Last post

I've been thinking about this for some time, and have finally made the difficult decision to announce that I no longer see myself as a book blogger. I have not used this blog for some time as to be honest I have lost my reading mojo and found that blogging became something of a chore, rather than something that I enjoyed.
I took a break last year and haven't really returned to book blogging. Particularly when you compare with the level of activity I had last year when I felt like the blog was helping me to thrive.
A number of factors have pushed my decision on this, including IT issues (although I now have a shiny new laptop!), lack of time and a lot of stress from the day job and of course, lack of enjoyment.
I've had a great time in the world of book bloggers over the last few years, but it's now time for me to move on. I have set up a new blog for when the mood takes me over at sheliadventures.wordpress.com. I wanted somewhere that would be a bit more like a lifestyle blog where I could talk about all the things that I enjoy or experience, or just have a rant! And I won't rule out reviewing books there if I feel the need. You can also keep up with me at my main twitter account @Sheliruss.
I hope some of you keep in touch and keep up with some of my adventures outside of the world of books!


Sheli

The Page

Following a tragic car accident, Michael Sewell is alone for the first time. The loss of his wife, Margaret, after thirty years of marriage has left a hole far greater than Michael could have imagined.

Persuaded to go on holiday by his daughter Jane, he's at the pool when a page blown from a book sticks to his chest. The words from the page resonate with Michael, describing in detail the exact events leading up to the accident. Now, Michael must delve into his past and face his future, taking him and his family on a horrifying and tragic journey toward the truth…

The Page combines dark humour with a racing storyline, as the reader tries to work out what will happen to the main character before he does. M. Jonathan Lee has been compared to Mark Haddon, Nick Hornby and Rachel Joyce.
My review: I read Jonathan's debut novel The Radio about 18 months ago and was pleasantly surprised about how much I enjoyed the book and was looking forward to the next instalment! So when Jonathan contacted me to read the next book in the trilogy, The Page, I jumped at the chance! I also have to apologise for the amount of time it took me to get round to this review, life has got in the way recently!
The Page isn't a direct follow on from The Radio, and can be read as a standalone book (although you should definitely read both!). Michael loses his wife in a car accident and suddenly has to do things for himself after many years of marriage. Unfortunately for his daughter Jane, that means that he is spending more time with her and relying on her more, so she books him a holiday abroad in the hope that he will relax and gain some more independence.
Michael is an intensely unlikeable character, but Jonathan has triumphed in ensuring that such horrible person kept my attention and didn't make me hate him so much that I wanted to disengage. The right balance was struck between me disliking him and still wanting to know more.
I really liked the whole concept of this book. The page from a book blew across the poolside and Michael picked it up. When he read this lone page, it detailed the run up to the real events of the accident that killed his wife and made him need to track down the rest of this book that paralleled the events of his own life. It's such a clever idea and I've never read anything quite like it.
I really enjoyed this book and am already looking forward to the next one. I'd really recommend reading both of Jonathan's books to anyone. The Page will keep you intrigued from start to finish and will keep you wanting more by the end!
My rating: A fab five stars
I received an advance review copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review

Blog tour: The Little Christmas Kitchen

 

Today I'm hosting a guest post from the very lovely Jenny Oliver who is stopping by as part of her blog tour for her new book, The Little Christmas Kitchen.

 

The Night Before Christmas - Jenny Oliver

Since the year my entire family went out on Christmas Eve, each off to their respective parties, leaving fifteen year old me alone with a stack of presents to wrap and a ruined dream of a cosy family evening together, I have always made sure I have something to do on Christmas Eve!

No longer at dreadful teenage parties (nothing worse than waking up on Christmas Day with a Smirnoff Ice hangover) I usually spend Christmas Eve at one of our local hostelries. All my friends who live locally come as well as my sister, her flatmate, my parents, my husband’s parents and anyone else who happens to be in or near the vicinity.

We used to go to this little oldie world pub with a landlord who looked like Father Christmas. He’d serve crisps in a wicker basket with every drink we ordered and at ten o’clock he’d bring round platters of dubious looking canapés that no one ever ate more than one of. But the food aside, it was a cute little local pub where we’d bump into old school friends, their parents, our old newsagent who hadn’t seen us since we were nine or ten and on occasion one of the stars of Rainbow!

