Tag: loyalty

What Jennifer Knows

Published on by macjam4710 Comments

By Wendy Janes

What Jennifer KnowsBook Blurb

A vital member of her Surrey community, Jennifer Jacobs is dedicated to her job as a dance therapist, helping children with special needs to express themselves through movement. Wife of a successful though reclusive sculptor, Gerald, and grandmother to four beautiful grandchildren, she is known for having a deep sense of empathy, making her a trusted confidante. So when two very different friends, Freya and Abi, both share information with her that at first seems to be an awkward coincidence, she doesn’t tell them. But as the weeks roll by, the link revealed between the two women begins to escalate into a full-blown moral dilemma – and also brings to the surface a painful memory Jennifer believed she had long since forgotten. What is the right thing to do? Should she speak out or is the truth better left unsaid?

My Review

Jennifer is the friend everyone should have. Do you have a secret?  Jennifer can be trusted to keep a confidence.  She divides her time among the things most important to her – her grandchildren, husband, friends, and her part-time job as a dance therapist teaching children with special needs.  But her relationship with her daughter Blythe is strained. They both have a lot to work out before they can have the easy relationship Jennifer longs to have with her daughter.

When Jennifer meets Freya at the grocery store, she soon is listening to Freya’s plan to propose to her boyfriend, Oliver. Jennifer and Freya soon fall into an easy friendship, and Jennifer wonders why she and Blythe can’t have the same kind of relationship.

Jennifer’s longtime friend Abi can’t make up her mind whether or not to ask her boyfriend Ed to move in with her. Jennifer supports Abi in her decision.

But when Jennifer discovers what Freya and Abi don’t know, can she tell them?

Will Jennifer and Blythe ever find common ground? What role does Jennifer’s grandson Tim play in keeping Jennifer and Blythe at odds or helping them reconcile whatever differences are keeping their relationship on rocky ground?

I relished reading What Jennifer Knows. Wendy Janes did an excellent job crafting the story and developing the characters.  It is a quick read but contained all the necessary details needed to keep my interest.  Jennifer must deal with the issues of morality and loyalty and leaves the reader wondering, “what would I do?”  I recommend this to all readers of women’s fiction.  I look forward to reading more from this author.

I was given a copy of What Jennifer Knows by author Wendy Janes in exchange for an honest review.

Format: Available as an e-book.

Publisher: Self-published

Publication Date:  October 11, 2015

Page count: 223

Genre: Women’s Fiction

About the AuthorWendy Janes

Wendy Janes lives in London with her husband and youngest son. A number of her short stories have recently appeared in anthologies, and 2015 sees the launch of her first solo novel, What Jennifer Knows. Her writing is inspired by family, friends, and everyday events that only need a little twist to become entertaining fiction.

As well as writing contemporary fiction, she loves to read and review it.

Wendy is also a freelance proofreader, and a caseworker for the National Autistic Society’s Education Rights Service.

Connect with Wendy Janes on social media and her website

Website

Twitter

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Facebook profile

Facebook author page

WHAT IT TAKES

Published on by macjam4714 Comments

By Terry Tyler

 

What It Takes by Terry TylerBook Blurb:

A tale of three sisters…

Karen Kavanagh has spent her life feeling like the runt of the family.

Her two elder sisters, domestic goddess Ava and salon owner Saskia, are mini versions of their mother, a gorgeous Danish beauty. Karen has inherited her father’s droopy, dull brown hair and long nose – pitted against two Scandinavian sauna babes, she feels like Cinderella in reverse.

Danny Alvarez doesn’t see her like that. He thinks she’s wonderful.
Lots of women want Danny, but Danny just wants Karen.
He pursues her with the devotion of a stalker – but she pushes him away. Then she realizes what she’s done…

Set in Norfolk, Terry Tyler’s sixth novel, “What It Takes”, is a story of insecurity, jealousy, sibling rivalry, love and loss, and the games people play in the search for love – because if you love someone with all your heart you’ll do what it takes to make them yours…

Sample chapter:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/What-It-Takes-Terry-Tyler-ebook/dp/B00EZV832M/ref=pd_sim_b_4/280-7055956-6800560?ie=UTF8&refRID=115R7E2GT1NWD66VAZC8

Type of Book: Kindle book only

Publisher: self

Pub Date: September 2013 (Amazon gives a later date, because it ‘re-publishes’ when you change the cover)

Page or Word Count: approx 90K words

Genre: romantic suspense

About the Author:

Terry lives in the north of England with her husband, and has published ten books on Amazon. Readers say she has created her own genre, which lies somewhere in the area of contemporary drama and romantic suspense, with the occasional bit of rock fiction and mystery thrown in.

LAST CHILD is her latest release; this is the sequel to Kings and Queens, both of which are modern day parallels of events that took place during the Tudor era of history. Terry is now at work on a third ‘history revisted’ novel, this time based on the women behind the Wars of the Roses.

Website:

http://www.terrytyler59.blogspot.co.uk/

Social Media Links:

Twitter – https://twitter.com/TerryTyler4

Facebook –  https://www.facebook.com/pages/Terry-Tyler-author/127960897322262,

Goodreads – https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5821157.Terry_Tyler

My Review:

I wasn’t sure what to expect when I first started reading WHAT IT TAKES. The first part of the book was devoted mainly to introducing the characters, of which there were quite a few.  I almost lost interest here, as it was somewhat tedious, but I am thrilled that I continued to read the book.  When the author dove into the story, there was magic in her words.  The words flew by, and before I realized it, I had finished the book.  I was not ready.  Even though everyone involved seemed to resolve his/her own character conflict, I wanted more.

I think most people can relate to Karen at one point or another of their lives.  She lacked confidence; she always felt she came up on the short end of the stick.  Her sisters were gorgeous, whereas she felt she was more of a plain Jane.  Karen’s perception was that everyone else got the best of everything in life and in love.

Then there is Danny Alvarez.  Danny had good looks, but was that enough for Karen?  He seemed less refined.

I give WHAT IT TAKES 4 stars because of the slow start.  In the end, the story won me over.  I would definitely recommend this book.

Amazon US

Amazon UK