Review ~ Gift Horse by Jan Ruth

Kindle edition
September 2018

Caroline Walker’s daughter suffers a horrific riding accident. Her distraught parents wonder if she’ll ever walk again, let alone ride. And when Mollie’s blood group is discovered as rare, her husband offers to donate blood. Except Ian is not a match. In fact, it’s unlikely he’s Mollie's father.

Eighteen years previously, Caroline had a one-night stand with Irish rock star, Rory O’Connor. Caroline fell pregnant. Deeply flawed boyfriend, Ian, was overjoyed. And Caroline’s parents were simply grateful that their daughter was to marry into the rich, influential Walker family. 

Caroline turns to Rory’s friend Connor; and although his almost spiritual connection with his horses appears to be the balm she needs, Caroline cannot forget Rory, or her youth – both lost to a man she never loved. Eighteen years on and after surviving cancer Rory lives as a virtual recluse in the Welsh mountains. Through his well-meaning but interfering sister, he is shocked to discover he has a teenage daughter. Or does he? 

Someone has made a terrible mistake… someone is going to get hurt…

My thoughts about it..

I have a few writers in my arsenal of "go to" authors, those whose stories I know will never disappoint, and this author is definitely one of those who I know will never let me down and, her latest novel, Gift Horse certainly ticks all the right boxes. 

Caroline Walker's daughter has a dreadful accident at a riding event, a trauma which acts as catalyst for what follows in the rest of the story. Flipping effortlessly between past and present, the story gradually emerges of something which happened in Caroline's past, a youthful indiscretion, which will have repercussions far into the future. 

The story flows beautifully, not just around the characters, but also of the landscape around it. People and places merge, delivering a story of a traumatised girl on the road to recovery, the emergence of secrets long buried, and of the devastating consequences of the truth being revealed.

There's such a powerful connection to the characters that you can't help but form an emotional bond with them, some I liked more than others, and yet, they all bring an overall strength to the story, particularly, Connor with his tender care of the horses at the therapy centre, Rory with his laissez-faire attitude to life, and Ian, Caroline’s husband, who brought some powerful anxieties of his own into the story. Throughout the whole of journey is Caroline, fighting her own particular demons with a reserve of character which, I think, we would all like to have. I enjoyed her company immensely and hoped that everything would eventually work out for her and her family.

I read Gift Horse quickly over the space of a few hours, not because it was light on content, far from it, but because once started, I really couldn’t put the book down and needed to keep turning the pages until I knew just how the story would eventually play out. And yes, there were a few tears at the ending.

About the Author

Jan Ruth lives in Snowdonia, a mountainous area of North Wales, UK. Jan writes contemporary fiction about the darker side of the family dynamic, often blending life in rural Wales with a touch of city business. Her style is best described as fast-paced and realistic, with a sprinkling of dry humour. 

Jan is also an active member of her local RDA group (Riding for the disabled) and is an Assistant Equine Facilitated Learning Practitioner for the Welsh Institute of Therapeutic Horsemanship. In her spare time she enjoys riding and walking the Welsh hills; a constant source of inspiration.

Jan’s books are available globally via Amazon in paperback and for Kindle; and locally, you’ll find them in North Wales libraries and Hinton’s bookshop of Conwy.

Website

Twitter @JanRuthAuthor

Amazon UK

Blog Tour ~ Root of the Tudor Rose by Mari Griffith

Jaffareadstoo is thrilled to be hosting a stop on the Root of the Tudor Rose Mini Anniversary 

Blog Tour

Accent Press
July 2015

My thanks to the publisher for my copy of the book and the invitation to be part of this anniversary blog tour

What's it all about...

When King Henry V and his bride, Catherine de Valois, are blessed with the birth of a son, their happiness is short-lived. Henry’s unexpected death leaves Catherine a widow at the age of twenty-one. Then her father, King Charles of France, also dies, and her son inherits both crowns. Henry VI, King of England and France, is just ten months old and needs all his mother’s watchful care to protect him from political intrigue.

The queen, an attractive young widow, is a foreigner at the English court and now finds herself regarded with suspicion, particularly by the Duke of Gloucester, who will seemingly stop at nothing to protect his own claim to the throne. But lonely, vulnerable Catherine has found true friendship with another foreigner at court, a young Welshman named Owen. Their friendship deepens, but their liaisons must be kept secret at all costs, because Catherine, Queen of England and forbidden to remarry, is in love with a servant..

My thoughts..

