Do you like my new crown? I thought I’d wear it for this royal celebration.
It’s time for an almost royal welcome for Veronica Cline Barton. Having found a gold tiara to accessorize with Jena’s latest addition to her Golden Chapter, I’m ready to meet Veronica Cline Barton’s characters and offer a genteel curtsey. On second thoughts, I think I’ll sit back and listen from the comfort of my throne. Has anyone seen Jena? Ah. I see her walking along the red carpet. Is she wearing a crown?
Sorry I’m late. I’ve been searching for the next chapter in our Golden Chapter story. Do you like my new crown? I thought I’d wear it for this royal celebration. I’ve recently made friends with many of you in the UK, so I chose The Crown for Castlewood Manor for my Golden Chapter Review. A charming heroine with American and English roots, a stately home, a titled gentleman, and a cozy mystery- sounds Golden to me!
The Crown for Castlewood Manor
The blurb for Castlewood Manor begins, “The English ancestral manor of Cherrywood Hall is ready to compete for selection in an upcoming British TV period drama series.” I know what you are thinking- sounds like Downton Abbey! Yes it does, but I was put in mind of a different TV show, The Patty Duke Show which was an American sitcom that aired from 1963 to 1966.
The premise of the show involved the hijinks of Patty, a rambunctious American teen, and her refined identical cousin from the UK, Cathy. Both girls were played by Patty Duke and as they say, hilarity ensued. The bouncy theme song included these memorable lines,
OK, I will now close my “golden age of tv handbag” and get to the First Chapter Review of The Crown for Castlewood Manor by Veronica Cline Barton.
The first chapter, Beaches of Malibu, August, is fun and well-written as we meet the heroine of the book, Gemma. She gives us a succinct summary of her life:
“My name is Gemma Alexandra Lancaster Phillips, and I’m a twenty-seven-year-old California girl, born and bred. I was newly awarded my PhD. I have an American Lancaster family and an English Lancaster family.”
Aha! And as we soon learn, the British side of the family needs Gemma’s help. A Marquess and a stately home, Castlewood Manor are involved. (In addition to almost-royalty on the English side, Gemma’s Ma-ma is a successful American film star.)
The latest book in the series; The Crown for Castlewood Manor – Deadly Receptions
We are also treated to an intro to the California nature of our girl Gemma. Whether she is dining at an upscale Malibu bistro, confronting a misbehaving boyfriend, or howling at the moon, Gemma wants to make her own mark. But does she really know what awaits her at Castlewood Manor?
Sounds like a golden beginning to an intriguing cozy mystery. (Or cosy, for my British friends.) Gemma is smart, beautiful and lively, with a tinge of self-doubt. Get to know Gemma and her English cousins!
Victoria Cline Barton’s Golden Handbag
Many thanks to Jessie Cahalin for letting me browse her Handbag Gallery. If you have read The Crown for Castlewood Manor, we’d love to hear from you in the comments. Haven’t read the book? Then let’s discuss it! Here are some questions to get us started.
Have you visited a stately home in America or the UK? Do you have a favorite?
Are you good at solving cozy mysteries as you read them?
I liked Gemma’s attributes. What makes a good protagonist?
‘If you enjoyed “Eat, Pray, Love-You will love this travel memoir!’
It’s exciting to be presenting the first Golden Chapter of 2019. I challenged the lovely Jena to find something uplifting and appropriate for the start of a new year and she didn’t disappoint. I know you will find this choice intriguing. The book is a wonderful ‘life-journey’ that teaches ‘first learn to love thyself’. ‘If you enjoyed “Eat, Pray, Love-You will love this travel memoir!’
I chose Brigid P. Gallagher’s book, Watching the Daisies– Life Lessons on the Importance of Slow from the Golden Handbag and now I’m “Feelin’ Groovy”. The opening Prologue and first chapter had me humming…
Slow down, you move too fast You have to make the morning last… Hello lamppost, what’cha knowing I’ve come to watch your flowers growin’
Brigid invites you to live life slow and ‘love thyself’
Singer/Songwriter Paul Simon and Author Brigid Gallagher have something in common- the importance of SLOW. I don’t know about Paul Simon, but as I read the beginning of Watching the Daisies, I learned that Brigid Gallagher wasn’t always slow.
The book begins in 2012, where we meet a vibrant and radiant Brigid, dancing at a Tom Jones concert. (The author helpfully points out that Sir Tom is a legendary singer and sex bomb.) If this is the secret to healthy living, I’m all in!
We learn that the author “senses rainbows around everything, for she has been blessed with the gift of clairvoyance or clear seeing.” The prologue ends with this insight, “No matter how difficult your journey has been, you will find blessings on every corner.” (Or Lampost according to Paul Simon!)
The next section of the book is titled “Busy as a Bee”. And the first chapter in this section is, “The Kippen Girls”. This book is a first-person memoir and Author Gallagher shares her origin story in this part of the book. She grew up in a cozy family in a small town in mid-twentieth century Scotland, although she and her family frequently visited their extended family in Ireland. Charming stories of daily life and holiday activities make for pleasant reading. The first chapter ends with a family sadness, and also personal questions for Brigid as she grows up and leaves home.
What comes next, I wondered. I glanced at some of the chapter headings:
Life Can Turn on a Sixpence Egypt Slowing Down India Rome
How exciting and inspiring! I choose this book from the Golden Handbag because I wanted to be encouraged and uplifted as I started this new year of 2019. My personal hashtag is #StayGolden and this book will help guide me!
