Sharon Booth's Blog, page 7

Somebody Else’s Boy by Jo Bartlett

This book really took a hold of me from page one, and didn’t let go, even after I’d read The End and closed down my Kindle.

Some books take a little getting into, but Somebody Else’s Boy gripped me from the start. It’s a really beautiful story, well-written, and so packed full of emotional twists and turns that I couldn’t bear to put it down for long, and had finished it within a day.

The setting of St Nicholas Bay is described really well. I love the town’s Dickens connection, and can imagine this place so well in my mind. The characters are fantastically drawn, giving this book real depth and warmth and heart. It has lots of laughs – the author certainly has a sparkling sense of humour, and a sharp wit – but it also has dark moments. The description of Jack’s grief is so raw, so painful, that I had to put down my Kindle for a moment, look across to my husband, and – much to his astonishment (and mine!) – announce there and then that I loved him. It seemed important to put it into words while I could because, as Jack discovers, you never know when that chance will be taken away.

It’s not only Jack who has suffered a loss. Nancy’s grief is different but no less agonising, and I loved the depiction of her father’s situation and how it affects not only her, but her mother and brother, too.

Somebody Else’s Boy deals with love, loss, grief, betrayal and guilt. In fact, guilt is a major theme of this book. So many of the characters in here struggle on, trying to do what they believe is the “right thing”, putting their own needs aside out of guilt. It certainly made me think about how much we do this in real life. How guilt can weigh us down and ruin our own lives, and how misplaced this guilt is. Would the people who have loved us, really want us to lose our own chance of happiness, out of loyalty to their memory? Yet, even knowing that intellectually, doesn’t always help us to accept it emotionally. This novel beautifully and deftly deals with this very issue, and it really does tug at the heartstrings.

The burgeoning love between Nancy and Toby is lovely, and the developing relationships between other characters keep adding new layers to the story, taking you sometimes by surprise, but never feeling forced or unlikely.

It’s a deep and thought-provoking book, but it’s also cosy and romantic and funny, too. There are lots of laugh-out-loud moments, and moments that make you feel all warm and fuzzy and contented. Sometimes, happy endings can only come about when you learn to accept what is, and make the best of that, rather than wishing for what could have been. For some of the characters in this book, that’s exactly the lesson they have to learn, and I admire that the author was willing to write that truth. So, this is a book to make you think, a book to make you smile, a book to make you appreciate what you’ve got, and the people you have in your life. I can’t think of a single negative thing to say about it, and I’m really looking forward to my next visit to St Nicholas Bay. 5/5

You can buy Somebody Else’s Boy here.

The Chocolatier’s Secret by Helen J Rolfe

“Andrew Bennett has an idyllic life in Magnolia Creek, Australia. He runs a chocolate business he adores, is married to Gemma, the love of his life, and has a close relationship with his father, Louis. But when Andrew receives a message from his high school sweetheart, it sends his world into a spiral, and the relationships he holds dear will never be the same again.

Molly Ramsey is looking for answers. After her last attempt, she believes the only way to get them this time is to face her past head-on. But to do this, she has to fly to the other side of the world – and she’s afraid of flying. Her search for answers lands her in an emotional tangle, not only with her past but also with a man very much in her present.

Family is everything to Gemma Bennett and she longs to have a house full of kids, but it just isn’t happening. And when Andrew’s past makes an explosive impact on the family, Gemma must decide whether she can accept the truth and open her heart in a way she never thought possible.

In this story of love, family ties and forgiveness, will past mistakes be the obstacle to a Happy Ever After?”

It’s sometimes difficult to review books without resorting to cliches. It’s a bit like a TV talent show. You know, “You made that song your own” – *rolls eyes*. How many times can you hear the same thing coming from the judges’ mouths without getting bored? Similarly, how many times can you write, “I absolutely loved this book” without feeling that you really need to say something different? Something exciting. Something that can convey the joy you’ve felt, immersing yourself in someone else’s writing, getting lost in their fabulous fictional world. Something that would entice other people to pick up the book or open their Kindle, and discover for themselves exactly what you’re trying to express.

In The Chocolatier’s Secret, Helen J Rolfe has written a novel that had me completely hooked from the start. Her characters are so richly drawn, her settings so beautifully described, and her story so appealing that I have to admit it. I absolutely loved this book. Sorry!

