart

 

This book is a story of love that spans over a decade for a boy and a girl who are instantly attracted to each other despite the hurdles they face such as religion, culture and miles of separation they hold true to the dream.

When Abdul tries to talk to Catherine in English when he realises that she doesn’t speak Arabic he can’t remember a word that he has learned. I loved that little touch, I could picture the poor boy’s discomfort.

A beautiful phrase in the book that I loved: Time forgot to hurry, creeping by at the pace of a blustery Alaskan winter.

I would have likes to have seen a little bit more of this kind of description.

Abdul is a young man who is weighed down and browbeaten by his family to bend to their will – I kind of thought that Catherine did the same to him. It felt as though the majority of compromises were made by him. Both characters were highly emotional and if I’m honest maybe too much for my personal taste, but that’s just me. It was a lovely tale and it was easy to read.

Books · Uncategorized

My Review of: Ties that Bind by E.R Chissick

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I could barely put this book down. The author has spun a story of love, betrayal, joy and pain with consummate skill. The characters are 100% believable and relatable. I caught my breath on a number of occasions as I found myself rooting for them. The story flows well and the pace is natural all the way through. I loved the different layers in this book and how the author had me on my toes the whole time never sure where it would go and what would happen. My only issue (minor) would be the overuse of certain objects such as the Cherry Coke Lip Balm and to a lesser degree the Classic Corvette. I do also think while the sex scenes were incredibly well written it could have benefitted from cutting out a couple of the scenes. I will definitely be looking out for more books by this author.