At the end of the book are Ten Tips for Self-Healing. Here are a few:
Have faith in a Higher Power
Appreciate every day and its gifts
Learn to be gentle with yourself
Find a JOYFUL form of exercise
Jena C Henry
Start your new year with this positive and golden read. Let’s talk about this book. If you have read it- we’d love to hear your comments. If you haven’t read it, we can discuss these questions:
Brigid P. Gallagher aspired to becoming a doctor but God had other plans! She spent thirteen years in the life assurance industry, including Actuarial and Life Underwriting departments, before following her heart and training as a Natural Medicines therapist. Brigid trained in colour and crystal healing, aromatherapy, reflexology, nutritional medicine, flower essences, electro-crystal healing, radionics and E.F.T or Emotional Freedom Technique. She practised and taught Natural Medicines for 20 years, teaching at Stirling University’s Open Studies and Summer Schools from 1993 to 1999, setting up the Scottish School of Holistic Healing plus a therapy centre and shop in Stirling, Scotland. In 1999, she relocated to Donegal, Ireland the home of her ancestors. Four years later, she succumbed to a mystery illness which was eventually diagnosed as fibromyalgia and possible rheumatoid arthritis. Stopping the world for 2 years, forced Brigid to reassess her life, and thus she began retraining in Organic Horticulture. She taught this subject in schools part time until early 2016. Her garden was featured in the Donegal Garden Trail in 2012, 2013 and 2014. Brigid continues her lifelong passion for gardening, singing and writing in her new life of SLOW.
Time travelling with Anna Belfrage and the golden handbag
This week Jena is time travelling with her golden handbag, so she delved into the wonderful world of Anna Belfrage’s novels. She selected two novels from The Wanderer Book series and let Anna take her back in time with her characters. If you are in the US you’ll be time ‘traveling’ but here in the UK we’re time ‘travelling’. Have a great time wherever you are.
Time travelling with Anna Belfrage and the golden handbag
If you love to read, then author Anna Belfrage is the writer for you. She has crafted many wonderful-looking and enticing books. There are nine books in her The Graham Saga series, all Time Travel Romances. Then there’s The King’s Greatest Enemy series, four Medieval Romances. Or how about The Wanderer Book series, two so far, again more exciting Time Travel. Her storied have also appeared in several historical anthologies. The focus on historical times and time travel is not surprising as according to Anna’s bio, “Had Anna been allowed to choose, she’d have become a professional time-traveler.”
Had Anna been allowed to choose, she’d have become a professional time-traveler.
I found the Two Books in The Wanderer Series in the historical area of Jessie Cahalin’s Handbag Gallery. I’ve always been intrigued by time travel, and history gets me excited too, so I knew I had found my latest Golden Chapter reads.
What are The Wanderer Books about? Here’s part of the book blurb from the first book.
“In the long-lost ancient past, two men fought over the girl with eyes like the Bosporus under a summer sky. It ended badly. She died. They died.
Since then, they have all tumbled through time, reborn over and over again. Now they are all here, in the same place, the same time and what began so long ago must finally come to an end.”
Ask the heroine Helle Madsen what she thinks about reincarnation and she’ll laugh in your face.
Well, I don’t want to be laughed at, but I was curious about reincarnation and time travel, so I found this helpful list online.
Past Lives: 11 Signs Your Soul Has Reincarnated Many Times
Recurring Dreams
Out-of-Place Memories
Deja-vu
You’re an empath
You Have Strong Intuition
Precognition
Recognition
You Feel Older Than Your Age Reflects
You have a great Affinity for Certain Cultures or Time Periods
Unexplainable Fears or Phobias
You Feel as though this Earth is not Your Home
While we ponder the list, let’s get started on the Golden Chapter reviews. Yes, I decided to review the first Golden Chapter of each of the two books in the series, because I was so intrigued by the idea of reincarnation and time-travel.
Jena C. Henry
The first book in The Wanderer Series is A Torch in His Heart. And the first chapter starts dramatically.
“His eyes snapped open! She was here!
Jason- His lost woman…so many centuries ago….so many lives in between
And in a bed, in a room several streets away, a young woman twisted in her sleep.”Let’s meet the three souls that have tumbled through time and been born and reborn. Helle Madsen is a young American woman, in London for a new exciting financial internship. She’s smart, beautiful and sophisticated but her girlfriend thinks Helle prefers to date milksops.
Helle’s boss is Sam Woolf, a man who radiates power. We learn that he has ancient Turkish blood. He has black, black eyes that bore into people. Such as when he tells Helle, “For a moment, you reminded me of some I used to know- a long, long time ago.” Definitely not a milksop. Helle’s not sure if Sam is “hot” but she thinks he’s definitely predatory and handsome. When she’s with him, she feels like she’s being pulled into a dark vortex.
And then there’s Jason…
At the end of the first Golden Chapter, we leave the present day and get a glimpse of the ancient past. Jason is meeting a King and a young girl with hair the color of the sun. A small girl who walks into his heart.
What an exciting book and series this promises to be! Time travel, reincarnation, souls seeking each other over and over. Plenty of action and romance will enhance the unique story-line, I’m sure!!
Are you ready for a peak at the second book in the series?
At the start of this Golden Chapter, we are immediately thrown into a crisis.
The successful young career woman, Helle Madsen, is dirty, and covered in blood. Jason, Sam and Helle are in the present day and have been involved in a situation with a car fire, and a shooting. Helle has attacked Sam. Jason has used his special gifts. The police don’t know what they are investigating. And they certainly don’t know that it involves 3,000 years of history.
As Helle keeps watch over Jason in the hospital, she longs for him, her eternal torch-bearer.
She wonders-“ was it the Fates, those fickle spinners of destiny, who had decided it would be good to throw all three of them together again?”
Yes, Jason and Helle are reunited, but Sam Woolf, erstwhile Prince of Kolchis, is a hard man to kill.
Plenty of adventure and thrills in this Golden Chapter, too!