I have an enduring fascination for all things Tudor and whilst I am familiar with the origins of the Tudor dynasty, it has been interesting to read this author's fictional account of the relationship that Catherine de Valois had with both of her husbands, Henry V and later, a young Welshman called Owen Tudor. 

I have an image of Henry V, the hero of Agincourt, as a battle hardened soldier, and yet, from the beginning of this story, the author shows Henry to have a rather tender appreciation of his young bride whilst at the same time emphasizing both his ruthlessness and political ambition. 

That Catherine is widowed, as a very young woman, comes as no surprise. Her life with her baby son, Henry VI, is often maligned, however, the author has shown Catherine to be a woman who knew her own mind. Catherine's subsequent, and rather romantic love affair with her servant, Owen Tudor is, by far, the more interesting side to the story, and where, for me, the people really started to come alive. 

Imaginatively written, Root of the Tudor Rose brings Catherine’s life into perspective. That she was, so often, at the mercy of politically ambitious men is well explained, as is the clandestine nature of her relationship with Owen Tudor. Whilst there is very little documented evidence of the relationship which existed between Owen and Catherine, I think that the author has succeeded in using what information there is and has made a convincing account of what might have happened between them.

Root of the Tudor Rose is about a passionate relationship which survived against all odds, when everything, both social and political was against them, and of the tentative beginnings of a dynasty which would shape the rest of history. 

About the Author

Mari Griffith became well-known as co-presenter of BBC TV show Music Time and as resident singer on BBC radio. She also had her own TV series and was later a successful director and producer. Her debut novel Root of the Tudor Rose has been internationally acclaimed and remained in the historical novel bestseller charts for several months.

Accent Press

Twitter @AccentPress

Christmas Read ~ Away for Christmas by Jan Ruth

Celtic Connections
13 November 2017


My thanks to the author for my ecopy of this book

What's it all about...

Jonathan Jones has written a novel. Losing his job a few days before Christmas means the pressure is on for his book to become a bestseller, but when his partner drops her own bombshell, the festive holiday looks set to be a disaster. 

When he’s bequeathed a failing bookshop in their seaside town, it seems that some of his prayers have been answered, but his publishing company turn out to be not what they seem, and when his ex-wife suddenly declares her romantic intent, another Christmas looks set to be complicated. 

Is everything lost, or can the true meaning of words, a dog called Frodo, and the sheer magic of Christmas be enough to save Jonathan’s book, and his skin?

My thoughts about it...

Sometimes we need to make changes in our lives before we can move forward, and for Jonathan Jones giving up his job just before Christmas will give him, he thinks, just the jolt he needs to finish off writing and promoting his novel. However, he finds out, to his cost, that the publishing world can be fraught with difficulties and not every book to hit the book shelves has 'best seller' written all over it. 

What then follows is a delightful seasonal story which looks at the vagaries of the publishing world alongside Jonathan's journey of self discovery. The North Wales setting, is as always, lovingly recreated by this author who knows the area well, and who writes about the small seaside town of Rhos-on Sea with such wonderful attention to detail that I felt as if I was strolling down the main street, with the tang of sea salt and the harsh cry of seagulls resonating in my head.

As you would expect of a novella of just over a hundred or so pages, the story moves along quickly, as there is much to pack into a small space, and yet, the story never feels rushed or incomplete. I'm not going to say any more about the story as you would do well to read it for yourself, but there were some lovely observations of the book world, and reviewers, which as a reader and a book blogger made me smile and laugh out loud in places. I loved the whole concept of Beachside Books, in my opinion, every town should have one, and when I am next in this small corner of North Wales, I am sure I will be keeping an eye open for Frodo as he encourages customers into the book shop to peruse the shelves and drink the excellent Colombian coffee.

I was completely charmed by Away for Christmas, from the beauty of its stunning cover, to the bookish world which is so lovingly recreated by an author who writes, not just for herself and her readers, but also to bring alive this beautiful area of North Wales, a place which she calls home.

If, in the busy rush towards Christmas, you only have time to squeeze in one short story, then let it be this one. Feed your e-reader, brew your coffee, turn off your phone and, courtesy of this talented author go Away for Christmas.

About the author

Jan Ruth writes contemporary fiction about the darker side of the family dynamic with a generous helping of humour, horses and dogs. Her books blend the serenities of rural life with the headaches of city business, exploring the endless complexities of relationships.

