The A-Z of You and Me by James Hannah

 

 

Ivo is lying in a bed in a hospice with little to occupy his mind. So his carer Sheila suggests he plays a game of hers where he should compile an A-Z list of body parts and think of a story to fit each. Ivo begins with A for Adams Apple and from there, as he continues through the alphabet, we learn the story of Ivo and the girl he loves.

 

The A-Z of You and Me is James Hannah's debut novel, so I wasn't sure what to expect from this new writer, but I was looking forward to diving into the book. And dive I did, barely coming up for air. I was quickly drawn into Ivo's story and that of his friends and the love of his life. It's quite a bittersweet novel, with fun, laugh-out-loud parts (courtesy of some of the alphabetical body parts) as well as a highly emotional tale. I quickly read the whole book and by the end I was in need of a box of tissues and somebody to hold me.

 

James Hannah's writing style is quite quirky but I soon grew to love it and I found myself easing into the story almost immediately. It's the kind of book you pick up for a few minutes and before you know it half the day has flown by as well as a couple of hundred pages. I couldn't seem to stop reading (which was no hardship, really, despite the emotive subject) as I wanted to find out what had happened in Ivo's past to bring him to the hospice with nothing but a crocheted blanket from his obviously significant relationship. The writing drew me in, teasing with bits of information that kept me reading until I had the whole picture.

 

I couldn't help feeling for Ivo as his situation became clear, but Ivo doesn't seem to pity himself at all and came across as incredibly brave. Ivo is a flawed character, but he knows this and, particularly towards the ends, makes no excuses for his own mistakes. I didn't always agree with Ivo's actions, but I found his attitude refreshing and admirable. I also admired Ivo's carer, Sheila. Her job must have been pretty harrowing at times, yet she is always upbeat and friendly and I'm not sure Ivo would have coped nearly as well without her support.

The A-Z of You and Me is a touching and poignant read and I'm very much looking forward to seeing what James Hannah has to offer in the future.

Guest Post: Julie Shackman

Falling In Love With Your Hero!

H is for Handsome!

This is a must for any Hero. They might not be perfect (and let’s face it, who is?!) but they must appeal to not only the reader but also of course, the heroine in your story.

To me, the appeal of a hero is not only what they look like on the outside, it’s also about what they’re like on the inside too.

Having your readers fall in love with your hero is the biggest compliment imaginable!


E is for Enigmatic

Power, personality and an undeniable presence are a necessity for any hero. When I’m reading, I love being drawn to a hero with all these sorts of qualities. It’s a wonderful feeling reading about a hero who jumps straight off the page to seduce not only you, but also the protagonist (ooer!)


R is for Relatable

I sometimes find this is a difficult thing to achieve, but making your hero relatable (with flaws) makes him seem more realistic and alive.

I think the chiselled jawed, perfect character can come across as unobtainable. I always want the readers to feel that they would fall in love with him every bit as much as the heroine does.


O is for Original

I always think this is one of the trickiest things as a writer to achieve. Many people claim that every story-line has basically been done. It’s just a case of trying to put your own original voice into your story and characters.


Do that and you’ll have a story – and a hero – who your readers simply won’t be able to resist!


Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m just off to concentrate on my latest hero – it’s a dirty job but someone has to do it – and why not us?!

When single mum Chloe Jones wins a magazine competition to have TV heartthrob Ethan Blake live with her for a month, she thinks her dreams have come true. And the presence of the handsome star in her home and small Scottish town certainly causes a stir. But when Chloe begins to see his true colours, will she find the courage to face him, and admit where her heart truly lies?

Hero or Zero is available now
[Amazon UK       Amazon US]

 

 

 

Author Bio - I trained as a journalist but writing romance has always been a dream of mine. When I’ve not got my head in a book or drafting one, I write verses and captions for greetings card companies. Writing at home seems to be incredibly difficult for me – I usually require tea, music and noise.

My second romcom, "Hero or Zero" has just been released. “Rock My World” was my debut romcom and I'm currently writing my third.

I’m married, have two sons and live in Scotland.