Thanks to Jessie Cahalin and author Anna Belfrage for introducing me to this adventurous Time Travel series! I hope you visit the Handbag Gallery to learn more about Anna Belfrage’s books and all the other titles there. Have you read this book series, or any of the other books by Ms. Belfrage? I’d love to talk about them with you in the comments. Here’s some questions I’d like to chat about and feel free to leave your own thoughts, too!
Are you a reincarnated soul?
Would you love to be a time-traveler?
What do you think about the heroine, Helle? There she is, an up and coming financial wizard…and then she learns about her past lives!
Selecting books is a voyage of discovery for intrepid readers. My love of books has connected me with readers around the world. A letter from an American blogger and author has opened another door on my blog. Jena will hop on her boat to visit the latest editions to the Handbag Gallery. Peek at the letter received from Jena C. Henry and find out how she hopes to discover new books and connect with readers.
Jena will hop on her boat to visit the latest editions to the Handbag Gallery.
Dear Books in My Handbag,
Your site is an elegant showroom of books and handbags. Even more, it is a curated collection of possibilities, opportunities and dreams. So much to explore!
The Readers Recommendspage invites readers to share a composed photo of their favorite book and handbag, along with a short testimonial. My Guests presents biographies of authors.
The best page is the Handbag Gallery, with its beguiling photos of books and handbags. Each author has taken care to display the book to its best advantage. Over 260 captivating titles are presented, each linked to a retail site.
Am I in book lovers’ heaven? Yes! I want to read and review every book and get to know each author. So many tempting titles, so little time- what can I do?
How about this- I will encourage other readers to join with me! Here’s what I’m thinking- I will read the first chapter of a book and post a short review, which will include questions. If you’ve read the book, please comment and share a link to your review, and/or answer my questions (without too many spoilers)! If my review encourages you to read the book, let us all know about that, too!
As Carol Drinkwater said, “I love your book blog and am honoured to be there amongst such class”.
And as our favorite author said, “You Can’t Go it Alone”. I’m looking forward to some delightful conversations about books. The Handbag Gallery is gorgeous to view. It’s Golden! Let’s open the book covers, ruffle the pages and sing these stories.
Your book friend, Jena C. Henry
I have built a new doorway into my world of books and handbags for Jena.
Jena is right, I can’t go it alone with my Handbag Gallery. We do need to delve into the books and find out more about what is in there. I have built a new doorway into my world of books and handbags for Jena. In return, Jena has provided an empty golden handbag. Apparently, the handbag belonged to her character Charli from the Gold Age of Charli series. Jena will look at any new books in the gallery and place opening chapters in the golden handbag. Each month Jena will feature her Golden Chapter. Will you be the lucky author? Jena will prioritise authors who interact with us via our blogs and social media.
Good luck! I wonder who will be placed in Jena’s golden handbag.
We invite our bookish friends to place a new book release in the Handbag Gallery and she will peek at the opening chapters.
Good luck! I wonder who will be placed in Jena’s golden handbag.
Let me introduce you to Jena. Jena is an author, beta reader, book blogger and reviewer. Check out her YouTube channel where she presents a book in a minute. Here she is wearing the scarf sent to her by my character Sophie.
Let me introduce you to Jena. Here she is wearing the scarf sent to her by my character, Sophie.
Jena C. Henry is an active, optimistic gal who is a wife, mother, non-profit volunteer and bon vivant. She created the book series, The Golden Age of Charli, to encourage, entertain and share her joy of living and laughing.
Jena presents writing workshops to help creatives achieve their dreams of writing and publishing. She is a blogger, book reviewer and beta reader.
Jena C. Henry holds a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Akron School of Law. Now retired, she and her husband live in tropical Ohio where they enjoy their two adult children and extended family, friends and darling dog.
When she is finished tidying her house, Jena likes to relax on her front porch and read and write. She enjoys fine dining, traveling to visit family, and lounging by lovely bodies…of water.
Jena C. Henry, boomer blogger, podcaster and author, convinced me to end my blogging drought, grab a golden handbag and share an exciting new release with you. With an exclusive peek at opening chapter of Jane Cable’s ‘Endless Skies’, Jena could not wait to share her views. Without further ado, I will hand my blog over to the lady with the golden handbag crammed with reviews of opening chapters.
Jena C. Henry, boomer blogger, podcaster and author.
Like many of you, I have spent most of my days sheltering at home, reading books for hours. Thanks to the Handbag Gallery, I was able to safely browse and find good reads to keep me company. Thank you Author Friends for writing so many “take me away” books.
And now, a Golden Chapter opportunity has appeared, like the sun from behind the clouds. Endless Skies by Jane Cable, published by Sapere Books, will be released on July 27, 2020.
“Endless Skies” evokes a word picture for me. I gaze up, then turn my face even higher to the arc above, endless and infinite.
The sky has its own blue color, not an ordinary blue jean blue. The height and expanse for this blueness makes me feel small, but at the same time, full and boundless. The curve of sky is a structure solid and strong, yet it must also be soft and sheer, able to be pierced by a weightless beam of sun. Is heaven on the other side? All things are possible and eternal on a radiant day.
But too often in this blue arc, dark clouds pile up, lightning flashes, the wind blows away the peace. An enemy aircraft roars over the horizon, a black mark on the perfect sky. Bombs drop. Where is heaven now?
This is not a story one skims, rather it is a leisurely walk through a beautiful garden with lovely word pictures and emotions.
Having pondered the title, “Endless Skies”, let’s look at the Prologue and First Chapter. Jane Cable’s romance begins with a Prologue that introduces a pilot in his aircraft nearing his base, returning from enemy lands. The fighting is over for him, at least for this night. The skies do seem endless and he has a woman and a promise the size of the sky waiting for him. But trouble seems to be close to him, too.