The storyline very much evolves from the characters themselves. Helen excels in this. Each of the main characters is fully-rounded, with flaws and failings as well as admirable qualities, so you feel you can really relate to them. She’s also exceptionally talented at description. She paints a vivid picture of a small Australian town, making it so easy to see it in your imagination. Sadly for me, she also brought the world of the chocolatier to life – a little too vividly. I was craving chocolate by the end of the book. Bang goes the diet. Again.

Seriously, this is such a beautiful story that engages all the emotions. It’s one of those books that just leaves you feeling completely happy and fully satisfied. A bit like chocolate. There are surprises, tears and laughter within its pages, and it all unfolds at just the right pace, never sagging, holding your interest right up to the heartwarming end.

I’ve loved all of Helen’s books, but this is my favourite so far. A new Helen J Rolfe novel is a must-have as far as I’m concerned. She’s just getting better and better! Definitely 5/5 from me.

You can buy The Chocolatier’s Secret here.

Going Home to Kearton Bay!

Gosh, I wonder if they’re still talking to me? That was my worry as I prepared to head back to Kearton Bay to write the third book in the series. I was quite stressed about it, in actual fact. After all, it had been a while. What if my friends at the Bay had forgotten about me? What if they’d decided to ignore me, the way I’d ignored them all those months?

I couldn’t really blame them if they had, I suppose. It’s been almost a year since A Kiss from a Rose was published, and since then, I’ve had a short story and a pocket novel published by The People’s Friend, and started a new series of books, set in the Yorkshire Dales. I couldn’t deny I’d had a great time making new fictional friends, while writing This Other Eden. What if my pals in Kearton Bay had decided I’d abandoned them, and refused to share their lives with me?

In the event, it was like coming home. It seemed that they greeted me as warmly as ever, and were all too eager to give me the latest juicy gossip, and bring me up-to-date with what they’ve been up to.

So, Kearton Bay book three is finished. It’s called Once Upon a Long Ago, and it’s available to pre-order right here. It will be published on 26th September, exactly one year to the day that Rose was published. I think Rose would be quite pleased about that! Here’s the blurb:

Lexi Bailey doesn’t do love. Having seen the war zone that was her parents’ marriage, she has no interest in venturing into a relationship, and thinks romance is for fairy tales. As far as she’s concerned, there’s no such thing as happy ever after, and she’s not looking for a handsome prince.

For Will Boden-Kean, that’s probably a good thing. He hardly qualifies as a handsome prince, after all. He may be the son of a baronet, and live in a stately home, but he’s not known for his good looks. What he is known for, among the residents of Kearton Bay, is his kind heart, his determination to fund Kearton Hall — and his unrequited love for Lexi.

While Lexi gazes at the portrait of the Third Earl Kearton, and dreams of finding the treasure that is reputed to be hidden somewhere in the house, Will is working hard to ensure that his home survives. When he goes against Lexi’s wishes and employs the most unpopular man in the village, she begins to wonder if he’s under a spell. Will would never upset her. What could possibly have happened to him?

As plans take shape for a grand ball, Lexi’s life is in turmoil. With a secret from Will’s past revealed, a witch who is far too beautiful for Lexi’s peace of mind, and a new enchantress on the scene, things are changing rapidly at Kearton Hall. Add to that a big, bad wolf of a work colleague, a stepmother in denial, and a father who is most definitely up to no good, and it’s no wonder she decides to make a new start somewhere else.

Then she makes a discovery that changes everything — but time is running out for her. Is it too late to find her happy ending? Will Lexi make it to the ball? Will Buttons save the day? And where on earth did that handsome prince come from?  

I had such a great time in Kearton Bay, that it’s quite sad to think that my next visit there will be my last. Still, that’s a good while away yet, as first I’ve got some news about a Christmas release that I’ll share with you soon, and then I’m heading back to Skimmerdale to see what my old friends in the Dales are up to. Gosh, I hope they’re still talking to me…

Have a great week!

 

You Don’t Always Know What You Think You Know

Research is essential for authors. How many times have I heard that? And I’ve always heartily agreed, because reading something that you know isn’t correct – well, it jerks you out of the story, and that’s never a good thing. Right?

So I’m very glad that I made a last minute decision to check something out recently, and rather cross with myself that I didn’t think to do it earlier. Because if I’d left it, I’d have been kicking myself sooner or later – probably when some diligent reader pointed out that I’d got my facts WRONG!