Visit the author on her Website

Follow on Twitter @JanRuthAuthor

Find the book on Amazon UK

Check out on Goodreads

~****~

Close to Home...Jan Ruth

As a book reviewer I have made contact with authors from all across the globe and feel immensely privileged to be able to share some amazing work. However, there is always something rather special when a book comes to my attention which has been written by an author in my part of the North. So with this in mind I have great pleasure in featuring some of those authors who are literally close to my home. Over the next few Saturdays, and hopefully beyond, I will be sharing the work of a very talented bunch of Northern authors and discovering just what being a Northerner means to them both in terms of inspiration and also in their writing.

Please welcome Northern writer

Jan Ruth

Hi, Jan and welcome back to Jaffareadstoo. Tell us a little about yourself and how you got started as an author?

The real story began at school, with prizes for short stories and poetry. I failed all things mathematical and scientific, and to this day struggle to make sense of anything numerical.

My first novel - written in 1986 - attracted the attention of an agent who was trying to set up her own company, Love Stories Ltd. It was a project aiming to champion those books of substance which contained a romantic element but were perhaps directed towards the more mature reader and consistently fell through the net in traditional publishing. Sadly, the project failed to get the right financial backing. Many years later my second novel, Wild Water, was taken on by Jane Judd, literary agent. Judd was a huge inspiration, but the book failed to find the right niche with a publisher. It didn't fall into a specific category and, narrated mostly from the male viewpoint, it was considered out of genre for most publishers and too much of a risk. Amazon changed the face of the industry with the advent of self-publishing; opening up the market for readers to decide the fate of those previously spurned novels. I went on to successfully publish several works of fiction and short story collections and after a brief partnership with Accent Press in 2015, I’ve returned to the freedom of independent publishing.

Your books are written in North Wales - how have the people and the Welsh landscape shaped your stories?

In a word: completely!

Snowdonia kick-started my stalled obsession with writing in a very positive way. In the main I’ve used real places, and I do love the mix of historical buildings as a backdrop to a modern tale. Links to Welsh history and heritage are unavoidable in Wales and it’s the visible remains of quarries, castles and farmsteads which give the area a strong sense of the past. And there’s richness in the landscape here which has certainly inspired my writing. Some of the area is chocolate-box pretty, a lot of it isn’t. The struggle to make a living in this community is mostly based on farming or tourism, although the mussel industry is alive and well.

North Wales Landscape

The only historical event I can remember with any accuracy is good old 1066 and The Battle of Hastings. At school I was hopeless at dates, in fact anything to do with numbers, but I used to love history because sooner or later it usually involved writing essays. Now though, I suspect there may be more to it. The longer I live and the more places I visit in the world, the more connected I feel to my roots, or more specifically my spiritual home, Snowdonia.

Twenty years ago we moved from Cheshire to North Wales. Although Cheshire has its history and pretty rural surroundings aplenty, Wales is far more extreme in both aspects. The castles and the rugged hillsides strewn with stone settlements, druid circles and Roman roads bring out the historical muse in me. To think that I am treading the same path as someone who lived in the Iron Age, is both fascinating and humbling.

Conwy Castle

All this whimsical talk of the past makes me sound as if I write historical-based fiction. Far from it. Much as I admire many other genres I tend to be very much rooted in current times and my work reflects a lot of my own life experiences. But this is where I find the two ideas merge a little because I am most certainly inspired by this Ice Age landscape. What has gone before certainly shapes what we see today, but does it shape what we feel, too?

There’s no doubt I’m in my creative comfort zone tramping up the hills on a moody day. There’s no better way of busting that plot. Dedicated to a 6th century prince, the tiny church of St. Celynin (sometimes known as Llangelynnin) is a great find for historians, spiritualists, all kinds of artists, and a certain weary walking writer.

This church is also mentioned in the Wild Water series and I’ve spent many an hour soaking up the atmosphere. It’s quite a climb, some 900 feet above the village of Henryd, but sheltered from the Irish Sea by the comfortable bulk of Tal-Y-Fan. It proclaims to be the most remote church in Wales and due to its location on the Pilgrim’s Way, it is actually better accessed on foot or on horseback, but that’s just me wearing my whimsical hat again. I guess you could ride a quad bike or get a 4×4 along the green lane (originally the coffin path) up from the village, but that would spoil the experience considerably. The centuries of men’s hands on the same stones put the feeling into a place. I can relate to this and there’s no better way of making that connection than scrambling over those very same walls and finding a way across the hills. Even the names of the mountains are laced with enough magic to fuel the effort.