The First Chapter introduces us to Rachel, in the present day, who tells her story in the first person. Rachel has been forced to uproot her life and move to a new university teaching position. She is an intelligent young woman and a woman who appreciates antiques and fine objects and accessories. She carefully unpacks her beloved Gran’s Royal Albert Festival tea service in her new, stark apartment. Her setting is important to her and this place does not suit her or comfort her.
At this point in the book, there are no boundless, optimistic, endless skies for Rachel. She has had to end yet another awkward romance, and a memory of a sad event when she was only eighteen is never far away, always ready to hurt and shake her. A few things do interest her in her new surroundings, including an old RAF base and a houseboat.
Author Cable writes dense, lyrical prose. This is not a story one skims, rather it is a leisurely walk through a beautiful garden with lovely word pictures and emotions. The timelessness of the writing, the setting and the introduction to Rachel, all with the hint of an airman from years ago, and the promise of endless skies, makes for an inviting opening to the rest of the story. I plan to keep on reading when the book is released.
Ms. Cable says, “I write romance with a twist, that extra something to keep readers guessing right to the end. While my books are character driven my inspiration is always a British setting.”
And now, a Golden Chapter opportunity has appeared, like the sun from behind the clouds. Endless Skies by Jane Cable, published by Sapere Books, will be released on July 27, 2020.
This is Jane Cable’s fourth book. Are you looking forward to reading it? I’m sure you are! Care to have a chin-wag about this book? I adore discussing books I have read. Here are some questions to get us started.
Do you like World War II stories?
Will Rachel find happiness?
What twist is coming?
“I write romance with a twist, that extra something to keep readers guessing right to the end. While my books are character driven my inspiration is always a British setting.” Jane Cable
Jane Cable says, “The past is never dead.” Do you agree?
A big thank you to Jena for this sensitive review of the opening chapter. ‘Endless Skies’ sounds like a fascinating insight into World War Two.
Even though life changes as we age- we must strive to stay as gold as we can.
Jena Henry is an amazing supporter of authors, and she dashes around social media leaving her trail of golden comments. I cannot imagine how we would cope without Jena’s positive, fun online presence. I wanted to find out more about this lovely lady, so I read her novel –The Golden Age of Charli. Jena’s book gave me a great insight into her positive philosophy and prompted me to ask further questions. I wanted to get to the heart of her catchphrase – ‘staying golden’.
Jena: Hello Jessie and thank you for inviting me to ramble on and on with you. I’m sure you know that I am a big fan of both you and your Handbag Gallery, so I hope after we chat, we will have some time to browse the handbags and see the latest books that you have added.
Right, we’ll move on. I suppose you want to talk books and writing? And me?
Sharing our books and ideas has developed a wonderful friendship across the miles.
Jessie: Jena, it’s been great fun getting to know you over the past year. Sharing our books and ideas has developed a wonderful friendship across the miles, and I love my Ohio t shirt. I admire how much you have achieved in your life, and your infectious positivity. Introduce yourself with three achievements that make you proud.
Jena: I never think too much about myself that way- but I’ll try.
I’m still here! Which encompasses having a happy marriage and a happy life, amazing kids.
And I achieved two goals that were important to me:
I graduated from Law School.
I finally wrote a book! (plus 2 more)
Sharing our books and ideas has developed a wonderful friendship across the miles.
Jessie: What do you mean when you say ‘stay golden’ and when did you invent this phrase?
Robert Frost inspired me with his poem,
Nature’s first green is gold,
Her hardest hue to hold.
Her early leaf’s a flower;
But only so an hour.
Then leaf subsides to leaf.
So Eden sank to grief,
So dawn goes down to day.
Nothing gold can stay.
The last line, “Nothing gold can stay”, is used in the powerful conclusion of S. E. Hinton’s coming-of-age book “The Outsider’s” (also a movie). “Stay gold Ponyboy”, one friend tells the other, meaning “stay innocent.”
As I am now a golden ager, and my book series is “The Golden Age of Charli”, I borrowed the concept from Frost and Hinton and adopted “Stay Golden” as my affirmation. Even though life changes as we age- we must strive to stay as gold as we can. I wrote a post on staying golden and here it is: https://www.jenabooks.com/stay-golden/
Jessie: You’ve reached the glorious years of retirement, and your positive philosophy inspired me to connect with you. What are your five golden rules to make the most of retirement?
Jena: Retirement…the golden years…the sunset years…the years where we all ask, “What’s a weekend?” because it really doesn’t matter anymore- every day is a day to rejoice. The desire to thrive is really the key. Many people face challenges with health and other circumstances, so I don’t mean to make it sound like every senior adult is able to frolic, and I’m truly grateful every day for all my blessings.
After busy and active decades of building a career, a family, a life…retirement can be a jolt or even a let down. Where is our purpose now? Here are my five rules to get you thinking.
Prepare for your retirement
Focus on healthy living
Discover something new and fun to do
Do something good for someone else
Give thanks each day.
Jessie, you are at the perfect age to start planning for your golden years! You have plenty of time to get your finances and retirement plans, your health, and your interests developed. You already have the golden, optimistic mind-set!
Jessie: Now you are enjoying retirement, what word words of advice would you give to Jena in her twenties.
Jena: Don’t worry, I know you were eager to finish college and move out from home and now that you’ve done it, you’re feeling a bit shaky but… EVERYTHING WILL TURN OUT BETTER THAN YOU CAN IMAGINE! All the life stuff- career, marriage, kids… piece of cake! (yes, I try to be over-encouraging with young people!)
Plus- so many cool things are coming! Technology, computers, the internet, big screen TVs, ereaders for books, smart phones, smart homes, streaming movies and tv shows, so much better than the three tv channels you get now!
And, you WILL write a book. You won’t vacation on the moon, in fact you’ll never move far away from your hometown. The Cleveland Indians will not win a World Series, and you won’t get back to Paris, but you will visit China. And even though you don’t not know what sushi is right now, but you will love it!
