book reviews, novel, romance

Review of The Look of Love by Bella Andre

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OVERVIEW:

I’m not a reader of romance as a general rule, and I don’t read erotic romance. Reading this book has made me realise why.

BLURB

After Chloe Peterson’s car skids off the road in the Napa Valley wine country, she’s ready to throw in the towel on a horrendous day. But when a gorgeous guy rescues her, though she’s immediately drawn to him, she knows better than to let her walls down with any man ever again.

Chase Sullivan is a successful photographer whose charm and charisma—along with his large and close-knit family—make him San Francisco’s most eligible bachelor. Intent on helping Chloe through this rough patch in her life, Chase soon realizes that she is not only lovely, inside and out, she’s also intelligent, talented, and extremely brave. He has never felt like this about anyone before, never knew love could be so powerful, or so true…until she came into his life.

Though Chloe tries to resist Chase, with every loving look he gives her—and every sinfully sweet caress—the attraction between them sparks and sizzles. But after everything she’s been through, can Chase convince Chloe that he will always be there for her…and that their love will last forever?

STORY

The story is weak and just an excuse for erotic scenes. I had trouble finishing it.

A troubled young woman meets a handsome man and tries to deny the obvious attraction between them. She is not ready for a new romance after her disastrous marriage. I don’t think that Ms Andre made enough of this. Chloe gave in far too quickly. Only a few days after her last traumatic encounter with her ex-husband she is in bed with a new man. Not very believable.

The story is told from the point of view of each of the main characters in in turn.

CHARACTERS

Chloe has problems. This makes her vulnerable. I did think that she got over them in rather quick time, though. Only a few days after meeting Chase she is admitting her attraction to him, sleeping with him, and falling in love. It all seemed a little too quick for someone so deeply wounded as Chloe is from her previous love encounter. (Or rather, not love from her spouse.)

Chase, is rather a cardboard cut out. He’s perfect. Good looking, clever, rich, talented. He is infinitely patient with Chloe, always putting her first, especially in sex, because he knows she’s been deeply hurt. In spite of wanting to have sex with her desperately, he manages to hold back.

Like I said. Too perfect.

WRITING

Sadly, I found the writing annoying. Ms Andre overuses the word ‘just’, as one example. She peppers it throughout the book, even more than once in one sentence on occasion. She also uses many other words that are not needed, and slow the action. (What action?)

Also, vague words, like ‘seemed’. Well is it or isn’t it?

She kept on telling us that Chloe was lovely, and that Chase had a beautiful body. We aren’t stupid, Ms Andre. We can remember that. We don’t need to keep being reminded.

I give this book 2*

Have you read this, or any other Bella Andre books? She’s apparently a Best Seller.

If you have, let us know what you thought of her books in the comments box.

Uncategorized

1 year this month since the world lost one of its bright souls

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Sue Vincent was a bright light in the world. Sadly it is now just over a year since that light went out.

I wrote a poem as a tribute to Sue, and I think I should repost it now in her memory.

It was with great sadness that I learned of the passing of Sue. Although this had been expected, it is nonetheless a most sorrowful day.

I did not know Sue personally, but her writing and her philosophy of life struck a chord in me, and in many others. The Blogosphere is a darker place now her light has gone.

I wrote this poem as a tribute to her. I was a bit reluctant to post it, knowing how wonderful Sue’s writing was, but then I thought, “It’s the least I can do for her.”

So here it is.

Sue Vincent

14th September 1958 – 29th March 2021

R.I.P

A TRIBUTE TO SUE VINCENT

Her light has gone;
Gone from the world.
So brightly it shone
Now darkness unfurls.

The stars in the heavens
Are happy tonight,
For she dances for aeons
In their beautiful light.

She was sent to us all
To teach us to see
The wonders abounding
On Earth, Air and Sea.

Her wonderful writing
Prose and Poetry
Made us look around
At the flower and tree.

Of the hidden world, too,
She gave us to see
Of what lies in secret
In church, hill and lea.

But she has not left us.
There are books we can read.
We can still learn much from her
If her wisdom we heed.

Perhaps in the future
One day she’ll return
And carry on teaching
Those who will learn.

There’s nothing more I can say.

historical recipes, Recipe book, recipes

Nectar Cakes

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Image by Gasfull from Pixabay

When my son was small, about 6 or 7 years old, he enjoyed eating honey. One day, he suggested making cakes using it and so we came up with the following recipe, which we called Nectar Cakes.

Here is the recipe.

Ingredients

Shortcrust pastry (Home made or bought.)

125g margarine

125g runny honey

125g flour

2 eggs

Method

Roll out the pastry and cut rounds. Place one pastry round in each hole of a bun tin.