I love the way ancient history here is often blurred by myths and legends, shape-shifters and superstitions. Rich then, in history and romance and easy enough to blend both, with a touch of fantasy and suspense. Especially so when the winter sun is low in the sky, sending out early shadows to creep across the crooked stones of derelict homesteads and graves. And late sunsets in summer, when the scudding clouds floating in a fiery sky take on the shape of dragons and rearing horses. Or maybe, when the druid’s circle is shrouded in mist and… can you hear something? Like the clink of marching armour and the clash of swords…there’s something moving out there, or is it just my imagination?

As a writer based in the North, does this present any problems in terms of marketing and promoting your books and if so, how do you overcome them?

I don’t think author location makes any difference in these days of global marketing, via the internet. As for locations in books, then yes, there are certainly settings which are currently more fashionable, (dictated by commercial trends), such as Cornwall or France.

If you were pitching North Wales as an ideal place to live, work and write – how would you sell it and what makes it so special?

Do you know, I’m not sure I’d pitch North Wales as an ideal place to live or work! It’s not for everyone, but it works for me. It might work for other writers because of the available solitude. On the other hand, not all writers seek such isolation. It works for me because I’m inspired by the landscape and the characters who live here, both historically and otherwise. I guess it fits my persona. 

In your research for your books, did you visit any of the places you write about and which have made a lasting impression?

In a word: All of it!

I’ve been able to soak up the atmosphere of Snowdonia simply by living here. I can always tell if an author has simply visited somewhere or researched on the Net rather than delved beneath the surface. I’m a strong believer of writing what you know – and I say this in a mostly spiritual way, not one of facts and figures.

Writing is a solitary business - how do you interact with other authors?

It is solitary and one must be incredibly self-disciplined. Social networking has brought me in touch with lots of authors, local ones too, and we do meet from time to time. 

How supportive are local communities to your writing, and are there ever any opportunities for book shops, local reading groups, or libraries to be involved in promoting your work?

My local library and my local bookshop in Conwy have been tremendous! They’ve bought my books, stocked them, sold them, invited me to do readings and signings, and generally got behind me as a local author. I do think it helps that my novels are very much set in the area.

You can find out more about Jan and her writing on her website 

Visit on Facebook

Follow on Twitter @JanRuthAuthor

Jan also takes the most amazing photographs of the North Wales landscape which you can see on Flickr

Warmest thanks to Jan for being our very welcome guest today and for talking about her writing and for sharing her love of North Wales with us.

I hope that you have enjoyed this week's Close to Home feature

Coming next week : Helena Fairfax




~***~

Guest Author ~ Jan Ruth

I am delighted to welcome the author, Jan Ruth back to Jaffareadstoo

Today, Jan is sharing her thoughts about Natural Dialogue in her Midnight Sky series...

Just when you think you know everything about a subject, along comes someone to blow apart a lifetime of assumptions. Monty Roberts’ father was virtually destroyed by his son’s belief in ‘horse-whispering’, as a far more humane and less exhausting method of breaking and training horses. It’s no secret that Monty took a severe beating for it.

A remarkable man, Roberts went on to foster disadvantaged children, using much the same wisdom and insight he’d learnt through studying horses and their social groups in the wild. It’s too easy – and often misguided – to bestow animals with human emotion, but maybe trust is rooted in the same place in humans as in horses, and observation and interpretation is all that’s required to make a valuable connection, regardless of language. And isn’t whispering usually far more effective than shouting? Much the same as writing good fiction; and if we’re talking analogies there’s nothing worse than clunky dialogue. Is Natural Horsemanship simply natural dialogue?

As with most things that work well, it’s based on a simple concept of alignment with nature. Horses like to hang in a crowd (herd), follow the leaders – usually the older mares – and be out in the open simply because if there’s a predator, they’re more likely to bolt, than stand and fight. That’s about it. If a horse is singled out he is more likely to turn to us without fear or aggression once he comes to realise that we are not predatory, and as a surrogate leader can offer the ultimate protection. And that’s where the ‘following’ or ‘joining-up’ comes in.

This principle works with wild/un-handled horses as well as re-training by reiterating the relationship of horse and leader for equines who have formed bad habits, or those with anxiety issues. Actually, most bad habits stem from anxiety and a lack of leadership. It’s a little like your pet dog – and dare I say children, too? – needing to know their safe and secure place in the family pack, although the body language between dogs and horses is rather different. Flattened ears in a dog is more likely to mean subservient greetings whereas a horse … well, watch out! 