Jessie: Tell us why reading is important to you.
Jena: Reading is my superpower and helps me to stay golden.
I have always been an ardent reader. And now I am enjoying being a passionate reviewer. I post reviews on Amazon, Goodreads and my website. https://www.jenabooks.com/category/promotions/
Currently, I am considering if I can do more to connect with and serve and promote writers, authors, bloggers in even better ways. Any ideas for me?
Jessie: Apart from books, what other hobbies do you have?
Jena: As you may know, I am an avid sports fan, and we stay current with most sports, from local to professional. And now thanks to you I’m learning more about British sports! I’m happy to chat about Baseball- I root, root, for the home team which is the Cleveland Indians! I also cheer on the “real football” team, the Cleveland Browns and I’m most passionate about our pro Basketball team, The Cleveland Cavaliers!( Until last year, we had the GOAT (Greatest of All Time) LeBron James. I believe you have never heard of him?) My husband and sons also follow motorsports.
Jessie: What was a key influence in your life?
I am thankful I was born, grew up, and have always lived in Ohio. Ohio is a mid-western state with contrasts- cities and farms, conservatives and liberals, even Amish. Church and community are important. And one thing unites us all- The Ohio State University and its championship football program.
When someone starts the cheer of “O” “H”!…We all know to shout back “I” “O”.
And Ohioans are also quick to form OHIO with their arms and we share photographs of this all over social media.
Here is a photo my niece took, that shows OHIO on the side of a barn, near the city where we live. (Photo by mackmarie.com)
And Ohioans are also quick to form OHIO with their arms and we share photographs of this all over social media.
Jessie: You are also an author of a great collection of books about retirement. Pinpoint the exact time when you decided to write your trilogy. What was the biggest writing challenge?
Jena: I always wanted to write a book. After 40 years of dreaming, my husband said to me “Well, if you ever want to write a book, you should get started. Time is running out.”
Perhaps a bit harsh- but it worked. The idea of Charli came to me and I got to know her and write about her.
No real challenges. I am so proud of my books and me. I wrote a three-book fiction series, The Golden Age of Charli. I love all my books because they are just what I wanted them to be- fun, positive and encouraging. My books are loosely based on my experiences and the experiences of about 50 million other women! For more info
Thanks again Jessie! Time for tea and cake?
Jessie:I thoroughly enjoyed Jena’s book and it made me reflect on my future retirement as a golden goal to be enjoyed. I’ve learned it’s never too early to plan my golden years. Here is my review of The Golden Age of Charli : GPS
The Golden Age of Charli is a novel, memoir and self-help book. It cleverly guides the reader through the familiar frustrations encountered by retirees who have lost their way. However, the dominant ideology of this book can be applied to anyone who is searching for a ‘raison d’être’.
Charli McAntic has reached her ‘sunset years’ and yearns for a new adventure as she stares at a photo of Audrey Hepburn in the hairdressers. Alas, Charli and Pud drink to ‘joie de vivre’ but they seem to be on automatic drive mode. It is only Charli who muses ‘why wasn’t I content?’
Page (before the health program) Me, Henry at high school graduation, Charles
Aug, their son, observes, ‘We need to boost your wild side, Mom’: his cute observation made me smile. Although she is on the verge of an exciting era, Charli is uncertain about stepping off treadmill of life that has sustained her. I yearned for Charli to navigate through her sunset years and ‘do something meaningful.’ Charli explains, ‘I don’t want to change my life; I just want to search for more meaning to add tapestry to my life.’ I understood she needed to weave a little je ne sais quoi into her life to achieve fulfilment.
Alas, Pud is content to play golf, and I was impressed Charli introduces her frustrations rather than shouting at him. I wanted to chastise Pud who didn’t respond to his wife but organised to exercise with Connie. Connie’s character is well drawn and added to the tension.
As the novel progresses winter draws in and the weather parallels changes in the narrative. Language used to convey the seasons is poetic and symbolic. ‘The winds roared harder and the wheels of the seasons changed to late autumn.’ Read the book to discover whether Pud and Charli find their ‘Technicolour moment’. Will the storms and winds of Ohio shake up their life or will calm be restored?
Explore life through Charli’s perspective as she evaluates her life with warmth, honesty and vulnerability.
Can you hear the champagne corks popping? Launching Golden Chapters with Jena, C Henry and Lizzie Lamb
Champagne corks are popping. Take Me, I’m Yours is the perfect title to launch the Golden Chapters. Jena stepped inside Lizzie Lamb’s world to peek at the first chapter of Take Me, I’m Yours. Here’s what Jena found :
I reached into my golden handbag and chose Take Me, I’m Yours – A Wisconsin love story, by Lizzie Lamb. I haven’t heard of, let alone read, many books set in Wisconsin. A quick check of Wikipedia shows less than twenty-five novels are placed in The Badger State. (Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Little House in the Big Woods is one.) I couldn’t wait to read the first chapter and find the romance in America’s Dairy land.
Will all the scorching stares turn into something even hotter?
India Buchanan is enjoying a picture postcard-type day. She’s painting her fence, on a sunny morning at her house overlooking Sturgeon Bay in Wisconsin. Then, with a rev from a motorcycle to announce his presence, she is confronted by a tall, angry, formidable stranger, used to having his own way.
India and the motorcycle guy exchange scornful stares, snarky tones, streetwise stares, defiant stances, mocking salutes and India even receives “a slow scorching once over.”
She feels vulnerable, like a commodity, but no man is going to get the better of her. “You’ve got something I want real bad…” he says.
This unexpected visitor turns out to be her family’s sworn enemy. And all because of a feud which has festered for the last hundred and fifty years. The chapter ends,
“Look all you like, MacFarlane,” she called even though she knew he couldn’t hear. “This house will never be yours.”