You can find out more about Julie and her books on her blog, twitter and Facebook or on her publisher's website, Not So Noble Books

If you would like to appear here on the blog via a guest post, email me at jenniferjoycewrites@gmail.com

More details here

Cover Stars: Ivy Lane by Cathy Bramley

Celebrating gorgeous covers

 

Ivy Lane

 

by Cathy Bramley

 

Tilly Parker needs a fresh start, fresh air and a fresh attitude if she is ever to leave the past behind and move on with her life. As she seeks out peace and quiet in a new town, taking on a plot at Ivy Lane allotments seems like the perfect solution.

But the friendly Ivy Lane community has other ideas and gradually draw Tilly in to their cosy, comforting world of planting seedlings, organizing bake sales and planning seasonal parties.

As the seasons pass, will Tilly learn to stop hiding amongst the sweetpeas and let people back into her life – and her heart?

 

*     *     *     *     *

 

I love the cover for Ivy Lane as it's so bright and cheery with the vibrant bunting and red-and-white spotted wellies. There are lots of little details, like the heart shape on the shed, the little bird in the tree and the sweet fence in the background. In real life, the leaves on the trees are embossed, which is perfect if you like to stroke books!

 

And let's not forget that Ivy Lane was originally part of a series, with the book broken down into four parts - one for each season. I liked how the same image of the shed was used, but the details changed to fit the season.

 

 

 

If there's a cover you're bursting to shout out about, let us know by joining in Cover Stars!

Email me at jenniferjoycewrites@gmail.com

More details here



#FreebieFriday

 

 

Throughout March, I'll be hosting giveaways every Friday!

 

Weeks 1-3 will be over on Twitter (click to follow me), with the final giveaway taking place here on the blog.

 

The first twitter giveaway will be taking place soon, so keep your eyes peeled!

Ivy Lane by Cathy Bramley

 

 

Tilly Parker has had a rotten couple of years, but she's starting afresh in Kingsfield with a new job and half a plot on the Ivy Lane allotment. Tilly's main motivation on taking on the plot is for peace and tranquillity, but the other members of Ivy Lane have other ideas for Tilly. Ivy Lane isn't just about planting - it's about coming together as a community. With seasonal parties and bake sales throughout the year, the last thing Tilly is going to get on the allotment is a quiet life. But Ivy Lane just may be the thing that finally manages to heave Tilly out of her slump and allow her to move on.

 

Ivy Lane was originally published in four parts (one for each season) and I've heard so many great things about it, so when the complete novel was published, I knew I had to read it. I absolutely loved the sense of community within Ivy Lane, with everybody willing to chip in and help the other members when needed, especially Tilly who is a complete beginner when it comes to growing her own vegetables. There is such an array of characters within Ivy Lane, from hunky fireman Charlie, to sweet widower Alf and bonkers beauty therapist Gemma. I didn't think I would get on all that well with Gemma to begin with as I thought her 'dot coms' would quickly become annoying, but I couldn't have been more wrong! Gemma is a fantastic character, full of warmth and vigour and she is the perfect companion for Tilly, who is in dire need of a friend and passion for life once again. We know that something terrible has happened to Tilly in the past, but Tilly keeps this information to herself for quite a while as she tries to adjust to her new life.

 

I liked the way the book was split into the four seasons, with lots of drama and revelations packed into each one. I'm glad I read the whole book at once otherwise I'd have been itching to know what happens next and the wait would have been agonising! Cathy Bramley's writing is such a joy to read. It's light, easy and full of warmth and I found myself engaging with Tilly immediately. I became immersed in her story, feeling for her as she revealed what had happened before she came to Ivy Lane. We go on a real journey with Tilly - not only with her learning how to grow plants but seeing how, with the help of her new-found friends, she comes to life again.

 

I thought the book was warm and witty and I'm now desperate to get digging myself!

#NoveliciousBookClub

 

This evening I'll be taking part in the Novelicious Book Club over on Twitter, where we will be discussing Ivy Lane by Cathy Bramley.

 

If you've read the book, why not join in too? It's at 8pm and we'll be using #NoveliciousBookClub

 

You can find more details on the Novelicious page and if you're not already following Novelicious on twitter, you can do so here

Hope to see you there!

February In Pictures

You can see more of my photos (of mostly Luna, if I'm being honest) here on Instagram