Let the Light Shine – Review

There is something exciting and yet almost worrying when a favourite author has a new book out – you’ve loved all their other work but what if this new one is a flop?? I had that feeling when I got hold of this latest release by Nick Alexander… would this be the one I would class “not as good as his others…” Read on to find out!

Let the Light Shine by Nick Alexander

Blurb: From Nick Alexander, the #1 bestselling author of The Photographer’s Wife & The Other Son.

Penny and Victoria are about as different as two siblings can be, one with a smart London lifestyle, the other struggling to make ends meet.

But they are joined by more than blood, and their shared tragic past is affecting the present more than they realise.
When events begin to tug at the fabric beneath which dark secrets are hidden, the resulting chaos threatens to tear the two families apart.
Could there be aspects of the past that youngest child Penny doesn’t remember?
Could the truth of Marge be more complex than the beloved mother the girls choose to perceive?
And could the true story of that terrible Christmas be the key to understanding Victoria, Marge, and much much more?

A moving new drama from Nick Alexander, Let The Light Shine is a tale of sisterhood, resilience and hope that will have you hooked to the gripping end.

Rating: 5/5

My thoughts: All families have their secrets – but not all members of the family always know what those secrets are. Penny and Victoria may have shared a childhood but their lives went off in very different directions.  On the surface Victoria has it all – the money and comfortable life, while her younger sister Penny works all hours to support her family, and a husband who is searching for artistic inspiration in all the wrong places. But looks can be deceiving. Victoria is struggling with past events that have remained buried for too long, while Penny is generally happier than her “more successful” sister.

In this novel Nick Alexander has demonstrated one of his great strengths – writing characters and relationships you can really believe in, so much so that there were times when I wanted to shake one or other of the characters. There were also times when I had to wipe away a few tears before carrying on.

Secrets can never remain a secret forever though – and when the truth starts to be revealed the sisters will either be torn apart forever or be closer than before… only time will tell which.

Another great read from a wonderful author, as with all good books I was sorry to get to the end but ultimately satisfied by the story’s conclusion 🙂

 

Buy your copy today: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Let-Light-Shine-Nick-Alexander-ebook/dp/B01HT64G84/ref=sr_1_3_twi_kin_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1471890770&sr=8-3&keywords=nick+alexander

 

 

#RRBCPIF – Lizzie Chantree

Hello and welcome to the second installment of my Rave Reviews Book Club Pay It Forward posts and today I would like to introduce you to Lizzie Chantree.

Let me tell you a little about Lizzie, now I hope you are sitting down and don’t have cold feet ’cause this lady will well and truly blow your socks off! Lizzie describes herself as an enthusiastic inventor, businesswoman and artist. (It can’t just be me who is amazed at the idea of a “real life” inventor!) She founded her first company at the age of 17 (seventeen??? wowzers!) and has been creating products and driving her family mad ever since.

She has appeared on Sky News, ITV Lunchtime News, This Morning, The Gloria Hunniford show, The Big Breakfast, BBC’s Worldwide Radio Service, amongst others for becoming one of Fair Play London’s Female Innovators for inventing Runaway Spray, a ‘ladder’ stop spray for hosiery. (Now there is an invention we all need!)

She lives in Essex, with her gorgeous family and a very unusual dog.  In between the school run and baking cakes (or burning them!), she sits in her rooftop studio daydreaming about gaps in the market and how she can fill them. (Can we all come and sit in that studo? It sounds like heaven!)

Lizzie has have written sizzling beach read; Babe Driven, Medical intrigue novel; Love’s Child and magical romance; Finding Gina. Her latest novel is set in the school playground and is about some very unusual school mums!

So I think we need to hear more about those books don’t we?

Babe Driven: Harriet’s crazily successful business idea is under serious threat, and the danger seems to be coming from inside her own family. She whisks her sister and her friends away to an exotic location to try and work out whose side they are on. It’s time to start damage limitation.

When the girls arrive at the glorious villa owned by Harriet’s maverick business partner Nikki, they find a gorgeous band and their sexy lead singer Max staying next door, out to entice their new neighbours into all kinds of trouble.

This isn’t a holiday for Harriet and she can’t afford to be distracted. She has to sell her business idea to the powerful resort owner, the elusive Mr Grant, while she is there, or she may not have a business to go back to. Harriet will have to choose between family and friends, business or pleasure. For someone who stays out of the limelight, even though her new company is the hottest ticket in town, she’s going to have to avoid the front pages of every newspaper if she wants to survive the ride!
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Babe-Driven-Lizzie-Chantree-ebook/dp/B00FAUT0SS/

 

Love’s Child: Jemima Trent is desperate to have a designer baby to keep up with her socialite friends, reconnect with her work-obsessed husband, Lucas, and regain some respect from her domineering father, but the number of women able to conceive each year is in decline and no one seems to know why.

Dr Cole believes that the answer can be found in a warehouse full of delinquent teenagers, where David Love and his beautiful girlfriend Tilly, have been hitting the headlines for turning youngsters’ lives around. Dr Cole’s violent and callous employer will stop at nothing to discover the reason behind their success and why girls at the warehouse are able to fall pregnant.