Author Lizzie Lamb has many fans and I am sure they will be delighted to settle down and read her latest novel. Wisconsin is an out of the ordinary setting, which has me interested. A family feud is intriguing. The author writes with an engaging style that quickly introduces us to the thoughts and feelings of the heroine, India. From the first chapter, I can tell that India is a strong character, but has she met her match? Will all the scorching stares turn into something even hotter? I’m intrigued if India has some secrets. India shares a bit of her backstory- she came from England to New York. Do you think she has some secrets? Will any kilts make an appearance for the Lizzie Lamb fans?
Jena with a golden handbag…it’s a golden day…to read…
If you’ve read and reviewed the book, please share a link to your review in the comments. Thanks!
Jena couldn’t resist the photo of the book in the Handbag Gallery
India Buchanan plans to set up an English-Style bed and breakfast establishment in her great-aunt’s home, MacFarlane’s Landing, Wisconsin. But she’s reckoned without opposition from Logan MacFarlane whose family once owned her aunt’s house and now want it back.
MacFarlane is in no mood to be denied. His grandfather’s living on borrowed time and Logan has vowed to ensure the old man sees out his days in their former home. India’s great-aunt has other ideas and has threatened to burn the house to the ground before she lets a MacFarlane set foot in it.
There’s a story here. One the family elders aren’t prepared to share.
When India finds herself in Logan’s debt, her feelings towards him change. However, the past casts a long shadow and events conspire to deny them the love and happiness they both deserve. Can India and Logan’s love overcome all odds? Or is history about to repeat itself?
Welcome to the world of Lizzie’s amazing romantic comedies.
About Lizzie Lamb:
After teaching her 1000th pupil and working as a deputy head teacher in a large primary school, Lizzie decided to pursue her first love: writing. She joined the Romantic Novelists’ Association’s New Writers’ Scheme, wrote Tall, Dark and Kilted (2012), quickly followed by Boot Camp Bride. Although much of her time is taken promoting her novels she published Scotch on the Rocks, which achieved Best Seller status within two weeks of appearing on Amazon. Her next novel, Girl in the Castle, reached #3 in the Amazon charts. Lizzie is a founder member of indie publishing group – New Romantics Press, and has co-hosted author events at Aspinall, St Pancras and Waterstones, Kensington, talking about writing and the research which underpins her novels. Lizzie latest romance Take Me, I’m Yours is set in Wisconsin, a part of the USA which she adores. She has further Scottish-themed romances planned and this summer will tour the Scottish Highlands in her caravan researching men in kilts. What’s not to like? As for the years she spent as a teacher, they haven’t quite gone to waste as she is building up a reputation as a go-to speaker on indie publishing, and how to plan, write, and publish a debut novel. Lizzie lives in Leicestershire (UK) with her husband, David.
Would you like to have the first chapter of your novel sampled and reviewed? Find out more at Golden Chapter Reviews.
It’s time for Jena and her sister to present the next Golden Chapter Review.
Jena, the woman with a golden handbag, has just returned from Florida to present her latest Golden Chapter. Inspired by the title of the book choice, it’s time for Jena to present a novel with her sister.
I selected a Golden Chapter, inspired by the land of the Golden Horn and the Golden Age of Byzantium, I’m eager to share this new book with you, our golden readers. Let’s take a peek at A Tale of Two Sisters by Merryn Allingham.
YOU WILL FIND A TURKISH DELIGHT!
I selected a Golden Chapter, inspired by the land of the Golden Horn and the Golden Age of Byzantium…
Chapter One
ALICE
London, February 1907
The book begins with a vivid word picture…
“Fingers of pink-tinged could drift through a sky of blue and mauve and deep violet…the spires of Hagia Sophia thrust upwards amid the crumbling beauty of narrow streets and winding alleys. A city at peace.” Istanbul or Constantinople?
Topkapi Palace in Istanbul inspired the story. ‘It was so opulent – so beautiful, and it stayed in my mind.’ Merryn
In the United Kingdom, the Edwardian period is sometimes portrayed as a romantic golden age of long summer afternoons with leisure garden parties, and elites basking in a sun that never set on the British Empire. But it was also an age that heralded great changes in political and social life. And the first chapter of A Tale of Two Sisters resonates with many of the contrasts of the Edwardian Age. Societal and class expectations, fading gentility, and a woman’s place in the world all lead to interesting contrasts and stories.
In my correspondence with the author, she described her book as one of mystery, romance and sadness. The first chapter delivers on this promise and deftly draws us in to a different time, compels us to bond with the characters and care deeply about their plights.
We meet the older sister, Alice. Alice tells us, “I’m twenty-six. My star has waned.” She lives with her invalid parents in a staid house in Pimlico. Their once prosperous life has faded. Alice has succumbed to being the spinster daughter, destined to live a life of service to others.
She had a brother Charlie, who recently died in a puzzling accident. He was adored and well-loved. She also has her sister, Lydia, the youngest in the family. And a take-charge Aunt Cecily enters the fray!
“Lydia is a free spirit.” And a free spirit who apparently left for an exotic place, wrote a few letters home, and then was not heard from.
Lydia might be impulsive, thoughtless even, but Alice was certain she would never simply disappear without telling her family.
Where is Lydia? Alice has been trying to cover for Lydia because she doesn’t want to trouble her fragile parents. But when her Aunt visits, an idea is sparked. An idea that will take us on the Orient Express. (And we know what kind of things happen on that train!)
When I realized that the sisters reveal their stories in their own chapters, I asked Author Allingham to send me a “Lydia” chapter. I found it was easy to switch characters and pick up the story and that this would be an interesting way to present the mystery of what happened to Lydia as we also follow the journey of Alice.
