Welcome to Friday’s Christmas Book Fair with another group of talented authors with books that would make perfect gifts.
The first authors are Jaye Marie who with her writing partner Anita Dawes operate a two women blog promotion scheme.. they are very generous..So very pleased to feature both their books today.
Books by Jaye Marie
A review for The Apple Blossom
Helpful for sufferers of breast cancer By MegaReader on 19 October 2017I did wonder why there was a picture of apple blossom on the front cover of this book, which is a very short (14 pages) but factual story of the author’s thoughts and feelings on her diagnosis and treatment for breast cancer (the treatments are not described in too much detail). However, the significance of the apple blossom became apparent as I read on. I finished the book in 20 minutes, and can sympathise entirely with Jaye Marie’s dread of radiotherapy, as I underwent 30 of these treatments myself for a different type of cancer earlier this year.
I would have liked the book to have been a little bit longer, and would have liked to read more about the after-effects of radiotherapy and whether the author suffered from on-going tiredness and lymphoedema (swelling due to bad lymph drainage) for example. After-effects can linger for years, and it would be interesting to find out if radiotherapy for different types of cancers all give similar after-effects.
The book was well formatted, and I found only a couple of typos. Doctors, nurses and radiologists try their best to make us as comfortable as possible during our treatment, but at the end of the day a course of radiotherapy is something that ultimately augments a cancer sufferer’s capability to endure. We can take along CD’s to try and blot out the clicking of the tomography machine, but it is unfortunately an endurance test. Well done to Jaye Marie though, for passing the test with flying colours!
Read the reviews and and buy the books: https://www.amazon.com/Jaye-Marie/e/B00O2ZUFOK
and Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Jaye-Marie/e/B00O2ZUFOK
Read more reviews and follow Jaye Marie on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8638857.Jaye_Marie
Books by Anita Dawes
One of the recent reviews for The Scarlet Ribbon
Haunting and beautiful – a story that will stay with you By Kats on 15 September 2017It’s rare these days to find an original concept in fiction but Anita Dawes has created an unusual story here. Maggie has been knocked down by a car and is in a coma, aware of her surroundings but unable to communicate. While in the coma, she also occupies an alternate world somewhere between life and death. Here she meets David and Annie, two characters who will continue to haunt her when she emerges from her coma.
The novel is beautifully written and the characterization is strong; the reader is rooting for Maggie from the start. It took me a little while to get into this story but from the point Maggie comes out of her coma I couldn’t put it down. The whole premise is thought provoking and I’d particularly recommend it to people who are interested in concepts of the afterlife. In particular, the ending will stay with me for a long time.
Read the reviews and buy the books: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Anita-Dawes/e/B0034NUE10/
And Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/Anita-Dawes/e/B0034NUE10
Read more reviews and follow Anita on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6586480.Anita_Dawes
Connect to Jaye and Anita via their website: http://jenanita01.wordpress.com
The next author that has some wonderful books for all year let alone Christmas is Paulette Mahurin with her recent release The Day I Saw The Hummingbird.
About the book
On the eve of his tenth birthday, a young slave’s life is turned upside down. The unthinkable events that led up to the day Oscar Mercer saw a hummingbird test the limits of this young boy’s body, mind and soul. Gripped with fear and filled with anger, Oscar faces raw, crushing hatred aimed at him and everyone he loves. In a time when a nation was ripped apart geographically, economically, politically and morally, comes a story of a courageous boy who began life as a slave on a sugarcane plantation in Louisiana and escapes via The Underground Railroad.
Through the efforts and good will of kind, brave people determined to free slaves, Oscar faces devastating obstacles and dangers. Struggling with his inner impulse to seek revenge for the injustices and violence levied on his family and friends, he discovers that in bondage you pray to God, but in freedom, you meet Him.
From the award-winning, best-selling author of The Seven Year Dress comes a story that brings another cadre of memorable characters alive on pages that pulse with hatred and kindness, cruelty and compassion, despair and hope. Oscar’s journey on the Underground Railroad is a heart-pounding ride that the reader will remember long after this story ends.
One of the recent excellent reviews
Fantastic By Billy on December 14, 2017Paulette Mahurin has delivered another fantastic celebration of the human spirit in this latest novel. From the uplifting cover to the perceptive reflections, this is a well written and insightful look at a bygone era. You know a gifted writer when you’re left wanting more and when you’re still thinking about some of what the characters have endured after you finish reading.
What I especially loved is that it showed the very real impact of the subject matter. There’s no real flat resolution, but rather the suggestion that life is life and that it will rumble on out with these pages. That’s not to say that it doesn’t have a sublime conclusion, because it really does. It’s really hard to find fault because the story, the characters and the writing itself is so moving.
If you haven’t read any of Mahurin’s work, you should check it out. This isn’t my first experience of this very gifted lady, and I’m certain it won’t be my last.
