M.A. Prins's Blog

Love Never Forgets

Destiny: Book One by Adela R.N

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


LOVE
If you’re a fan of Adele R.N. you’ll enjoy Destiny, a story of love and its uncanny knack to remember those destined to be.
Wealthy and privileged, Leo the heir apparent to his late father’s business empire works all hours and cares for his adorably feisty mother suffering from the perils of old age.
There was a time when Leo believed true love would forever keep his bed warm at night. But while wads of cash can and does buy him opulent houses, flash cars, and the pretence of happiness, it (as the old saying goes) “can’t buy love.”
Lillian, the only name to taint his lips, still lingers in the memory of what could have been.
But all this was a lifetime ago.
As a busy Mom to the wonderfully spirited Natasha, Lillian doesn’t have the luxury of time to swim in the tepid pool of regret.
LIKE
Like a good recipe book, Destiny has the right ingredients to make this story a treat for readers of contemporary romance. Money, sex, ego, and beauty whipped together in an expensive bowl only Leo could afford. It’s all there, but if you’ll pardon the pun, that while Leo might rise to the occasion, Destiny flounders.
IT’S NOT YOU IT’S ME.
Not one thing irks. In general, Destiny needs love and attention. The plot barely scratches the surface of the real story lurking beneath the lives of the main characters. I desperately wanted to relate to them — to get to know them, become friends even. Instead we skirted the edges. I needed more heart, more time, more soul, more honesty, more hurt, more of everything to give me something to latch onto and ultimately care for their lives.
Leo’s mother was the exception. I liked her.
At times, the flow jumped in confusing formations from one situation (or conversation) to another without completion or reason. There were times I lost track of who, what, why, when, and…where was I?
The formatting flaws hurt. As did the grammar issues towards the end.





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BOOK REVIEW. FOR THE LOVE OF BOB.

For the Love of Bob by James Bowen

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


As a self-proclaimed cat-lady-in-training I would fall head first into a bowl of cat treats for Bob. This thoughtful, caring, yet independent fur-ball keeps the reader entertained with his presence on the streets of London.
James Bowen, a guy with a turbulent past, gets "cats."
'Cats find their owners,' he wisely said.
And thank goodness they do, for Bob is a true friend to James.
As James sells copies of the Big Issue (a magazine dedicated to helping the homeless) outside Angel Tube Station, Bob sits, ponders, performs, and naps his way through the spectacle of his ever growing fan base.
It's tough on the streets, luckily James now has a home, but money is tight and so out he goes no matter the weather to make enough money to pay for the essentials in life.
Heat, shelter, and enough food to feed his little family of two. Bob and James.
I adored this story and will read THE WORLD ACCORDING TO BOB.
The only aspect that held this book from a five star review? In my opinion it had been too slickly edited. Rather than skip over certain situations, the book needed more grit, more light, more shade.
More depth.
Neither Bob or James could ever be considered shallow.
If you love cats, or just want a feel good furry story read FOR THE LOVE OF BOB by JAMES BOWEN
Special thanks to Wardini Book Store in Havelock North for recommending this book for me to read.



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Book Reviews Offered

As an emerging author I fully appreciate the need for oodles of patience while waiting for that one elusive book review.
It's a time fraught with nerves, excitement and expectation.
If you'd like to have your book considered for review please pop over to my website and click on the reviews button. If you meet the criteria and like what you read then take the next step.
http://www.maprins.com/#!reviews/c1snp

In the meantime, happy writing!

ABOUT THE CHEATING VINES.