A Tale of Two Sisters starts with a first chapter that sorts out the many characters in good fashion and immediately presents an intriguing mystery, tinged with family tragedy and problems. The allure of Constantinople, where East meets West, adds to the intrigue.
Who is like me and wants to read more? Take a look at the lovely cover! Have you read this book- please comment and tell us your thoughts. Here are a few questions I have, to start our book discussion.
Do you think Lydia is missing and in danger, or missing because she is on another adventure? A romantic one, perhaps?
Will there be a happy ever after ending for Alice?
Will we learn more about why Charlie died?
BONUS QUESTION: Why did Constantinople get the works? Do you know this song- hum along!
Merryn has written an impressive number of novels and is a member of the Romance Novelists’ Association.
Merryn has written an impressive number of novels and is a member of the Romance Novelists’ Association. She writes historical novels, all mysteries with a helping of suspense and a dash of romance.Merryn was inspired to write The Tale of Two Sisters following a visit to Topkapi Place in Istanbul. She said, ‘It was so opulent – so beautiful, and it stayed in my mind.’
The Tale of Two Sisters is out on 21st March 2019.
It is my pleasure to celebrate this book with Jena. I look forward to ‘an emotional historical drama perfect for fans of Linda Finlay and Rosie Goodwin.’
Biography
Merryn Allingham was born into an army family and spent her childhood moving around the UK and abroad. Unsurprisingly it gave her itchy feet and in her twenties she escaped from an unloved secretarial career to work as cabin crew and see the world.
Merryn still loves to travel and visit new places, especially those with an interesting history, but the arrival of marriage, children and cats meant a more settled life in the south of England, where she has lived ever since. It also gave her the opportunity to go back to ‘school’ and eventually teach at university.
She has written seven historical novels, all mysteries with a helping of suspense and a dash of romance – sometimes set in exotic locations and often against a background of stirring world events. Her latest novel, A Tale of Two Sisters, is set in Constantinople at the turn of the 20th century when rebellion within the Ottoman Empire is growing Against this background the novel traces the fate of two sisters, Alice and Lydia Verinder, dramatically exploring themes of family, love and loss.
Jena is planning her next adventure with her lovely niece
Jena is travelling around the world with her Golden Handbag looking for more opening chapters. Here she is planning her next adventure with her lovely niece. Do you want Jena to visit your opening chapter? Contact her at: jena.c.henry@gmail.com
Maybe Baby is ‘as frothy and delicious as a cappuccino’ Reviewer
It’s been a while since the last Golden Chapter feature, so we wanted something fun. Jena is presenting a delicious contemporary romance novel by Carol Thomas. This is a light-hearted holiday read. A reviewer deemed Maybe Baby to be ‘as frothy and delicious as a cappuccino’. Unable to resist a delicious read, Jena took a sip the first chapter.
Full of love, true friendship and humour.
What an adorable book cover for Maybe Baby. I like the cute and confident young woman posing in the pretty countryside. And, did you spot the cat?
The strapline for this book is: Full of love, true friendship and humour.
Well, let’s take a look at this second book in the Lisa Blake series. Here’s the start of the book blurb.
Best friends Lisa and Felicity think – maybe, just maybe – they finally have everything sorted out in their lives.
Lisa is in a happy relationship with her old flame, and busy mum Felicity has managed to reignite the passion with her husband, Pete, after a romantic getaway.
But when Lisa walks in on…?
And Felicity is left reeling…”
Now for my review. I cut off the blurb before it got to the “but when” part, as I only read the first chapter, and the “but when” begins a few chapters later. Let’s look at Chapter One.
Are you ready to run with Carol’s characters and see if anyone collides with love?
We meet Lisa and Felicity, out for an early morning run along the promenade. As many of us know, it’s one thing to get psyched and plan to exercise more, it’s another thing to do it on a chilly morning. But having a friend helps. Felicity has called this “getting fit over thirty” and Lisa is game, even though she ends up with a blister.
“It’s good isn’t?” encourages Felicity. “The state we’re in now, that’s not good, but the fact that we’re out of the house, taking on a challenge and trying something new.”
Lisa agrees, although she’d rather stop for a fry-up. As they head to their car after the run, Lisa lets it slip that she might be a teeny bit concerned about the new women who is renting the vacant flat in her boyfriend Nathan’s property..
And so, the “But when” begins…
Chapter One is only about nine pages on my iPad, but the author has given us a fun and meaningful entrée in to the story. I liked Lisa and Felicity right from the start. They are presented in the third-person. Although this is the second book in the series, the bits of backstory are easily woven in.
We are treated to plenty of “show”, and little “tell”. I was right there, panting and stumbling on the promenade with Lisa and Felicity as they ran. I also wanted the fry-up, even though Felicity wanted a healthier choice. And I began to get those butterflies in my stomach, too, when Lisa worried about the text from Nathan.
I especially liked the part where Lisa thought about why she had gone on the early morning run with Felicity. Lisa decided that she wanted to step up and be a good friend to Felicity once again.
What a pleasant start to a contemporary romance- two good friends, trying to be their best, and then comes the boyfriend news and as the first chapter concludes it seems we are getting to the “but when”…
What will it be I wondered- “but when Lisa finds Nathan with…?” Or “but when Lisa realizes that it’s going to be harder than she thought to help Felicity?…”
I’m ready to run with Lisa and Felicity and find out more. (and at some point, will there be a “maybe baby”?)
Readers, if you have read this book, please let us know what you thought or share your review in the comments section. If you haven’t read the book yet, let’s chat about the first chapter of Maybe Baby in the comments. Here’s what I’d like to start with.
Do you like Contemporary romances?
Do you like to read a book series?
What about the title? “Maybe Baby” -are we talking about a real baby?