Not everyone agrees that these principles are quite so cut and dried, and as is often the case with a lot of unquantified skills, there is perhaps some sixth-sense at work gleaned from years of experience. There are many equine behavourists who claim the ‘following’ principle is flawed. But the proof is in the pudding. I’ve watched trainers use these techniques on a couple of riding-school horses – both of whom they’d never ‘met’ – with amazingly fast results: 20 minutes to resolve a problem with electric clippers on a mare which had for some 12 years, aggressively avoided the issue. The owner was quite rightly, open-mouthed. But the problem isn’t solved in its entirety, as the trainer explained: Tilly’s owner needed to learn and understand the process for herself, and as is the case with most success stories, a certain measure of self-belief is required. It’s this psychological leadership which is perhaps where the sixth-sense bridges that gap between human and equine.

Horses have been a lifetime’s passion for me. No surprise that they feature in most of my novels, more so in MIDNIGHT SKY and PALOMINO SKY. Both books draw on the principles of horse-whispering and the power of self-belief – but I take on this theme in a fictional sense rather than a technical sense. It’s so easy to swamp the narrative with too much unwanted detail. And yet, it’s the minutiae of life which underpins the storyline in Palomino Sky. As with horse-whispering, it’s the observation of perhaps something seemingly inconsequential which can change an entire situation. If you’re not horse savvy or enjoy only a passing interest, I’ve tried to portray the equine aspect as secondary to the storyline in these books. On the other hand, horse enthusiasts will hopefully embrace the setting. STRAWBERRY SKY completes the series. 

ABOUT JAN RUTH:

The real story began at school, with prizes for short stories and poetry. She failed all things mathematical and scientific, and to this day struggles to make sense of anything numerical.

Her first novel - written in 1986 - attracted the attention of an agent who was trying to set up her own company, Love Stories Ltd. It was a project aiming to champion those books of substance which contained a romantic element but were perhaps directed towards the more mature reader and consistently fell through the net in traditional publishing. Sadly, the project failed to get the right financial backing. 

Many years later Jan's second novel, Wild Water, was taken on by Jane Judd, literary agent. Judd was a huge inspiration, but the book failed to find the right niche with a publisher. It didn't fall into a specific category and, narrated mostly from the male viewpoint, it was considered out of genre for most publishers and too much of a risk. 

Amazon changed the face of the industry with the advent of self-publishing; opening up the market for readers to decide the fate of those previously spurned novels. Jan went on to successfully publish several works of fiction and short story collections and after a brief partnership with Accent Press in 2015, has returned to the freedom of independent publishing.

ABOUT MY BOOKS: 

I write contemporary fiction about the darker side of the family dynamic with a generous helping of humour, horses and dogs. My books blend the serenities of rural life with the headaches of city business, exploring the endless complexities of relationships. 

Amazon

You will find the Kindle copy of Strawberry Sky on Amazon UK 

Find Jan on Facebook, Follow on Twitter or visit her Website 

Huge thanks to Jan for being our guest on the blog today. 

Jaffa and I wish you huge success with Strawberry Sky

~***~

Review ~ Midnight Sky and Palomino Sky by Jan Ruth

2013

Laura Brown, on the surface, seems to have everything she could possibly want, she co-owns Dragon Designs a successful property company with her partner and boyfriend, Simon, and maintains a loving and supportive relationship with her older sister, Maggie and yet, underneath the showy success, Laura's life is shadowed by doubt and indecision. At one of her lowest ebbs, Laura comes into contact with Liz and James Morgan-Jones, the brother and sister who run a local stables, and her commission to renovate a couple of farm cottages is met, at first, with a degree of scepticism from James, who seems averse to any sort of change. 

And as the layers of the story are gradually revealed, what then follows is an intricate story about feelings and about the betrayal of trust which Laura finds to her cost. The story is not just about individuals,  it's also a story about families and their connection with each other, of the secrets that are so often kept to protect each other, and how learning to trust again can be fraught with difficulties and challenges.

As always, in this author's novels, the stunning backdrop of North Wales takes centre stage and becomes so much part of the narrative that you can visualise places with ease. I loved how the story draws you in, and as a reader there is something supremely comforting about characters who soon become as familiar as friends. I stared to really care about what happened to Laura, fell completely in love with the brooding presence of James and really wanted to everything to work out for all of them.

The other characters that flit into and out of the story are a lively bunch and I enjoyed spending time with them, particularly with Jess who made me smile and yet, who also annoyed me to the point of exasperation. The horses, of course, are an absolute dream and add real authenticity to this lovely story.