One scene in my WIP takes place in Scarborough Castle. Now, Scarborough’s not too far from where I live. I can be there and back in an afternoon with plenty of time to stroll around. I’ve even been known to get the bus there. (That didn’t go down too well, as I was only supposed to be going into town for an hour or so, but the bus was just there and it was a lovely day, and who could resist?) Anyway…

Extraordinary as it sounds, I haven’t been to the castle for decades. I’m not sure why. I mean, it’s not exactly hidden away. You only have to look up and there it is, straddling the headland and making the skyline a rather more beautiful and interesting feature. Anyway, it’s so familiar that I somehow fooled myself into thinking I knew all about it, and that I remembered what it was like to go round the place. With my infallible memory and a little help from the website, I could describe a visit to the castle perfectly. Of course I could.

Wrong! Thank goodness for DH who willingly drove me there yesterday, and cheerfully accompanied me into the castle grounds – despite his long-standing and alarmingly savage allergy to ancient buildings and anything remotely historical. It was typical Bank Holiday weather, unfortunately, with drizzle and plenty of mist. Still, we weren’t going to let that stop us. If we waited for sunshine we might never go anywhere. We’re British, after all.

The first thing I discovered was that I hadn’t mentioned that you buy your tickets inside a gift shop. Well, I wouldn’t have done, as I couldn’t even remember there being a gift shop at the entrance. It was so long ago that I last visited it’s quite possible there wasn’t a gift shop at the entrance. In fact, it’s so long ago, it’s possible that the castle itself was still in the process of being completed.

The second thing I realised was that I’d somehow convinced myself that the toilets were inside the cafe, and had one of my characters heading into them. Thank goodness for my visit yesterday, or my character’s own visit would have resulted in a rather embarrassing scene, and possibly arrest. There are no toilets in the cafe. Phew!

But the main thing that struck me was simply this. You just can’t convey the atmosphere and flavour of a place unless you’ve actually been. You can Google it, and read about it, and look at maps and photos, but there’s nothing to beat actually being there. Yes, I know it’s not always possible, and I’m certainly not saying that writers should limit themselves to writing about places they’re able to travel to themselves, because sometimes the budget simply doesn’t stretch that far. Sometimes, it’s not humanly possible. But when you get the chance – when it’s right on your own doorstep – there’s really no excuse. Standing inside the castle keep, gazing out over the North Sea, staring in awe at the cannon balls that bombarded the castle during the civil war, imagining the terrible conditions endured by the Royalist troops during the Siege of Scarborough Castle in 1645…You just don’t get that feeling from a computer screen.

Besides, it’s a great reason for a day out! I enjoyed myself so much, I signed up to join English Heritage. DH didn’t go that far, but he did agree that he’d had a fantastic day, and got quite absorbed in reading the information boards and looking at the exhibits. Just shows you!

 

Oh, and on the way back to the car, we got to visit Anne Bronte’s grave, where someone had left some heather from the moors – a really thoughtful gesture that gave me quite a lump in my throat. All in all, it was a fantastic day. Who needs sunshine?

You can find out more about Scarborough Castle and English Heritage here.

Have a great week!

 

Dreaming About Daran by Jessica Redland

I’ll be honest and say that I tend to take longer and longer to read books these days. I used to fly through them, but there are so many distractions in life, and calls on my time, not to mention the annoyance of eyes that get tired much quicker than they used to, that I find it can take a week or two to work my way through a novel – even a novel that I’m really enjoying. I read this book, Dreaming About Daran, in one day, which, to me, says it all.

I’ve thoroughly enjoyed Jessica Redland’s Whitsborough Bay series. Searching for Steven was good, and had an interesting premise, a lovely setting, and warm, believable characters. I was delighted when its sequel, Getting Over Gary, proved to be an even better read. For me, though, the series hits its pinnacle with Dreaming About Daran.

Clare was always the odd one out in the trio of friends. Not as warm or “cosy” as Sarah and Elise, not as romantic, nor as family-oriented, she always seemed on the outside, somehow. In Getting Over Gary, we saw her soften a little in her attitude to Elise, and without wishing to give anything away, she emerged as more likeable. I always felt, though, that there was something buried deep within Clare that, one day, would make an explosive story. I was right.

Dreaming About Daran is much deeper than its predecessors. I think each book in this series has grown progressively darker, tackling more serious issues, but in this final instalment, Jessica Redland has created a really gripping and quite gut-wrenching story.

I can’t go into any details, as I don’t want to risk spoiling it for new readers, but suffice it to say, Clare has to make a journey away from the life she has built for herself, into the world she left behind – a world so painful that she has managed to bury it. Or so she thinks.