But then someone suggested somewhere different and texts and emails changed the venue. The in-laws weren’t happy - they liked the other place. My parents didn’t mind - they’d heard good things about the new place. Friends with a new baby were ok with it, as long as there was somewhere quiet to park the sleeping sprog. But it was only when we got there that we realised there’d be no dodgy canapés or crisps in a basket at the new pub. Instead there were loads of teenagers propping up the bar, really loud and downing shots. The tables were tiny to encourage everyone to stand - this was no cosy Christmas Eve drink. So crammed in our little corner, someone suggested Midnight Mass instead.

I like nothing more than a church at Christmas. And so, the ones of us who fancied a bit carol singing, left the pub and crossed the road to the church. Inside it was dark and cool. Fairy lights were strung between the arches and candles flickered in sconces. Children sat by the box of toys and babbled away, while we wedged ourselves into the back pew with the ancient song sheet, late like naughty school kids.

I’m sure that some regular parishioners frown upon a once yearly church visit but for those of us who only ever pop in, it’s lovely to know that you can. To feel a Christmas togetherness and hear your slightly tipsy dad belting out carols! Next to us were two women weeping, obviously remembering something or someone special, and the bittersweetness of their silent tears alongside the carols, the candles and the battered nativity was heartbreakingly lovely.

Perhaps the beauty of Christmas Eve is that ability to be together - with friends and family, strangers and neighbours - whether in the pub with the baskets of crisps or the church with the faded song sheet.  

How do you spend your Christmas Eve? Tweet me, I’d love to know @JenOliverBooks

 

Jenny’s latest novel THE LITTLE CHRISTMAS KITCHEN is out now.

Hungry for more? Try THE VINTAGE SUMMER WEDDING and THE PARISIAN CHRISTMAS BAKE-OFF, which also available in paperback.

Blog Tour: Mistletoe Mansion

I'm very pleased to host a guest post from one of my favourite authors, Samantha Tonge. The blurb for her latest book Mistletoe Mansion is at the bottom of this post.

                                        Many Parts Make up a Whole

 Before becoming a novelist, I used to sell short stories to women’s magazines and whilst writing a book is quite different, it still incorporates a number of smaller tales. Take Mistletoe Mansion, for example, which is about Kimmy, a wannabe celebrity, who lands a housesitting job at a supposedly haunted house, whilst trying to launch her own cupcake business… There is more to the whole novel than this basic plot. We follow her relationship with conservative boyfriend Adam, her new friendship with golfing Wag, Melissa, and her confrontations with arrogant handyman Luke. Then there’s the unfurling of the strange happenings at Mistletoe Mansion, plus the intrigue of what the sociable husband of loyal Melissa is up to behind her back… And, of course, there is cake, cake and more cake – all with a Christmas theme, of course!

In fact, I think a novel is a bit like the appearance of a Christmas tree, which strikes you with one whole image, yet is made up off all the individual decorations, the closer you look. Our family tree might look a little bit messy – it’s not colour co-ordinated with matching tinsel. But I like it as each decoration has its own history – like the bauble bought for our daughter, when she was born. There are glittery paper decorations made by the kids whilst at nursery, and Disney baubles they loved to hang up each year. Some decorations are wooden, or glass, one lights up, a few have faded, but each one holds a place in our hearts. Each year we chuckle at the crowning glory, a plush Rudolph the Reindeer, who sits at the very top, his red nose lit up by a fairy light. And, of course the chocolates are very important, as are the multi-coloured garlands of tinsel – some threadbare, some new.

As I gaze at our tree, during December evenings, each part of it sparks a different memory and brings a smile. It’s not immaculate in condition but – like family life – shows it’s been through a bit of rough and tumble!

So if you read my feel-good Christmas novel, Mistletoe Mansion, I hope you enjoy all the subplots and smaller stories, so that the overall picture is enjoyable and fun!

 

Bio

Samantha Tonge lives in Cheshire with her lovely family, and two cats who think they are dogs. When not writing, she spends her days cycling and willing cakes to rise. She has sold over 80 short stories to women’s magazines. Her bestselling debut novel, Doubting Abbey, was shortlisted for the Festival of Romantic Fiction best Ebook award in 2014. Its fun standalone sequel is From Paris with Love. Mistletoe Mansion stars a new set of characters and is for fans of cupcakes and Christmas!

