Festive |

Published: November 2013 by Susan Buchanan

Category: Contemporary Fiction, Romance, Book Review

Christmas is coming, but not everyone is looking forward to it.

The enigmatic Natalie Hope takes over the reins at the Sugar and Spice bakery and café in an attempt to spread some festive cheer and restore Christmas spirit, but will she succeed?

Natalie Hope’s job only lasts a month each year, beginning on the 1st December and ending on the 24th. This year she is in Scotland and has chosen to help four people who are not looking forward to Christmas for one reason and another.

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Author: Nicky Wells
Published: October 2013 by CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
Category: Paranormal, Contemporary

At one time, up-and-coming rock singer Jude had it all: a great band, a platinum record, a loving girlfriend. This Christmas, however, he is well down the road towards spontaneous self-destruction.

Spirits of Christmas is a modern-day rock’n’roll adaption of Charles Dickens’ classic A Christmas Carol. This novella will enchant romance readers, rock lovers, fans of ghost stories, and everybody who adores the festive season.

My thanks to Nicky Wells and Brook Cottage Books for sending me a copy.

A perfect seasonal read – a novella with a modern twist on an old classic, with the traditional theme of reformation and possible outcomes.

Jude Shaw is the lead singer of the rock band The Blood Roses. They had it made with a platinum album, but have lost their way due in no small part to Jude’s overbearing and selfish attitude. Their downward slide in popularity has been slow but steady and when eventually they are booed off stage Jude predictably blames his band mates, Darren, Tom and Rob. And to cap it all his girlfriend, Carrie, has left him. Jude can only see misery and loneliness in his future.

That night Jude is visited by the Ghost of Forewarning, who has a very crucial message. He is followed by three more apparitions, all rock legends, who take Jude on incredible journeys to revisit his past, present and his possible future. Jude couldn’t see how antagonistic and indifferent he had become to those closest to him. This was a wake up call like no other. Jude determines to change his ways and devises a plan which he hopes will bring everyone back together.

I loved this very creative, evocative story with the paranormal aspect, which was written extremely well. The rock ghost references are inventive and fun. Very enjoyable, believable and well defined characters.

Author: Nicky Wells
Published: November 2014 by CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
Category: Contemporary Fiction

New York. A restaurant near Park Avenue. It’s early evening, and dusk is falling. So is the snow. Jude and Carrie are only killing time while they wait for their flight to London. They don’t know yet that their life will never be the same.

Twelve months on from Jude’s transformational Christmas he and the band, along with Carrie and baby Maya, have just finished a successful US tour. Jude and his family are scheduled to fly home from New York. While waiting in line at the airport check in they swap flights with a man needing desperately to get to London. What’s another day? Unless, of course, one day turns into more. As a white out hits the city and all planes are grounded Jude, Carrie and Maya are stranded.

The hotel they’ve just left is full and no rooms are available anywhere. Jude, Carrie and Maya are facing a dismal and lonely Christmas. Or are they? A chance meeting changes everything. Little did either Jude or Carrie realise their good deed would result in an enchanting Christmas and totally unforeseen long-term benefits for them all.

A story full of Christmas spirit and joy of the season. A magical city covered in snow, making special friends, giving sick children in hospital a very special Christmas and an impromptu wedding. I love the perception that Christmas isn’t about how much you have and the commercialism but more to do with love, kindness and the benefits from helping other people.

About the author

Ultimate rock chick author Nicky Wells writes romance with rock stars—because there’s no better romantic hero than a golden-voiced bad boy with a secret soft heart and a magical stage presence!

Nicky’s books offer glitzy, glamorous romance with rock stars—imagine Bridget Jones ROCKS Notting Hill! If you’ve ever had a crush on any kind of celebrity, you’ll connect with Nicky’s heroes and their leading ladies.

Born in Germany, Nicky moved to the United Kingdom in 1993 and currently lives in Lincoln with her husband and their two boys. Nicky loves listening to rock music, dancing, and eating lobsters. When she’s not writing, she’s a wife, mother, occasional knitter, and regular contributor at Siren 107.3 FM with her own monthly show. Rock on!

Nicky’s books: Sophie’s Turn | Sophie’s Run | Sophie’s Encore | Spirits of Christmas

| Fallen for Rock | Fairy Tale in New York

Did you know? There’s a single out now by Nicky’s fictional rock band Tuscq come to life! “Love Me Better” is available for download from Amazon, iTunes and many other places.