Put all the other ingredients into a food processor and blend on high power until creamy.

Put spoonfuls of the mixture into the pastry cases and bake in the oven at 180C for about 15 minutes.

When I was writing my Wolves of Vimar books, Carthinal decided he would enjoy these cakes, and so I had Lillora, Mabryl’s housekeeper, make them. (Mabryl is Carthinal’s teacher of magic.) Carthinal was not above creeping into the kitchen and stealing a few when Lillora wasn’t looking.

(See The Making of a Mage. A Wolves of Vimar prequel.)

In the book that I’m currently editing (Immortal’s Death. Book 4 of The Wolves of Vimar series) Randa, one of the companions who call themselves Wolf, is also partial to these cakes.

I must admit that I don’t blame either one of them. They are yummy, if a bit heavy in the honey.

If you would like to find more recipes from my friends and family, check out Viv’s Family Recipes.

There are a few ancient recipes there as well as modern ones. These give us an insight into how people lived in the early 20th Century. Also the book contains snippets of information about the various recipes and the people who gave them to me.

At the end, there are a few Hints and Tips from the early 20th Century, too. (There were more in the original book I took these from, but many were possible dangerous, so I didn’t include them!) As well as some ancient remedies for coughs and sore throats.

You can get the book in a number of formats from your favourite seller. Just click on the book title in this post.

If you want to find out about the friends who call themselves Wolf, especially Carthinal, you can get the books by clicking on the cover in the sidebar, or the book title above.

They are also in a number of formats and from numerous sellers, including Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Kobo etc.

If you make these cakes, I would be delighted to hear what you think about them, and possibly see a picture of how they turned out. Leave your comments in the comments box.

health

30March ’22: World Bipolar Day

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Gabriele Romano has posted for World Bi-polar Day. I know I’m a day late, but as I have a nephew who is a sufferer, I think it’s important enough to post it, even late.

Bipolar disorder affects every aspect of life: 

Bipolar disorder affects every aspect of life: 

Bipolar disorder rarely exists alone:

Everyone’s bipolar disorder is different:

There are many celebrities that live with bipolar disorder:

There may be a creativity connection:

It is life-threatening, and support is vital:

to find out more about these points, click here
Poetry

Spring. A Poem

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Dandelions, like gold, cover the meadows.

Newborn lambs frolic in fields.

New leaves on the trees are casting their shadows

And winter’s cold grip quickly yields.

At the edges of woodland the primroses glow

And cowslips their scent fills the air.

Anemones dance when the breezes do blow

And birds sing with never a care.

Then bluebells and campions come into bloom

Their colour the blue of the sea.

The cuckoo, that herald of spring, will come soon,

His call echoing over the lea.

The song of the blackbird is like molten gold.

His notes are so pure and so clear.

Hearing him seems to banish the cold

And brings joy to all those who hear.

Robin is nesting, and other birds too,

The hedgehog is active once more.

The young of the deer and the badger and shrew

Play their games as in old days of yore.

The sun climbs higher and higher each day

Giving more of his heat and his light.

It sparkles like stars fallen into the bay.

All smile at the beautiful sight.

Hope and excitement come with each spring morn.

What blessings will come with this day?

New starts can begin once again with each dawn

And send us all hopeful away.

I’ve submitted a book of poetry, including this one, to my publisher. I am currently waiting to hear if they’ve accepted it. I’ll keep you posted about it.

If you like my poem, please leave a comment in the comments box. Even if you didn’t, you can still leave a comment.

Would you like an exclusive short story? One that cannot be purchased, but only received as a gift from me?

To get your story, follow this link. It will take you to my sign-up page.

Don’t worry, though, you can unsubscribe at any time, even immediately if you wish.

Here’s a bit about the story.

Maria and her husband, Jack, have moved into an old cottage. They want to furnish it with period furniture and buy a medieval table.

That’s when the mystery begins. Strange sounds in the night. Have they bought a haunted house? But a medium tells them it is not a ‘lost spirit’, but something else she does not recognise.

What is it that is causing them to lose sleep? The answer is more unexpected than anyone thought.

Poetry

Love’s Sting

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Today I’m posting a poem by my friend, Kevin Morris. Kevin writes rhyming poetry, and I love them.

Sometimes I have seen
The night light gleam
On angels whose wings
Have been clipped
By lustful lips,
Meaning love’s sting
Is not their thing.

Here is a link to Kevin’s website so you can read more of his poetry.

Grammar Help

Misused words.

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I read something on MSN News that makes me wonder about journalists and their grasp of the English Language.

Here is the quote. “Despite being perhaps the most infamous royal abode, Buckingham Palace’s future is looking pretty questionable following news that the Queen has ‘permanently’ moved out.”