Kimmy Jones has three loves: cupcakes, gossip magazines and dreaming of getting fit just by owning celeb workouts.

When Kimmy’s Sensible Boyfriend told her he didn’t approve of her longing for the high life or her dream of starting a cupcake company Kimmy thought she could compromise – after all, she did return those five-inch Paris Hilton heels! But asking her to trade in cake-making for a job sorting potatoes is a step too far.

So, newly single - and newly homeless – Kimmy needs a dusting of Christmas luck. And, masquerading as a professional house sitter, her new temporary home is the stunning Mistletoe Mansion. Soon she’s best buds with glamorous next door golf WAG Melissa, and orders are pouring in for her fabulous Merry Berry cupcakes! The only thorn in her side is handsome handyman Luke, a distraction she definitely doesn’t need. And talking of distractions, something very odd is going on at night…

Kimmy is finally living the life she’s always wanted. But will her glimpse into the glittering lifestyle of the rich and famous be as glamorous as she’s always imagined…?

Links

Twitter: https://twitter.com/SamTongeWriter

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SamanthaTongeAuthor

Website: http://samanthatonge.co.uk/

Doubting abbey Blog: http://doubtingabbey.blogspot.co.uk/

AmazonUK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Mistletoe-Mansion-Samantha-Tonge-ebook/dp/B00O56X3HM/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1412419104&sr=1-1&keywords=Mistletoe+mansion

AmazonUS: http://www.amazon.com/Mistletoe-Mansion-Samantha-Tonge-ebook/dp/B00O56X3HM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1412419236&sr=8-1&keywords=mistletoe+mansion

 

 

 

Book extract - Doctor Grimm's Notebook: Rapunzel

There were once a man and a woman who had long in vain wished for a child. At length the woman hoped that God was about to grant her desire. These people had very little but from the window at the back of their house a splendid garden could be seen, which was full of the most beautiful flowers and herbs. It was, however, surrounded by a high wall, and no one dared to go into it because it belonged to a sorceress, who had great power and was dreaded by the entire world. One day the woman became sick and began to die.

“What aileth thee, dear wife?” the man asked in grief.

“Ah,” she replied, “if I can’t get some of the herbs which are in the garden behind our house, to eat, I shall die.”

The man, who loved her, thought, Sooner than let thy wife die, bring her some of the healing herbs thyself—let it cost thee what it will.

In twilight of evening, he clambered down over the wall into the garden of the sorceress, hastily clutched a handful of herbs, and took it to his wife. She at once made herself a salad of it, and ate it with much relish. She, however, liked it so much, so very much, that the next day she longed for it three times as much as before. If he was to have any rest, her husband must once more descend into the garden. In the gloom of evening, therefore, he let himself down again; but when he had clambered down the wall he was terribly afraid, for he saw the sorceress standing before him.

“How canst thou dare,” said she with an angry look, “to descend into my garden and steal my herbs like a thief? Thou shalt suffer for it!”

“Ah,” answered he, “let mercy take the place of justice. I only made up my mind to do it out of necessity. My wife would have died without the magic they contained.”

Then the sorceress allowed her anger to be softened, and said to him, “If the case be as thou sayest, I will allow thee to take away with thee as much herbs as thou wilt, only I make one condition. Thou must give me the child which thy wife will bring into the world; it will be well treated, and I will care for it like a mother.” The man in his terror consented to everything, and when the little one came to them the sorceress appeared at once, gave the child the name of Rapunzel, and took it away with her.

Rapunzel grew into the palest and most withdrawn child for, when she was twelve years old, the sorceress shut her into a tower, which lay in a forest, and had neither stairs nor door, but quite at the top was a little window. When the sorceress wanted to go in, she placed herself beneath this and cried,

“Rapunzel, Rapunzel, let down thy hair to me.”