Read all of the reviews and buy the book: https://www.amazon.com/Day-Saw-Hummingbird-Novel-ebook/dp/B075QMKXQS
And Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B075QMKXQS Also by Paulette Mahurin
Read all the reviews and BUY the books: https://www.amazon.com/Paulette-Mahurin/e/B008MMDUGO/
And Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Paulette-Mahurin/e/B008MMDUGO/
Profits from Paulette’s books go to help rescue dogs from kill shelters.
Read more reviews and follow Paulette on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5895757.Paulette_Mahurin
Connect to Paulette:https://thepersecutionofmildreddunlap.wordpress.com/
If you are looking for a gift for a poetry lover then I now have a couple of collections for you. The first is from Ritu Bhathal with one of the recent reviews for her collection Poetic Rituals.
About Poetic Rituals.
Delve into a book of verse exploring different topics and different genres, all with a RITUal twist.
A collection of poetry drawing on the experiences of the writer, ranging from matters of the heart, love for the family, situations in life and some verses written with a humorous twist.
One of the recent reviews for the collection on Goodreads
M.J. J Mallon rated it Four Stars on October 26th 2017
Ritu Bhathal’s collection of poems is accessible, easy readable poetry that warms the heart and keeps you smiling. It would appeal to everyone. It’s not high brow, it’s very down to earth, human and touches upon so many topics that readers will relate to – such as the trials and tribulations of bringing up children, family life, and relationships. It’s very witty, and made me smile in lots of places.
The chapter headings give you an excellent indication of the breadth of poems covered:
Family Rituals, (children, motherhood, being a daughter and sibling, even a few poems about cats!)
Life Rituals – Life, Different cultures, Christmas and positivity – and Ritu’s poem But I Smile Anyway that is the title of her blog.
Rituals of The Heart. Tender first love and sizzling passion too !
Rituals to make you Smile. Lots of witty ones in this section!
Would I recommend it? Indeed I would. I rate it 4 stars, a very lovely collection of poems.
Read all the reviews and buy the collection: https://www.amazon.com/Poetic-RITUals-Ritu-Bhathal/dp/1533088020
and other reviews on Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Poetic-RITUals-Ritu-Bhathal-ebook/dp/B01H46DN5Q
Read more reviews and follow Ritu on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30843440-poetic-rituals
Connect to Ritu via her blog: https://butismileanyway.com/
The next poet, who is also a huge supporter to many of us here in blog world, is Natalie Ducey and her latest collection of poetry The Heart’s Lullaby
About The Heart’s Lullaby
The Heart’s Lullaby is a candid portrayal of love in all its splendor and pain. Love, in its purest form, is tranquil and soothes the soul. But love, as is life, can sometimes be cruel and unjust with its paths of uncertainty and forced goodbyes. In essence, it is a journey of self-discovery. A continuous journey of becoming. Often, it becomes a delicate dance of holding on and letting go.
We linger in memories of ill-fated love; our minds can easily soil them, and our hearts can effortlessly polish them to perfection, altering their resemblance entirely. We can anchor ourselves to yesterday by zealous choice or solemn grief. So easily, we can become obsessed with what “might have been” and miss the beauty that lies before us. Our minds craft spectacular moments that will never be realized. Why? Is it self-indulgence, or are they necessary companions for our soul’s survival?
Love, its force so formidable, transcends time, distance, and even death. Eternal love is the epitome of its grandeur.
To feel the exquisite, majestic splendor of love is the greatest gift we can give or receive. To have another see the unique beauty in our imperfections, that will protect us and elevate us without greed or envy, a soul willing and proud to walk this journey of life with us and share in its joys and sorrows … this is love, a gift unmeasurable and unmatched by earthly possessions.
But two souls must be willing. Therein lies the intricate complexities of the heart. And in the end, we must never forget … love, as is life, is a continuous journey of becoming.
A recent review for The Heart’s Lullaby
This book of heartfelt poetry is gorgeous. Once you get started into reading these poems you can get a deep feel for the author’s emotion she engraves into her beautiful words. Her poetry revolves around life and matters of the heart and in the second part Ducey shares some more intimate passages dedicated to more concrete issues such as PTSD, Dementia, and tributes to her own family members.
If you’re looking for a short time out from chaos and need to rejuvenate with some poetic words of inspiration I recommend reading this book.
Read the other reviews and buy the collection: https://www.amazon.com/Hearts-Lullaby-candid-portrayal-splendor-ebook/dp/B072TMDGRB
and on Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Hearts-Lullaby-candid-portrayal-splendor-ebook/dp/B072TMDGRB
Also by Natalie Ducey
Read all the reviews and buy the books: https://www.amazon.com/Natalie-Ducey/e/B014XNEG8G
and on Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Natalie-Ducey/e/B014XNEG8
Read all the reviews and follow Natalie on Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13534715.Natalie_Ducey
Connect to Natalie via her blog: https://natalieducey.com/
Thank you so much for dropping in today and I hope that you enjoyed the selection of books. Thanks Sally
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