Midnight Sky was published in 2013 and forms the start of the Midnight Sky Series of novels which will see the progression of the story, and further development of the characters in Palomino Sky.

Palomino Sky

In Palomino Sky, we take up the story where we left off in Midnight Sky. Laura and James are now living together and planning a wedding and yet, whilst they are enjoying being together, there are also troubles looming, and there are huge decisions to be made before they can hope to find happiness and a semblance of peace.

As always, this author’s writing, draws you in, and with wit and warmth takes you completely into a different world. I love the mayhem of the riding stables, the horses are a wonderful addition to the story and the understanding between both the equine and the human world is done so thoughtfully that it is obvious that the author is writing about a subject she understands completely. Those characters we met in Midnight Sky, particularly Maggie and Jess, continue to form a backdrop and provide a different view of life and a fascinating insight into their world. As always, the characters get right into the heart and soul of the novel, and yes, they make you laugh, but I'm afraid this time around, they also make you cry.

On reflection, I think that Palomino Sky is an altogether darker read than Midnight Sky, as there are some tough issues unfolding for both Laura and James, and there's a real sensitive pull to the story which made me quite sad in places. However, ultimately, what shines throughout is the author’s commitment to storytelling, her fine attention to detail and her affinity with both landscape and character which infuses the story with an incredible authenticity. 

I read and review so many books, and it's a real privilege to get to read so many lovely stories in advance of their publication but sometimes it's really comforting to read an author whose books are as familiar to me as cherished friends and in whose company I always feel safe in the knowledge that both she and her characters will never let me down.

Best Read with....a thermos flask of hot tea, liberally spiced with brandy and a slice of Bara Brith thickly spread with salty Welsh butter...

About the author

Jan Ruth writes contemporary fiction about the darker side of the family dynamic with a smattering of humour, dogs and horses. Her books often blend rural life with city business, exploring the endless complexities of relationships.

Visit the author's website
Find on Facebook
Followon Twitter @JanRuthAuthor

My thanks to the author for sharing Midnight Sky  and Palomino Sky with me.




~***~

Review ~ Redemption Song by Laura Wilkinson

Accent Press
2016

After a catastrophic event, Saffron retreats to the peaceful Welsh town of Coed Mawr. There she learns to shield herself from further hurt and in doing so, the impenetrable barrier which surrounds her seems insurmountable. Living with her mother, Rain, is never going to be easy, as both women have sorrows which they would rather not explore. There is much to understand between mother and daughter, made all the more complex by Rain’s role as the local Baptist minister and by the secrets which exist between them. And then, into the mix comes Joe, a man with enough secrets of his own, a loner, who starts to take an interest in Saffron, which then opens up a whole different web of intrigue.

After an initial slow start, the novel gradually expands into a perceptive look at the minutiae of lives irretrievably damaged by circumstances. The story is well controlled and the characters, whilst not always likeable, have a realistic edge to them which helps to carry the story along. I think that the author has done a fine job in looking at what makes people act in the way they do. The ambiguity of all of their lives is well explored, and there are some interesting turn of events, which help to maintain interest throughout the story.

So, all in all, I found this to be a good read, with a character driven plot and more than enough twists and turns to keep me guessing until the end.

Best Read with….Croissants, buttery and warm from the oven and a dark roast coffee, thick with cream..

About the author

Visit her Facebook page

Twitter @ScorpioScribble

Amazon UK

Find a guest post by the author here

My thanks to Laura Wilkinson for sharing her novel with me.

~***~

Author Guest Post ~ Jan Ruth

I am delighted to welcome back to the blog the author

Jan Ruth

Photograph courtesy of the author

Hi Jan, I'm really pleased to welcome you back to Jaffareadstoo and I'm excited to learn that your latest novel Palomino Sky is newly published.

What can you tell us about Midnight Sky and it's sequel, Palomino Sky ?

The power of Self-belief versus Fear…

Horses have been a lifetime’s passion for me. No surprise that they feature in most of my novels, more so in MIDNIGHT SKY and PALOMINO SKY. Both books draw on the principles of horse-whispering and the power of self-belief – but I take on this theme in a fictional sense rather than a technical sense.

Monty Roberts’ father was virtually destroyed by his son’s belief in ‘horse-whispering’, as a far more humane and less exhausting method of breaking and training horses. It’s no secret that Monty took a severe beating for it.