Rapunzel had neglected and matted, yet strong, long hair, as steady as rope, and when she heard the voice of the sorceress she unfastened her braided tresses, wound them round one of the hooks of the window above, and then the hair fell twenty ells down, and the sorceress climbed up by it. After a year or two, it came to pass that the King’s son rode through the forest and went by the tower. Then he heard a song, which was so charming that he stood still and listened. This was Rapunzel, who in her solitude passed her time in letting her sweet voice resound. The King’s son wanted to climb up to her, and looked for the door of the tower, but none was to be found. He rode home, but the singing had so deeply touched his heart that every day he went out into the forest and listened to it. Once when he was thus standing behind a tree, he saw that the sorceress came there, and he heard how she cried,

“Rapunzel, Rapunzel, let down thy hair to me.”

Then Rapunzel let down the braids of her hair, and the sorceress climbed up to her. “If that is the ladder by which one mounts, I will for once try my fortune,” said he, and the next day, when it began to grow dark, he went to the tower and cried,

“Rapunzel, Rapunzel, let down thy hair to me.”

Immediately the hair fell down and the King’s son climbed up.

At first Rapunzel was terribly frightened when a man as her eyes had never yet beheld came to her, but the King’s son began to talk to her quite like a friend, and told her that his heart had been so stirred that it had let him have no rest, and he had been forced to see her. Then Rapunzel lost her fear, and when he asked her if she would take him for her husband, and she saw that he was young and handsome, she thought, He will love me more than the sorceress, and she said yes, and laid her hand in his. She said, “I will willingly go away with thee.”

Rapunzel laid down her hair for the prince to descend but in his excitement he slipped and, caught in Rapunzel’s hair, his neck did snap. The sorceress returned home to find the hanging prince and Rapunzel sobbing by the window.

“Ah! Thou wicked child,” cried the sorceress. “What do I hear thee say? I thought I had separated thee from all the world, and yet thou hast deceived me!” In her anger she clutched Rapunzel’s beautiful tresses, wrapped them twice round her left hand, seized a pair of scissors with the right, and snip, snip, they were cut off, and the lovely braids lay on the ground. Rapunzel, in a rage, picked up the scissors and buried them deep into the sorceress, who died. It was weeks before Rapunzel was found and by that time all sanity had fled. Rapunzel was removed from the tower and taken to the asylum, where she had been ever since.

From THE ASYLUM OF FAIRY TALE CREATURES, free for a limited time on Amazon, Apple and other retailers.

Sebastian’s latest book THE BOY IN THE CEMETERY is only £0.99 for a limited time on Amazon, Apple and other retailers.

THE GRUESOME ADVENTURES OF ALICE IN UNDEADLAND is also £0.99 for a limited time on Amazon, Apple and other retailers.

 

 

Look out for A CHRISTMAS HORROR STORY, coming in December.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I'm back!!

I've done a lot of thinking during my month long blog break and have come to the conclusion that I do want to continue blogging, but as it's my hobby then it needs to be on my terms.

As a result I have amended my review policy, so please pop over to the page and check it out. The main thing I ask is that the time is taken to read one page of text from me before asking me to read a book. A small thing to ask I hope!

I will continue to write reviews, with an aim to have at least one post a week. If there are more than this then it is a bonus, but with at least one post a week then my blog will continue to live. I will also continue to take part in blog tours and post guest posts and reviews as I really enjoy this element  of blogging and like to help out my author and publisher friends wherever I can.

So, I'm back in the blogging world and want to continue having fun enjoying my lifelong hobby of reading and sharing my thoughts with others!

Sheli xx

Blogging break

I've decided to take a blogging break.

I was originally going to take a month long holiday from blogging, but I've really been struggling recently. Reading, blogging and reviewing are a hobby, but I've found that I am suddenly facing more deadlines than in my day job, and it's just losing some of the fun.

So, I've decided to take an indefinite blogging break. I'm not sure if and when I will return as yet, but I need to take some time away from the pressurised aspects of blogging and reviewing and just enjoy what has always been my hobby and my escape.

I hope that I will return as I've really enjoyed lots of aspects of blogging, even though it has had it's ups and downs. I just need to reassess what I want, whether it is still part of my life, and if I do return, I will be taking a very close look at my review policy to ensure that my hobby stays about me.

I have met some great people through blogging and know I will stay friends with them.

Hopefully this post isn't goodbye. Maybe just adieu.

If you want to get in contact with me, please tweet or email me.

Sheli x