Can you see what’s wrong with it?

It’s the use of the word infamous. I also heard it used about the Sydney Opera House a month or so ago.

Buckingham palace is a well-known building, that’s for sure, but I don’t think it’s infamous. Not unless there have been some nasty goings-on there that I don’t know about.

Famous is the word that means well-known.

Infamous also means well-known, but for something bad.

Dick Turpin was an infamous highwayman.

The Cray Twins were infamous gang leaders in London.

The Wests were infamous murderers.

And so on.

Buckingham Palace is NOT an infamous royal abode.

I’ve just spent a weekend staying with my sister in North Wales, hence the rather brief and late post. I would usually have scheduled one, but didn’t get around to that either!

Hopefully I’ll be back to normal next week.

Would you like an exclusive short story? One that cannot be purchased, but only received as a gift from me?

To get your story, click on the picture. It will take you to my email sign-up page.

Don’t worry, though, you can unsubscribe at any time, even immediately if you wish. And I only send out newsletters quarterly, except for extra special news, like a new release. I will never spam you, and will always keep your email address private.

Here’s a bit about the story.

Maria and her husband, Jack, have moved into an old cottage. They want to furnish it with period furniture and buy a medieval table.

That’s when the mystery begins. Strange sounds in the night. Have they bought a haunted house? But a medium tells them it is not a ‘lost spirit’, but something else she does not recognise.

What is it that is causing them to lose sleep? The answer is more unexpected than anyone thought.

fantasy, history, novel, offers, Romans

3 first in series free.

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Get a free copy of the first book in 3 of my series.

Vengeance of a Slave

A story set in Roman Britain

Prolific Works – Claim a free copy of Vengeance Of A Slave (A Family Through The Ages Book 1)

The Wolf Pack

An epic fantasy tale

Prolific Works – Claim a free copy of The Wolf Pack (The Wolves of Vimar Book 1)

The Stones of Earth and Air

A fantasy story of mystery, adventure and danger

Prolific Works – Claim a free copy of The Stones of Earth and Air (Elemental Worlds Book 1)

plants

A visit to the National Botanical Gardens of Wales

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Last September I had a holiday in South Wales. It was one that had been cancelled during lockdown, but now we could go on holiday once more.

The weather was fantastic, and two things pleased us. The first was that a leg of the Tour of Britain (cycling) was starting from the local town. The second was that The National Botanical Gardens of Wales was just down the road.

These gardens are in the Towy valley in Carmarthenshire. They were opened in 2000 on the site of a mansion belonging to a family called Middleton. They built their mansion here in the early 17th century. It was bought in 1789 by Sir William Paxton, who had the idea of turning it into a water park.

There is a lot of history to this place, and you can find out more on Wikipedia, by following this link. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Botanic_Garden_of_Wales

We visited these gardens twice, and I thought I would share some of the pictures I took with you.

Here they are.

The Dome was divided into areas representing different parts of the world.

I don’t know what this plant is, but it’s interesting.

This was the apothecary’s hall with an interesting apothecary’s garden behind.

I was intrigued by this poem. Sadly, I didn’t take any photos of the garden behind the hall.

In the tropical house there were many plants in flower. Here are some of them.

And finally, not from Wales, but my garden. It’s a pity I can’t post the scent of the daphne bush. It’s wonderful. This was last year, and it’s even better this year.

I love to hear your thoughts, so please add your comments to the comments box.

If you would like to receive an exclusive, free short story by me, called The Haunted Table, simply click the link. This will take you to the page where you can download it.

Maria and Tom have bought an antique table for the old cottage they have bought. When they hear strange noises in the night that sound like crying, they worry their house is haunted, but the sounds seem to come from the table.

They set about trying to find what is causing the disturbances. The answer is stranger than either of them had thought.

(Clicking the link will add your email address to my email list, but don’t worry, you can unsubscribe immediately if you wish. Nor will you get any spam. I only send out an email each quarter, or if I have any exciting news–like a new release.)

If you would like to receive an exclusive, free short story by me, called The Haunted Table, simply click the link. This will take you to the page where you can download it.

Maria and Tom have bought an antique table for the old cottage they have bought. When they hear strange noises in the night that sound like crying, they worry their house is haunted, but the sounds seem to come from the table.

They set about trying to find what is causing the disturbances. The answer is stranger than either of them had thought.

(Clicking the link will add your email address to my email list, but don’t worry, you can unsubscribe immediately if you wish. Nor will you get any spam. I only send out an email each quarter, or if I have any exciting news–like a new release.)

There are dragons and magic in the world if only you look for them… V.M. Sang