A remarkable man, Roberts went on to foster disadvantaged children, using much the same wisdom and insight he’d learnt through studying horses and their social groups in the wild. It’s too easy – and often misguided – to bestow animals with human emotion, but maybe trust is rooted in the same place in humans as in horses, and observation and interpretation is all that’s required to make a valuable connection, regardless of language. And isn’t whispering usually far more effective than shouting? Much the same as writing good fiction; and if we’re talking analogies there’s nothing worse than clunky dialogue. Is Natural Horsemanship simply natural dialogue?

It’s so easy to swamp the narrative with too much unwanted detail. And yet, it’s the minutiae of life which underpins the storyline in PALOMINO SKY. As with horse-whispering, it’s the observation of perhaps something seemingly inconsequential which can change an entire situation. If you’re not horse savvy or enjoy only a passing interest, I’ve tried to portray the equine aspect as secondary to the storyline in these books. On the other hand, horse enthusiasts will hopefully embrace the setting!

MIDNIGHT SKY

How can we harness the future if the past will not set us free? An emotive story of love, loss and letting go. Opposites attract? Laura Brown, interior designer and James Morgan-Jones, horse whisperer - and Midnight Sky, a beautiful but damaged steeplechaser.

Laura seems to have it all; glamorous job, charming boyfriend. Her sister Maggie struggles with money, difficult children and an unresponsive husband. She envies her sister’s life, but are things as idyllic as they seem?

She might be a farmers daughter but Laura is doing her best to deny her roots, even deny her true feelings. Until she meets James. But James is very married, and very much in love, to a wife who died two years ago. They both have issues to face from their past but will it bring them together, or push them apart?

Part One:  Midnight Sky 99c/99p

PALOMINO SKY

Part Two of The Midnight Sky Series

A golden promise for the future in a lonely palomino mare, but life deals a cruel hand for James and Laura.

James is still running from the past after the loss of his wife, and a devastating accident forces him to face his final demons, but at what cost? Laura is forced deeper into his rural world - a life she once despised - but discovers empathy and hope in the palomino mare she calls Song.

Repercussions abound for Maggie too, when the full extent of her daughter's dangerous liaison comes to light, leaving the entire family in turmoil. Will James and Laura ever find a golden future, or has life dealt too vicious a blow?

Part Two: New Release: Palomino Sky



Extract from Palomino Sky:

He took her hand, pulled her gently towards the bed and she kicked off her shoes and lay with him, and a million answers seemed to come out of nowhere. When she went to kiss his cold face, his mouth found hers and it was impossible to deny the essence of such sweet hiraeth when it was so simple, so perfect. The fact that this was happening on the sleigh-bed sent the ghost of Carys to another dimension entirely. For some inexplicable reason, she felt the need to exhort her feelings about this woman above all else. Her voice sounded strangled with the words, but she had to get them out somehow, like an exorcism, like opening Pandora’s box. She rested her forehead against his. ‘I gave the rings to Sam.’

‘I seem to remember saying, several months ago, that he could have them.’

‘Imagine if… I don’t want Jess to have her ring. Ever.’

A long considered moment of silence followed, and she wondered how much he understood of the situation, the significance. All of it, from his expression, but she knew for certain he was moved by her disquiet. Perhaps it didn’t matter where the future of the rings lay. They were only a small piece of the picture, and more importantly, Carys wasn’t even in the picture. Somehow this woman had shifted to become her guardian angel of the future, and even in her ethereal form she carried a certainty that everything in the universe could be changed and strengthened by love, whether it was historical or not.

After a moment she said, ‘What made you go off on Mal like that?’

‘Something Jess said about not letting that scum Armstrong win. And it was something you said about fear, months ago. I thought, if I couldn’t get below nine I’d be stuffed. It was your fear scale for getting on Tyler.’

Since he didn’t offer a number, she lowered her head to his chest in much the same way she’d done in the hospital, willing him to breathe. ‘What was wrong with Clive, the thoroughbred?’

‘Nothing. Blind in one eye and possibly deaf in one ear. Frightened he’s not getting the full picture. A bit like me.’

‘Could you work with him? What would you do?’

‘Blindfold him, so he’s not getting conflicting images. Teach him to use his other senses.’

‘Should I do that to you?’

He almost laughed and it was such an unexpected sound she turned to look at his face but he had one arm across it. There might have been a tear too, so she laid her head back down. ‘After being kept alive by a machine, I’d like you to know you have an amazing beating heart.’

‘Debatable.’

‘And so does this place. Have a heart, I mean.’