There is humour, of course, and warmth, and friendship, and all the usual Jessica Redland trademarks that ensure a joyous read, but there is so much more to it than that. Secrets and lies, shock and fear, pain and grief, all combine to lead the reader through a most unexpected path into the darkness of Clare’s past. There is a great deal to be uncovered before we can walk safely out into the sunshine again.

For me, personally, this is by far my favourite of the three books, and I felt quite sorry to reach the end of the trilogy. The good news is that, with a writer this talented, I’m sure I’ll have new stories to read by Jessica Redland before long. I can’t wait to see where she takes us next! 5/5

You can buy Dreaming About Daran here

The Dirigible King’s Daughter by Alys West

Anyone who knows me will tell you that Whitby is one of my favourite places, so any book set there is always going to attract my attention. I’ll hold my hands up and admit I’ve never read steampunk before, but when the Write Romantics published our charity anthology Winter Tales,  it included a short story called A Pistol for Propriety, written by Alys, and I’d long thought that the story deserved to be expanded upon. Luckily, Alys had the same thought, and the result is this wonderful novel.

I was quickly drawn into this snapshot of an alternative Whitby – imagining dirigibles sailing by Whitby Abbey, piloted by handsome men wearing flying jackets, helmets and goggles – men like Charlie, or Viscount Davenport, to give him his proper title.

Charlie is a real hero, but he’s more than matched by the independent “New Woman” Harriet Hardy. Harriet has had many troubles and heartaches to overcome, and has learned to defend herself in a man’s world. Unfortunately, her self-defence lands her in a lot of trouble, and her actions plunge both her and Charlie into an unexpected adventure.

As the net tightens around them both, an unorthodox solution is presented to Harriet, but the shadows of the past are all around her. She is the Dirigible King’s daughter, and that’s a heavy burden for her to carry. And Charlie may be a good man, but is it fair to drag him into the murky depths of her family’s shame?

With a chase across Whitby, journeys on steam powered omnibuses, and flights through the air in the wondrous dirigibles, this is a romance with a twist. Lots of fun, lots of adventure…And lots of tea. A really wonderful treat to read.

You can buy The Dirigible King’s Daughter here.

And the winner is…

Congratulations to Christine Corkill, who is the lucky winner of a signed copy of This Other Eden! Thank you to everyone who entered the draw, and remember , you can buy the Kindle version of the book by clicking on the link at the side of this post, or if you want the paperback, it’s available here (UK) or here (USA).

 

 

 

 

This Other Eden is the first in the Skimmerdale series, and the second will be out next year. I really enjoyed my jaunt over to the Yorkshire Dales, and can’t wait to return there to see what everyone’s been up to.  Here’s what people have been saying about This Other Eden…

“I so loved this book! If you love Ozzy Osbourne and P.G.Wodehouse then this book is a must!”

“The stunning Yorkshire Dales, a gorgeous brooding young farmer, and lots of secrets. What’s not to love about this fabulous novel?”

“A hugely entertaining jaunt of a novel through the Yorkshire dales.”

“This story, set against the backdrop of sheep farming in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales is a must read.”

“I adored this fabulous tale of love, lies and mistaken identity.”

THIS OTHER EDEN (SKIMMERDALE BOOK ONE)

Eden wants to keep her job, and, as that means spending the summer caring for three young children in the wilds of the Yorkshire Dales, she has no choice but to go along with it. Her consolation prize is that their father is unexpectedly gorgeous. Sadly for Eden, she’s not quite herself any longer…

Honey wants to spend the summer with her married politician lover. The only problem is, there are quite a few people determined to put obstacles in her path. But what Honey wants, Honey usually gets…

Cain wants a knighthood and is willing to sacrifice almost anything for it. If his daughter is putting that goal in jeopardy, it’s time to get tough…

Lavinia wants to keep her marriage intact, and if that means turning a blind eye to her husband’s philandering, she’ll do it. But that doesn’t mean she can’t have someone else spying for her…

Eliot wants to care for his children, and to be left in peace to heal. When he gets an unexpected guest, he wonders if it’s time to start living again. But is this sheep farmer having the wool pulled over his eyes?

Cake baking, jam making, gymkhana games and sheep showing. Blackmail, deception, spying and cheating. Laughter, forgiveness, redemption and falling in love. A lot can happen during one summer in Skimmerdale…

 

Have a great week!

 

Summer At Skylark Farm by Heidi Swain #AugustReviews

August has been designated as the month for reviews, so if you’ve read a book you’ve enjoyed recently, why not head over to Amazon and tell other people all about it? You don’t have to write an essay. A line or two will do, and it will mean the world to the author. Trust me, I know!