Many thanks to author Carol Thomas for sending me the first chapter. And as always, applause and best wishes to Jessie Cahalin for featuring these Golden Chapter Reviews as part of her Handbag Gallery and for her continued support and friendship of book lovers!
Meet Carol Thomas. Her contemporary romance novels, have relatable heroines whose stories are layered with emotion, sprinkled with laughter and topped with irresistible male leads.
Carol writes for both adults and children: Her contemporary romance novels, have relatable heroines whose stories are layered with emotion, sprinkled with laughter and topped with irresistible male leads; while her children’s books have irresistibly cute, generally furry characters young children can relate to.
Carol Thomas lives on the south coast of England with her husband, four children and lively young Labrador. She was a kindergarten supervisor and elementary school teacher for over fifteen years, prior to dedicating more of her time to writing. Carol is a regular volunteer at her local Cancer Research UK shop. She has a passion for reading, writing and people watching and can often be found loitering in local cafes working on her next book.
Take a break and read more about Jena’s reading recommendation
It is always a pleasure to present Jena’s fabulous Golden Chapters. When you are packing for your holiday, don’t forget to grab Maybe Baby and enjoy a fun read.
A completely captivating tale of love that will break your heart.
Jena has been squirrelling away more books for the winter. We join her as she selects This Stolen Life by Jeevani Charika. I know you will be tempted to read more when you read Jena’s comments about the opening chapter. There is also more exciting news about Jeevani’s novels.
One of the many joys of reading is the opportunity to travel to new places, simply by opening a book and starting to read. Don’t you love those few seconds of expectation and hope as you study the book’s cover, then the flip through the cover pages and finally settle on “Chapter One”? The covers of Jeevani Charika’s books show us that we will be getting to know the stories of someone who may be from a place we haven’t yet explored on our Planet Earth.
Jeevani Charika writes women’s fiction and contemporary romances with a hint of British cynicism.
Jeevani Charika tells us in her bio that she writes multi-cultural women’s fiction and contemporary romances with a hint of British cynicism. She also writes romantic comedy under the pen name Rhoda Baxter. So why the two names? Well… Jeevani writes about British-Sri Lankan main characters.
British readers may be more familiar with Sri Lanka, but I confess I had to look up information about this place. With a spin of the digital globe, Google Earth zoomed me 8,869 miles from Ohio, USA, to a beautiful island in South Asia located in the Indian Ocean, near India. I learned that Sri Lanka is home to many cultures, languages and ethnicities. (At the time of British colonial rule, it was known as Ceylon.) Google Earth also displayed photos of Sri Lanka’s natural beauty that looked like the most glorious travel posters I have ever seen. What a paradise! I couldn’t wait to read the first chapter of Jeevani Charika’s THIS STOLEN LIFE.
Come with me to Sri Lanka! Chapter One is written in in short, punchy sentences. There is no time for the main character, Jaya, to indulge in lyrical, poetic thoughts. The author shows us by the fast pace that Jaya is desperate and fighting for her life. This is the night that will she escape from her home and leave her mother and step-father. She must creep from her house and hide in the shadows to save herself. She has one chance.
Jaya has a simple plan. She will ride her bicycle to the bus stop, head to Colombo and buy a ticket to freedom. I felt like I was as terrified as Jaya, until she finally gets on the bus and lets the miles of travel lull her to sleep.
Jaya is jarred awake by battering, noise and pain. Again, the rapid, blunt sentences convey a new desperation. Has her plan crashed so suddenly? Jaya struggles to save herself, but has she now lost all her plans and all her dreams?
Aren’t you ready to read more of This Stolen Life? I know I am! Let’s discuss Jeevani’s book together in the comments. If you’ve read it, I would enjoy hearing your thoughts or review. If you are considering starting this book, let’s take another look at the eye-catching cover. The subtitle is “Tell the Truth- or Keep the One You Love.” The tagline is, “A completely captivating tale of love that will break your heart.” We see a young, pretty woman, presumably from Sri Lanka. Will she survive and find love?
Please share, with these questions as a starting point:
Have you visited Sri Lanka?
Would you be brave enough to run away from your old life, to start a new one?
Can there be heartbreak and “happily ever after?”
Jena: The wind has shifted from south to north, and my windows show rain and hints of snow. Waving goodbye to sunny summer, and vibrant autumn gets harder every year, as I am not keen to shake hands with old Mr. Winter. Thank goodness for Jessie’s Handbag Gallery! I will take my Golden Handbag and browse her beguiling displays and choose a book that will be a cheery companion.
Jena has been squirrelling away more books for the winter.
Jena C. Henry, Reader and Reviewer, Blogger, Author
Jeevani introduced me to the fabulous Milly Johnson.
I had the pleasure of meeting Jeevani twice at the RNA York Tea, she is great company and very witty. On our first meeting, she introduced me to romance writer Milly Johnson. When discovered Jeevani is releasing another novel on 13th November, I took a peek at the blurb. A Convenient Marriage sounds like a clever narrative. Click on the title of the book to discover more but let me tease you with this…
It was the perfect marriage… until they fell in love
It was the perfect marriage… until they fell in love
More about Jeevani
Jeevani Charika writes women’s fiction and contemporary romances with a hint of British cynicism. (In case you were wondering, it’s pronounced Jeev-uh-nee.)
There’s a whole lot of other stuff she could tell you – but mainly: she’s a former scientist, an adult fan of Lego, an embarrassing mum, a part time geek (see ’embarrassing mum’) and a Very Short Person.
Jeevani has received high praise from an amazing group of romance authors.
“Huge fun, with a slightly different slant.” Katie Fforde
“Written with a sure touch. I love Jeevani Charika’s writing.” Sue Moorcroft
“A fantastic and fascinating read.” Phillipa Ashley