‘Now you’re really stretching it. Have you seen the state of everything? It looks like they’ve had a demolition derby.’

‘You might listen to Clive but you’re still not hearing me, are you?’

‘I am,’ he said, and paused to study his disjointed hand. ‘Dad used to say horse whispering was nothing to do with whispering, it was all about listening. So, go on, cut to the chase. I’m listening…’

©JanRuth

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Huge thanks to Jan Ruth for sharing this tantalising extract from Palomino Sky with us..

All her books can be found here 

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Review ~ Dark Water: Part Two of Wild Water by Jan Ruth

An excellent continuation....

Jack Redman, estate agent to the smart Cheshire set, should be living the life of his dreams in North Wales with his partner Anna. But his commute from the leafy suburbs of Wilmslow, to the rural bliss of Gwern farm on the outskirts of Conwy, is fraught with anxiety. Caught between a rock and hard place, Jack struggles to organize a life which is made all the more complicated by his increasingly demanding ex-wife Patsy, his precocious daughter Lottie, and the uncertain paternity of two of his children. Whilst he struggles to keep the peace with Anna, the phrase, oh, what a tangled web we weave, when first we practise to deceive, springs to mind, as Jack Redman tries to juggle his increasingly difficult personal life.

All too often sequels can become a bit of damp squib with less on offer than what has gone before, but rest assured that this is not the case with Dark Water.  This follow-on story picks up on the threads which were left hanging at the end of Wild Water, and with her usual panache and fine attention to detail, Jan Ruth brings together all the pieces of a story which very quickly becomes a roller coaster of emotional turmoil and smouldering resentments. There is never a lull in the narrative, the plot is allowed to evolve beautifully, and there some really lovely, light moments which offset the darker elements of the story. The banter between Jack and his small daughter, Lottie, is quite irresistible and I found myself laughing out loud at some of their dialogue, and likewise the touching moments between Anna and her dog Benson, brought tears to my eyes and echoed the memories of what it feels like to lose something precious.  With the tension is racked up to an almost impossible level, Jack, Anna and Patsy get caught up in a dark and deadly story of long buried secrets, which threatens not just their relationship with each other, but which also has a profound effect on their family and friends.

As with any part-two story, it is almost essential to have read the first book, and whilst it’s not impossible to pick up the story, you will miss the finer points and that would be to do both the story and the author a great disservice, as the books should be read sequentially. I am heartened that the ending of Dark Water could almost lend itself to another visit to this beautiful part of Wales and I'm sure that Jack Redman and company have a lot more life in them for future stories. I really hope so....

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My thanks to the author for sharing her book with me

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Review ~ Crimson Shore by Gillian E Hamer

Gillian E Hamer
2014

Crimson Shore sees a new departure for this author, who, with her previous books has made an impact with cross-genre crime fiction. However, in this new series of procedural crime novels the focus is more on the dynamics of an active crime office, and the back room banter between close knit colleagues allows a fascinating glimpse into the pressures they face, not just in their daily work, but also within their personal lives. 

When a series of unexplained dead bodies start to show up on the peaceful island of Anglesey in North Wales, the Bangor CID team, headed by DI Amanda Gold, have the devil’s own job in trying to keep one step ahead of a murderer who leaves virtually no evidence behind. With precious little to go on, DS Dara Brennan and DS Kelly Jones are left struggling, not just with a series of complex murder cases but also with their growing attraction to each other. As with any new series there is much to take in, the mechanism of a bustling CID office and the repartee between colleagues is done with a realistic understanding of the vagaries of police hierarchy, however, it is the journey into the mind of a killer where the story really starts to bite.

Placing a series of gritty crime novels in this peaceful corner of North Wales is an inspired choice of location, and this quiet, or maybe not so quiet little island really comes to life under the watchful eye of this talented author. However, don’t be fooled by the idyllic setting, as this story is by no stretch of the imagination either tranquil or cosy crime; there is a brutal killer on the loose and as the hard hitting violent behaviour thumps you into taking notice, very soon you start to jump at shadows and you see evil in every hidden corner.

I read Crimson Shore over the space of twenty four hours as I couldn’t tear myself away from it and was gripped by the sheer competence of an author who leads you gently by the hand into the presence of pure evil, and believe me, to have a safe pair of hands to hold in this novel is very comforting indeed.

I am sure that this is the start of a commendable series and I am already eager to catch up with DI Amanda Gold’s CID team in the not too distant future.

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Available for kindle download now or in paperback from 1 June 2014

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