With that in mind, I decided to post a review for a book I read recently – Summer at Skylark Farm by Heidi Swain. Here it is:

This is a lovely feel-good story from Heidi Swain! I confess, I haven’t got round to reading The Cherry Tree Cafe yet, but even though this is a follow-on novel, it didn’t matter, and it didn’t detract one iota from my enjoyment of the story.

I was drawn to the book by the lovely cover, and I was very relieved to find that the contents lived up to the promise of the pretty artwork. This is the story of a city girl, with a busy career and a hectic life, who moves to the countryside for the sake of love. Where many women might crumble in the face of starting a whole new life, Amber gets on with things, and throws herself heart and soul into making a success not only of her relationship with boyfriend Jake, but of Skylark Farm, too.

It’s not easy. She has left behind everyone she knows, and finds herself living with Jake’s aunt, and surrounded by his friends. Not only that, but Jake is definitely keeping secrets, and she’s pretty sure that his friends are in on them. But Amber’s not one to be easily deterred, and she rolls up her sleeves, pulls on her wellies and gets on with it.

Before long, she’s won over Jake’s family and friends, and she realises she’s falling in love with her new home. But Jake’s past is about to catch up with them, and secrets are about to be revealed. Dark clouds are gathering, and soon Amber’s future looks to be in doubt. Can sunshine return to Skylark Farm? Can Amber turn around the fortunes of her new home? And can she and Jake survive the biggest shock of all?

I thoroughly enjoyed this lovely story, and I will definitely be catching up with The Cherry Tree Cafe before long. A real summery treat.

You can buy Summer at Skylark Farm here.

Happy Yorkshire Day!

Happy Yorkshire Day to you all, whether you are from the Land of the White Rose or not. As you may, or may not, know (if not, where have you been?) I’m from Yorkshire myself, and I’m reet proud of the fact. Yorkshire is a beautiful and diverse county, and to celebrate its special day, I’ve decided to not only show you some fabulous photographs of the place, but to also give away a prize! Yes! Who says we Yorkshire folk are tight?

 

Swaledale, inspiration for Skimmerdale

 

Burton Agnes Hall, inspiration for Kearton Hall

 

Helmsley, my Helmston

 

Beautiful day in Whitby

 

Thatched cottage, Thornton-le-Dale

 

Whitby Abbey

 

Robin Hood’s Bay aka Kearton Bay

 

Helmsley

 

Sign for the Kearton Country Hotel in Thwaite, Swaledale

 

The Humber Bridge

 

Clifford’s Tower, York

 

Brimham Rocks

 

Bolton Abbey

 

North Yorkshire Moors village

 

Burton Agnes church

 

Stone barn, Yorkshire Dales

 

East Yorkshire countryside

 

Bishop Burton village, East Yorkshire

 

Bronte Parsonage

 

Knaresborough

 

Our county city of York

 

Lots of these places have inspired me in my writing. All my books are set in Yorkshire, and I love to visit the locations and imagine my characters walking around, living their lives in these beautiful settings. The Kearton Bay books were set on the North Yorkshire coast, around Robin Hood’s Bay and Whitby. This Other Eden is based in the fictional area of Skimmerdale, which was inspired by the real life Swaledale in the northern Yorkshire Dales.

If you’d like to win a signed copy of This Other Eden, just send me your details through the Contact Me page, and I’ll pick one winner at random. Competition closes on Friday evening at 8pm.

Happy Yorkshire Day!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

HOW TO WRITE A REVIEW AND HELP YOUR FAVOURITE AUTHORS

August is write a review month! Authors need reviews. If you’re not sure how to write a review, or you’re worried it won’t be good enough, or you don’t understand why they matter so much, read on!

Lizzie Lamb

Authors know how difficult it is to build a following of loyal readers and to gently persuade those  readers to review their book once they’ve read it. To help redress that, August 2016 has been decreed Write An Amazon Review Month!  By @TerryTyler4 #AugustReviews and we’re going to do our bit to help.

On Monday 25th July, book blogger Rosie Amber wrote this post encouraging readers and writers alike to post a short review on Amazon for any book they’ve read and enjoyed ~ following this up, Terry Tyler is starting this initiative along with other writer-bloggers including Rosie, Cathy from Between The Lines, Barb Taub, Shelley Wilson and Alison Williams. The idea is that, from August 1st, everyone who reads this uses their Amazon account to post just one review on one book that they’ve read (but feel free to carry on if you get in the swing!).  You don’t…

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