More than a romp through luscious vineyards laden with sun-ripened grapes, The Cheating Vines poses the age old question, to cheat or not to cheat? To tell or not to tell?
I hope the reader will be transported on a roller coaster ride of love and betrayal at Sleepy Cloud Winery culminating in the heart of Paris, and the fading light of Provence.
The Cheating Vines centers on the lives of three characters. Carla, a bored wife but devoted mother, her husband Nick, and winemaker Matt.
Carla’s husband Nick is a good man. But the pop of their marriage had long since lost its fizz between the sheets of suburban humdrum. One phone call, and the realization she needed her kids more than they needed her changed everything.
Forever.
Leaving behind his cushy life in the city for the stunning beauty of wine country, Matt sniffs, sips, swirls and spits all in the hope of one day unleashing the gifted winemaker he dreams to become.
When confronted with the choice of his marriage or a coveted job at Sleepy Cloud Winery the decision was as easy as drinking a glass of good Syrah.
It has been said, a winemaker can make good wine from good fruit. And a winemaker can turn good fruit into bad wine.
The Cheating Vines is a great read for lovers' of contemporary romance and chick-lit.

Tinder Press - Open Submission

A tweet alerted me to the news for the first two weeks in March 2015 Tinder Press (UK) is accepting open submissions.

If you've got a debut fiction novel waiting in the wings, read on.

Headline imprint Tinder Press will celebrate two years of publishing by opening submissions for unagented manuscripts for two weeks in March.

Tinder Press Publisher Mary-Anne Harrington said ‘Since we launched Tinder Press with the publication of INSTRUCTIONS FOR A HEATWAVE by Maggie O’Farrell, we’ve had a huge amount to celebrate, and 2015 is already shaping up to be an exciting year, with new novels from Patrick Gale and Sarah Winman.

Click here for info and submission guidelines.

http://tinderpress.co.uk/2015/01/tind...

And good luck xxx

Let Love be Your Energy

On this day where love blooms and lover's of love dream....the lyrics written by singer/songwriter Robbie Williams stir my heart.

"If you're willing to change the world
Let love be your energy
I've got more than I need
When your love shines down on me"

Happy Valentine's Day xxx

5 Star Review for The Cheating Vines

Woohoo....the wait is over.
First review of my e-book The Cheating Vines appeared on Amazon.

*****
A FAST PACED EASY READ
"Fast paced and easy to get into the story immediately. Never skipped a word or a page and loved it from start to finish! The lack of 'fluff' at the beginning actually meant I could clearly imagine the characters and the setting for myself, which was great. The story allowed me to create this rather than be dragged down by 'fill'..... (normally I'd be bored in the first 2 chapters and have to skip these) not with this book. Roll on the sequel."

I'm chuffed.

Sharing the Reader Love

This week I danced the WOOHOO jig.

A lovely reader finished my book The Cheating Vines and shared her views on Facebook.

....."this was an awesome book to read, finished last night! My early night turned somewhat into a later one than expected because I just couldn't put it down Need that sequel, no pressure!"

Woohoo!

Sorry, I've got to go....I've got a sequel to write :)

Love
M.A. Prins
xxxx

Nobody knows who the frick I am

I'm still brimming with excitement. Yippee! I've done it...I've self-published my juicy new e-book The Cheating Vines
Now all I have to do is get the word out to the lovely peeps of the chick lit, contemporary romance world to buy a copy.
Easy! Peasy!
It will be in five years time when I have a bounty of gorgeous readers waiting in line for my next book.
But right now nobody knows who the frick I am. And I'm ok with that.
Aside from my Mum and a handful of wonderful friends, I'm starting from an almost zero position.
Which is a fantastically frightening place to start.
Image a blank canvas of possibilities....

Good to be Back

As an aspiring self-published author my last venture on goodreads was with my first e-book attempt - Love in the Vines.
Whilst I was happy with the premise of the book, I wasn't one hundred and twenty percent happy with the niggles in the finished product.
I knew it needed more love and attention. It needed care and repair to fix its gaping holes.
So, I took it off sale. And started again.
I kept the characters, but added soul and complexity. And I developed the plot to the extent where I felt the ending would satisfy the readers. Plus I fixed, well I hope I did, the grammar holes.
By the end of the journey I knew the title had to change.
The heart of my book begs the moral question - to cheat or not to cheat.
One Friday night over a few glasses of wines The Cheating Vines was born.
The Cheating Vines
While writing my book my father, and my best friend passed away, writing helped salve my grief.
Thank you for your gift of time to read my book.