Jemima finally tries to step out of her father’s shadow, but discovers they are more alike than she could ever imagine. David and Tilly race to protect a secret they have held for years, that could have a bearing on family life for generations to come. An action packed love story, with powerful men and formidable women.

Lies, deceit and betrayal, all in the name of love!
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Loves-Child-Lizzie-Chantree-ebook/dp/B011236ZC0/

 

Finding Gina: Gina had traversed the breadth of the country in her little campervan to try and find everyone on her grandmother’s list, before her father drunk himself into an early grave. She lent down and pulled the battered and worn journal from her bag and opened it to the latest page. The neatly written names were etched onto her heart and she was determined to visit every single one and compensate them in some way. Her family’s debt had to be repaid.

Toby, heir to Bluebell Manor, couldn’t believe his luck when a flame haired beauty arrived at his door. Just when he thought all hope was lost! Looking for somewhere to stay for the night, Gina’s decision to turn left on a country lane, might have greater consequences than she could ever realise.

Lewis read another provincial story about a ‘guardian angel’ who had been helping families across the country and his reporter’s nose began to itch. He was sure that if he could track down the girl they were talking about, he would unearth an even bigger story. He just had to work out how to locate her and then find out what it was that she was running from!
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Finding-Gina-Lizzie-Chantree-ebook/dp/B01ETBS782/

And if that wasn’t enough – you can even watch book trailers:  https://lizziechantree.com/book-trailers/

So, if you want to find out a little more about Lizzie then you can connect with her:
On her Website:  www.lizziechantree.wordpress.com
On Twitter:  @Lizzie_Chantree
On Facebook:  www.facebook.com/LizzieChantree

#RRBCPIF – Lisa Mackay

Well it’s that time again when the folks at Rave Review Book Club put aside their self promotion and spend a day or two (or three) “paying it forward” by concentrating on a fellow author.

In this vein I would like to introduce you to Lisa Mackay.

Lisa is the author of  the adult romance SEXY M.F. Series
A Contemporary Romance Trilogy which comprises:
Book 1 – M.F.
Book 2 – Missing Foxx
Book 3 – Mine Forever

She describes herself as a freelance writer and author oh but that is not all. During her very busy and exciting career as a singer/songwriter, performer and musician travelling the globe for the last twenty-odd years, she also completed a course at the National Film & Television School in the U.K. (Anyone else impressed!! Wowzers!)

She has also directed a pilot for television and worked as a Script Supervisor for acclaimed and esteemed British director and screenwriter Jane Gull.

As a creative individual, when she retired from performing she realised her passion for writing was becoming much too strong to ignore, so took the leap and embarked on her first adult contemporary romance novel M.F. (Book 1 of the Sexy M.F. Series)one of many more to come in that genre.  Yes, this is one very impressive lady!

So let’s discover a little about these books shall we 🙂

Sexy MF Book 1: Young photographer Vivienne Banks could never be accused of throwing caution to the wind. ‘Cautious’ could be her middle name!
A tragic childhood colours her future and trust must be earned. When her love life hits the rocks, Vivienne hits the bar with devastating consequences.
In his sights already, gorgeous billionaire philanthropist Maxwell Foxx comes to her rescue. But who is rescuing whom and at what price?
Will Vivienne ever truly understand the significance of the M.F. tattoo over Max’s heart?
And will Max ever be able to move on from the ghosts in his past, and the bonds that tie him to another?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0129IKC4Y

Missing Foxx- Sexy MF Book 2: Following a lead on Monica, Max has flown down to Portsmouth in the hope of finally bringing her to justice for the death of Charlie his beloved nephew.
Justice seems to have been served when he arrives to find her and Steve one of his trusted employees, dead in a hotel room.

Monica’s death has finally given him closure and released him from the confines of her
‘unbreakable bond’.
She no longer poses a threat to those he loves and knowing that Vivienne’s finally ready to accept his proposal of marriage, life just couldn’t be better.

On her own in the penthouse waiting for Max to return, Vivienne stumbles upon an intruder.
The shock and surprise that it’s someone she knows only too well is compounded by the realisation that no one is going to save her. No one knows she’s in danger. Least of all Max.
Frightened and defenceless Vivienne has no choice but to face the intruder alone and accept her fate.
But who would want to hurt her? Or is Max their ultimate target? If so, she will sacrifice everything to protect him.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01BLTB4JE

Mine Forever – Sexy MF Book 3: Vivienne has everything she could ever wish for, including the heart of her sexy, gorgeous, paramour. Max has proposed, vowing to fiercely love her for every moment of every day until forever. Against all odds and any hope she’s also pregnant with his babies.
Finding out that he’s secretly planned a romantic wedding just completes her fairy-tale romance. Life just couldn’t get any better than this…
But as the festivities of her best friend’s wedding are in full swing up on deck, Vivienne soon realises to her horror, that Monica has returned to claim her prize!
Max is gone, taken by force and without a trace.
Having suffered the wrath of Monica more than once, Vivienne knows only too well how evil and twisted her heart really is. Vivienne must face the heart breaking possibility that Max could be lost to her forever.
But how could Monica have engineered Max’s abduction with such stealth? She must have had help! If so, who can Vivienne trust? And what will Monica do with him?
Only moments ago Vivienne’s future looked so bright and full of promise, but now it seems so empty and hopeless.
No me without you….
Max is the love of her life. He promised her forever and Vivienne won’t rest until she finds him…even if it takes forever.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01KU3TN3G

Ohh they sound good don’t they – and I don’t know about you but I’m loving the soft black & white of the artwork!

