And the winner is.....

Thanks to everyone who entered our

 Blogoversary Competition

Into the Hat went all the names

And out of the Hat came the winner

Well done Cleo

I will be in touch and will send your prize off to you

~***~

Animals at Weddings by Sophie King ~ Guest Post and Competition

I'm delighted to welcome Sophie King  back to the blog

Animals at Weddings by Sophie King

He was the star of my first wedding in his grey top hat and smart whiskers. The photographer couldn’t get enough of him. “Any chance of another ear nibble?”

No. It wasn’t an over-enthusiastic groom.

He was a small little black puppy called Tramp. And I was madly in love with him. My then-husband’s secretary had given him to us as a wedding present and she’d brought him along to the wedding. How sweet was that?

Amazingly, Tramp behaved himself impeccably. Perhaps he knew he was setting a trend. Because back in those days (I was a very young bride!), it wasn’t as fashionable as it is now to have animals at a wedding.

Snakes, cats, tortoises, fish , hamsters and even a monkey ... All these are apparently “common” guests in the audience when a couple seals the knot. At least, that’s what I discovered when doing my research for my novel “The Wedding Party”.

But they can cause chaos as Tracey, a shop manager from London, found out. “My fiancé is obsessed by his pet snakes. They’re not dangerous but it took me a while to get used to them. When he said he wanted them to come to our wedding, I thought he was joking. But he wasn’t. I said I’d only allow it if they came in their travelling cage. But his brother took one out jsut after our vows, to show it to another guest. She screamed and then everyone began to scream. We had to stop the service until he took it out of the church.”

Maybe the happy couple should have got married outside like Jill and George, a farming couple from Yorkshire. They were hitched in a field, surrounded by their sheep. “We didn’t want them to miss out on our big day,” said Jill. “Mind you, it took ages to get the sheep poo off the bottom of my dress.”

Too much information!

In the United States (where else?) exotic animals are a must for any couple who want a wedding with a difference. One couple from Florida got married with a pair of llamas next to them as they said “I do” on the beach. And in Las Vegas, there is even a lion ranch where couples can tie the knot as close to the lions as safety permits.

Elephants are considered to bring good luck according to some cultures. Perhaps that’s why one groom arrived on top of a large Dumbo – again in Vegas.

But before you start making a list of your must-have pets, you need to think about whether it’s fair on them, say the experts. Animals aren’t like wedding guests. They can’t be expected to be quiet during a service and hang around afterwards for the photographs. They need the right conditions – including the correct temperature and food. You also need permission from the wedding venue. Remember that snake wedding I mentioned earlier? It turns out that no one had told the vicar. Snakes might be part of the Adam and Eve story but that doesn’t mean they make good wedding guests.

Maybe it’s safer to stick with a rabbit. “Our Floppy is very domesticated,” says Holly, a bride from Devon. “I carried her down the aisle instead of a bouquet. She loved it.”

Really? But how did she know?

Meanwhile, if you’re thinking of proposing and are still summing up the nerves, you could always ask your dog to do the deed for you. That’s what Martin did after living with his partner for five years. “One evening, our Labrador padded into the kitchen with a note attached to his collar,” said Sandy from London. “It read 'Will you marry me'?”

Did she say “yes”?

Of course. In fact, she didn’t even paws (get it?) for thought ...

NOTE: Some of the names in this post have been changed!

©Sophie King

Sophie King’s popular romantic comedy is published in a brand new e-book edition. 

Shortlisted for Love Story of the Year by the Romantic Novelists’ Association in 2010.

Great Stories With Heart

'An absorbing, feel-good novel ‒ I really enjoyed it.' Penny Vincenzi

When Monique and Geoff decide to tie the knot they soon discover that love second time around brings special challenges. And not just for them. There are ups and downs for family, friends, the wedding planner, and even the vicar as the big day approaches.

Geoff’s ex-wife can’t accept that he has moved on. Could a chance meeting help Helen come to the right decision about her future?

Their daughter, Becky, doesn’t approve of her dad’s bride-to-be. But as she juggles motherhood and a high-powered career, will she realise it’s her own marriage that needs most attention?

Janie was sacked from her last job as a wedding planner for being so disorganised. Is she really the right choice to help the happy couple get hitched without a hitch?

Mel swapped a job in advertising for a new life as a vicar. But can she keep her faith after an accident which turns her family’s world upside down?

Family and friends learn that the course of true love never did run smooth, and there really is no such thing as a stress-free wedding. But can they each still find their own happy ever after?

Amazon UK

Follow Sophie on her website
Twitter @sophiekingbooks

**AND HERE 'S A FABULOUS COMPETITION**

***WIN AN £80 WEDDING GIFT EXPERIENCE VOUCHER FROM TINGGLY.COM!***

To celebrate the publication of "The Wedding Party", thanks to the lovely people at gift experience company Tinggly, we have a voucher worth £80 for any one experience worldwide from their Essential Collection. The ideal present for friends or family who are about to tie the knot!

To be in with a chance, simply email your answer to the following question to sophie@greatstorieswithheart.com by midnight BST on 10th August 2015.

Question: What is the name of Geoff's daughter in "The Wedding Party" by Sophie King?

See the full range at www.tinggly.com. Voucher must be used by 25/6/2017. Entry will be chosen at random. Emails and contents will not be shared with any third party and will be deleted after the competition. Competition run by Wyndham Media Ltd. Judges decision is final. 

Good luck!

~***~

         

City Hospital ~ A Competition with a Difference....

Enter the free "City Hospital" competition to be in with a chance to have a character in a book named after you!

                                                                                         

The "City Hospital" novels are written by Keith Miles, who has written loads of scripts and books for primetime TV and soaps. "City Hospital" is perfect for fans of shows like "Casualty" and "Holby City". It follows the lives of five medical students - Suzie, Mark, Karlene, Gordy and Bella - who share a house, and the ups and downs of working in a busy teaching hospital. Each novel mixes their own personal dramas with patients' stories. The series was a huge hit in print, and is now being reissued as ebooks for the first time.

City Hospital Book 1: New Blood by Keith Miles

Join five young trainee medics as they learn about life and love on the wards of City Hospital. Suzie, Mark, Karlene, Gordy and Bella share a house, and the ups and downs of being a medical student in a busy teaching hospital.

In City Hospital Book 1: New Blood...

An accident leaves a young life hanging in the balance. A guilty Suzie holds the key to catching the culprit.

A party goes horribly wrong when an argument has unexpected and far-reaching consequences.

Karlene discovers why it's never a good idea to get too close to a patient.

The City Hospital series is perfect for fans of medical dramas like Casualty, Holby City and Doctors.

***

In this excerpt Gordy makes an error of judgement ...

Mark had surprised himself. He’d really enjoyed the party. He was sorry to see their guests drift away, especially the girl who worked as a scrub nurse in one of the operating theatres at the hospital. She and Mark had had a long and intense discussion about their work.

Only a few stragglers remained. It was time to start clearing up. Mark went to the cupboard under the stairs to get out their old Hoover. As he opened the door, he jumped a mile.

Matilda was hanging there, grinning at him.

Suspended from a hook in the top of the cupboard, the skeleton was swinging back and forth. Mark steadied her with his hand. She’d certainly made an impact at the party.

Gordy came up behind him.

‘Leave the old girl there until I get back, Marco.’

‘Where are you going?’

‘I’ve got to drive Lauren home.’

Mark turned and looked at him very carefully. ‘Is that wise, Gordy?’ he said. ‘You had a fair bit of that wine. Is it safe for you to get behind the wheel?’

‘Of course.’

‘You shouldn’t drink and drive, you know.’

‘It’s only a mile or two,’ said Gordy, airily, ‘And I can’t let Lauren down. I promised her a lift back to her flat and that’s what she’ll get.’ He grinned. ‘I’m hoping she’ll ask me in for a coffee.’

‘Have one before you go,’ suggested Mark.

‘And keep a lady waiting? No chance!’

Bella came up to them, holding hands with Damian.

‘We’re ready, Gordy,’ she said.

‘For what?’ he asked.

‘A lift.’

‘But I’m only taking Lauren.’

‘No, you’re not,’ said Bella. ‘Damian lives quite close to her flat. You can take us at the same time.’

‘Us?’

‘I want to say a proper good-night to Damian.’

‘Say it here, Bella.’

‘I’m coming,’ she insisted.

‘Thanks, Gordy,’ said Damian, slapping him on the back. ‘You’re a good mate.’

Gordy’s face fell. His plans had suddenly crumbled. