Hunting The Eagles By Ben Kane Review by Jan Speedie

Posted on September 5, 2016 by Margaret Graham

This is Ben Kane’s second book in his trilogy about the Roman invasion of Germania. Following his first book covering the invasion of AD9 in which the Roman’s were ambushed and defeated in the Teutoburg Forest. Carefully researched military history, passionate and violent perhaps not for the squeamish or weak hearted.

The first part of ‘Hunting the Eagles’ is planning the revenge for the ambush and the loss of the legions gold Standards. Centurion Tullus, a veteran of many battles, is determined to avenge the loss of 15,000 soldiers and regain his Eagle.

Part 2: Germanicus is now in charge of the Roman forces and planning an invasion of Germania in the autumn of AD14. In Germania, Arminius and the local warriors are determined to repulse the Romans once again. Legions and tribes clash in bloody battle, who will survive, who will conqueror……….

Immerse yourself in this story of Roman legions; it’s cruel, relentless and compelling reading.

Ben Kane was born in Kenya. The family moved to Ireland where Ben completed his education and then studied veterinary medicine at University College, Dublin. Ben always had a passion for ancient history and travelled the world visiting and collecting facts and incredible stores about Roman history. Ben lives in North Somerset with his wife and children.

Published by Arrow in Paperback £6.99

Shelter From The Storm by Ellie Dean

Posted on August 27, 2016 by Tracy Baines

The latest saga set at Beach View Boarding House in Cliffehaven.

It is 1943 and nineteen-year-old April Wilton has joined the WRENS and is busy servicing ships’ engines in Portsmouth. Here she has found freedom, friendship, and fulfilment.

April meets Daniel, a young American soldier, whose mother is Sioux and father is of African descent, The attraction is immediate, and coming from strict racial segregation in South Carolina, Daniel finds the freedom he has in England overwhelming.

But with war and race both involved, their relationship was never going to be simple.

Rejected by her mother and facing an uncertain future she travels to Cliffehaven. However, she carries a secret, one that could change her life for ever.

Can the warmth and support of Peggy Riley and those at Beach View Boarding House heal the wounds of April’s past and bring her hope amid this time of turmoil?

This is my first encounter with the characters of Beach View Boarding House even though it is Ellie Dean’s eleventh family saga. However, it didn’t matter that I hadn’t read any of the others as I was soon swept into the warm and welcoming arms of Peggy Riley and the members of her hotch-potch household. It quite easily stands alone but it did make me curious to find out the back stories of the other members that now reside at Beach View – which can only be a good thing.

Ellie Dean handles a wide range of characters and makes you warm to each one of them – no mean feat at all. She takes us back to a time when life was difficult enough fighting a war and dealing with rationing, let alone the complications that relationships bring. A heartwarming and uplifting story for lovers of family sagas.

www.ellie-dean.co.uk

www.penguin.co.uk

www.tracybaines.co.uk

Mindful Mama: Happy Baby, by Maja Pitamic and Susannah Marriott Book Review

Posted on August 25, 2016 by Catherine Balavage

I have to confess, I haven’t read a lot of parenting books. I keep meaning to, but find it hard to find the time. I managed to find some time for Mindful Mama: Happy Baby as it looked interesting. It has a number of things going for it: it is easy to read, fun and full of ideas. I am not into mediation or mindfulness, but I found the activities interesting and will use some of them with my son. The book has games, songs, dances and outdoor activities. The book breaks the activities down by age and has a development chart too. The book is well-illustrated and has clear instructions. funnily enough, I recognise some of these activities from my own childhood so there are a few classics.

I liked this book and will be doing some of the activities with my little one. This book is fun and educational.

Mindful Mama: Happy Baby is an accessible guide for new parents using mindfulness techniques and Montessori activities to bring calm and confidence to the early parenting years. Susannah Marriott has published a number of successful parenting titles, while Maja Pitamic is a Montessori teacher and author of the best-selling I Can Do It, also published by Modern Books.

Over 60 mindful activities and play ideas for bonding with your child

Sensory games, songs, dances and outdoor activities to share

Advice on nurturing, feeding, bathing, sleeping and carrying

Meditative techniques to relax your mind and keep you calm

Mindful Mama: Happy Baby is a practical and accessible guide for new parents, designed to give you the skills to calmly navigate the early years of child rearing, from birth to three years of age. Mindful parenting makes time for meaningful interactions with your child, which have a profound effect on bonding during the crucial developmental stages.

Emphasis is put on the well-being of both parent and child, as well as the importance of bringing peace and perspective to the emotional whirlwind of having a new baby. As your baby grows into a toddler, the exercises change, allowing this age group to fully explore the world around them and engage their senses in a fun and playful way.

Playing with a child with awareness daily is the most mindful thing we can do as parents. It shows children we are available and passes on the self-acceptance that comes with engaging fully with an activity. As children reveal their personalities and unique ways of doing things so we learn from them, our relationships with them become richer

Both practical and inspiring, Mindful Mama: Happy Baby gives you and your child the building blocks for an enjoyable and mindful first few years.

Maja Pitamic is the author of I Can Do It, the successful Montessori activity book for ages three to five, as well as the co-author of I Can Make Music, Modern Art Adventures and 3D Art Adventures. She has over fifteen years’ experience teaching young children and holds degrees in Art History and Montessori Teacher Training. She currently lives in London.

Susannah Marriott is a freelance author and mother of three. Her books include Green Babycare, Natural Pregnancy, Pregnancy Herbaland The Pregnancy and Baby Book. Her writing has appeared in Weekend Guardian, The Times, The Telegraph, Marie Claire, Zest, Shape, Top Sante, Healthy and Junior. She currently lives in Devon.

Also available in this series:

I Can Do It (Sept 2015) and I Can Make Music (Sept 2015)

Mindful Mama: Happy Baby

0ver 60 calming techniques and creative activities for babies and toddlers

by Maja Pitamic and Susannah Marriott

Published by Modern Books – 25^th August 2016. @modernbooks.

RRP: £12.99

Frost Editor Catherine Balavage Writes Poetry Book

Posted on August 24, 2016 by Frostie

Frost editor Catherine Balavage has released her new book, What Do You Think?: A collection of poems. This is Catherine’s fourth book. She has previously written three non-fiction books on acting, wedding planning and blogging.

In her fourth book Catherine Balavage turns to poetry. A collection of poems that speak from the heart and tell the truth about the world. You will be left nodding your head in agreement and relating to these poems about love, loss and life. The book features poems over the course of Catherine’s life. The first one was published when she was just 12-years-old. The poems cover every aspect of life, from love, motherhood, loss and even mean girls.
Best-selling author Margaret Graham wrote the foreword.

I’ve long thought Catherine Balavage is an extraordinarily accomplished young women: author, writer, editor and actor, mother, wife, and she can add poet to that roll of honour.

In What do you think? a collection of her poems written throughout her still young life, she connects with the vast majority of the human race, as she writes of the struggle to achieve a sense of who a person is, the efforts to release oneself from early angst and stand tall; finally achieving confidence potential and contentment.
In her introduction Catherine says that As an artist it sometimes feels like you are born without skin, yet spend your life rolling around on razor blades. Well, quite.

In What do you think? Catherine has written poems that could be songs – I could hear music. She has written poems beating time with the rhythm in her head, poems hauled up from experience, observation and unflinching, sensitive thought.

A triumph.

What do you think?: A collection of poems by Catherine Balavage is available on Kindle and in print.

Crime Roundup – Books we Mean, we Haven’t Become Vigilantes

Posted on August 22, 2016 by Margaret Graham

It’s summer and Frost has had a great time reading some recent crime novels.

Angela Marsons, who lives with her partner, Labrador and swearing parrot has written a corker:

Silent Scream, a D.I. Kim Stone novel.

D.I. Kim Stone does not excel at people skills, it must be said, but her sidekick Bryant invariably saves the day at that level. However it is Kim who takes her team to the edge of what is allowed, and strays over in order to get to the truth of things. In doing so her past is revealed and explains her own demons. Though this novel has sold a million internationally as an ebook, this is Silent Scream’s first outing in print. Well worth reading, with a good twist at the end. I almost got ‘who dun it’ but not quite. Clever.

Brenda Novak has set Her Darkest Nightmare in Alaska, a place I’d love to visit, so on that level I enjoyed the novel.

But I was also gripped by Novak’s writing and taut plotting. Not sure I could work with psychopaths as Dr Evelyn Talbot does, but she has learnt to live with fear, after being targeted and tortured by her boyfriend as a teenager. Not one to read at bedtime perhaps unless you’ve locked all the doors and windows, and looked under the beds, all of them. But I am a bit of a wimp. It’s one that stays with you. This is the first in a new series from this New York Times bestselling author.

Christopher Farnsworth’s Kill File’s opening sentence made me laugh. I quote:

I know what you’re thinking. Most of the time, it’s not impressive. Trust me.

Oh, I do, I do, if I go by what I read a great deal on social media. Thoughts put down unfiltered…

This contemporary thriller has its foot down all the way, and believe me, it’s driven by an expert: great writing, interesting and refreshingly original concept. John Smith, the main character, has a special gift/curse, he can access other people’s thoughts. It is something John Smith has put it to good use in the past, only to find that his latest investigation lands him in deep water. I really liked this, bit like being on a roller coaster. Well worth taking on holiday.

Anna Smith’s Kill me Twice is a well trodden path, that of secrets threatening to destroy lives from the sink estates of Glasgow to the corridors of Westminster in another case for Rosie Gilmour.

Those who are already fans won’t be disappointed and it should gather in new ones as Rosie ducks and weaves to expose the truth of a presumed suicide – which wasn’t, and there’s sexual abuse too, linking powerful figures across the nation.

The Last Thing I remember by Deborah Bee is intriguing. Frost has already reviewed this, but I thought I’d have another look, and it stays crisp, the tension sharp, and all this right up to the last page.

This is a debut thriller from the Creative Director at Harrods with TV rights already optioned by Alan Moloney’s Parallel Films. I concerns a mugging victim who can’t move, or speak.

I have a friend who has been in just such a state: struck down by a virus she has been aware, but trapped inside her body. Fortunately my friend is recovering, but this is the clever plotting behind The Last Thing I remember.

Sarah has been mugged, and can hear, but not move, or speak. She has to piece together her life by listening to the people around her. Kelly is in the waiting room. She’s just a kid, a schoolgirl, but why is she there? Questions, questions, but slowly the picture is put together.

I really liked this concept. It isn’t an easy one to manage, but Bee’s done it, easy peasy.

Silent Scream by Angela Marsons pub by Zaffre

Her Darkest Nightmare by Brenda Novak pub by Headline

Kill File by Christopher Farnsworth pub by Zaffre

Kill me Twice by Anna Smith pub by Quercus

The Last thing I Remember by Deborah Bee pub by twenty7

An Orphan’s Christmas by Katie Flynn

Posted on August 21, 2016 by Tracy Baines

Katie Flynn’s latest novel will no doubt be eagerly awaited by her many fans. Molly Penelope Hardwick is abandoned and living in Haisborough Orphanage in Liverpool. She befriends another orphan, Lenny Smith and together they sneak out to roam the streets of Liverpool. Flynn gives the reader a gentle insight into life in the orphanage, the rules and regulations, the deprivation and hardship that is met with stoicism and humour. Even though the sun was blazing away outside I was soon swept into the chill winter of 1936.

Molly is feisty and curious and before long runs into trouble. When she is forced to leave the orphanage Lenny has no idea of where she has gone. When war is declared Lenny signs up with the RAF and soon forgets about his childhood pal, turning his focus to fighting the war from the skies.

Molly is desperate to join the war effort and with her sights set on joining the WAAF chances are they will see each other again.

Katie Flynn is the UK’s biggest selling saga author, with every novel a top ten best seller. This is likely to do exactly the same. It’s a warm, feel-good novel, a story that races along leaving you wondering whether the two friends will meet and if they do, will love be in the air? A relaxing, easy read, with lots of twists and turns, lively characters and enough detail to give a flavour of wartime without slowing the story down. A welcome in many a Christmas stocking for sure.

Published by Century on August 25^th

Hardback £20.00

Also available in ebook

www.katieflynn.com

Sweet Tomorrows By Debbie Macombe Reviewed by Jan Speedie

Posted on August 16, 2016 by Margaret Graham

Followers of Debbie Macomber’s stories of life at Rose Harbor Inn will be disappointed to learn that this is the fifth and final book in the series. Debbie has new projects she wants to do so sadly she must say goodbye to Cedar Cove and the people who live there.

Three years ago Jo Marie took over running the Rose Harbor Inn following the death of her husband. Jo Marie has formed a close relationship with Mark Taylor but Mark had to go back to Iraq to complete a dangerous and difficult mission for the Army. It is a year since Mark left Cedar Cove and there has been no news of him; Jo Marie’s heart is in turmoil should she wait and hope for his safe return or move on with her life.

Following a second failed relationship Emily Gaffney comes to stay at Rose Harbor Inn with the intention of finding a new home, starting her new job and absolutely no involvement with men. Emily and Jo Marie form a close friendship and help each other through the difficult times life brings. Can the Rose Harbour Inn work its magic?

A delightful summer read just right for those lazy days on your holidays.

Debbie Macomber is one of today’s bestselling authors with more than 170 million copies of her books in print worldwide. She has also produced two cookery books and two books for children. In 2013 the Cedar Cove series successfully debuted on US cable TV. Apart from her writing Debbie is also spokesperson for World Visions ‘Knit for Kids’ charity initiative. Debbie and her husband Wayne live in Port Orchard, Washington and winter in Florida.

Published by Arrow in paperback on 11^th August 2016 – £5.99

Ruby Slippers – by Tracy Baines Reviewed by Margaret Graham

Posted on August 15, 2016 by Margaret Graham

Tracy Baines has put together a collection of short stories previously published in Woman’s Weekly, My Weekly, Take A Break, Best and People’s Friend.

It is fascinating to read short stories written for women friendly magazines, stories that explore the everyday relationships of families, couples and friends.

This collection is filled with realistically imagined characters coping with life’s rich pattern, sometimes with aplomb, sometimes almost in spite of themselves, but always with humour and courage. I suppose that’s much as we all do, and this is the key to this collection, because Tracy Baines has a great understanding of women. To this end she has created real worlds with a few strokes of her pen.

Baines is such an expert at her craft that she hits the nail on the head for each one of her readers. Indeed, she has real understanding of the women’s magazine market, so much so that the short stories seem to flow effortlessly onto the page, solving the problem for the main character. But not just solving the problems of the main character, but through these stories she brings some sort of clarity to the muddle of our own lives. I said earlier, ‘effortlessly’ but bet it isn’t, because writing is a craft, and it takes time and application to achieve this level of expertise.

Tracy Baines has got this expertise, in spades. Read Ruby Slippers and enjoy.

Whether you are a reader or a writer, do note that Tracy will be tutoring a Short Story workshop on September 25^th 2016 at High Wycombe – so maybe attend and see behind the scenes of short story writing.

Writers’ Short Story Workshop: www.wordsforthewounded.co.uk

Her book will be available there, or find it on Amazon.co.uk

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