So, if you want to know more about Lisa you can find her:
On Facebook:   https://www.facebook.com/lisamackayauthor1
Or on Twitter:  @lisamackayuk
At her website:  http://www.lisamackay.uk/

 

Where does the time go? #RRBC

Book Review – Crazy! Hot! And Living on the Edge

There is nothing like sitting in the garden on a Sunday afternoon and having a nice read – granted it would have been better with more sunshine but you can’t have everything. My book of choice this weekend was by “Crazy Hot! And Living on the Edge” by Shirley Harris-Slaughter https://www.amazon.co.uk/Crazy-Living-Edge-Shirley-Harris-Slaughter-ebook/dp/B00VQMO1YW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1473784984&sr=8-1&keywords=crazy+hot+and+living (WordPress is driving me insane and wont let me put proper links in any more!!!)

Blurb: Imagine experiencing emotions that have you questioning your sanity. Your body gets overheated at the least bit of excitement and you scramble to find a fan or some air. Or you find yourself in the throes of a panic attack and can’t understand how to shut it off, so you are filled with anxiety wondering when the next one is coming. What if every time you take a drug you experience side-affects that you are warned about on the label?
The title was conceived in my mind after I thought over all the situations I had found myself in, how I got out of them, and the affect all of this had on my overall physical and mental well-being.
Crazy! Hot! And Living On the Edge!! Is the True Story of My Upside Down Life!

Rating: 4/5

My Thoughts:  This book is one woman’s personal experience of being at a certain age and having to battle through all of those wonderful health problems that can (and many will) come to us all. While the experience is personal much of what the author had to face will ring true to many of us and as such we can gain a “learn from my journey” benefit.

Several times I found myself thinking that “this is common sense” although it’s a kind of common sense that we all too often choose to ignore these days. We KNOW that we need good and healthy food to maintain a good and healthy body and yet the junk food and sweets can be all too appealing and easy to give in to.

It was interesting to read how the author improved her own health so significantly when the medical profession had failed to do so and as such gives a few really good pointers – rather than instantly reach for a pill to cure what ails us perhaps taking the time to find the cause would be a better step.

There were moments where we were allowed a very private insight into the author’s life which helped to round the book and make it so much more than a “dos and don’ts”.

A book well worth reading and should certainly give you food for thought!

Book Review – Not Really Gone

Another book read and another review to share – this time it’s the memoir Not Really Gone by Blaire Sharp http://ow.ly/ENr0303SJXE

Blurb: “In every family there is a rock—the person that keeps things together. In Blaire Sharpe’s family, that rock was her grandma. As she shares the inspiring story of her relationship with her grandma, Blaire expands on the notion of what it really means to be loved.
When she was just an infant, Blaire’s troubled parents divorced. Since both parents were incapable of raising Blaire and her siblings, the children were slated for foster care—until their grandmother, Eleanor, stepped in to raise them as her own. As Eleanor valiantly struggled against a family legacy of alcoholism and depression, she modeled strength and wisdom to endure the most challenging of times. Still, Blaire’s life was not perfect. As she matured into adulthood, she battled addictions that eventually led her into recovery, just as Eleanor’s health began to decline. When she found herself sandwiched between two generations, each increasingly needy, Blaire poignantly reveals how she discovered the true meaning of love and commitment, and the essence of what it means to be a mother.
Not Really Gone is the story about the undying love a grandmother gave her granddaughter—a love that inspired her to carry on and become the rock in her own family.”

Rating:  5/5

My Thoughts:  So who is Blaire Sharpe and why should we be interested in her story? Well she’s “nobody” in respect of today’s celebrity obsessed world, and yet she could be any one of us. I’m sure her story is in no way unique and the trials of her life many of us will have experienced in our own lives, and yet this is part of the beauty of this book. This is an ordinary person sharing with us the story of her sometimes very troubled and difficult life.

This book is written with such honesty that it can sometimes be difficult to read, exposing wounds that can be very raw at times and I cannot imagine what courage it must have taken to reveal all of your flaws to the world in such a way.

The enduring love and strength of Blaire’s grandmother, Eleanor, shines strongly throughout the whole book and when age means that the role of carer and cared for are reversed you get a real feel of how much of Eleanor’s strength has been passed on to her granddaughter.

I can only imagine how many tears must have been shed in the writing of this book, as plenty were shed in the reading of it. All in all a wonderful tribute to a clearly remarkable woman – or should that be two remarkable women. The sort of book that stays with you and you feel honoured to have been invited to share in the lives of these people.

 

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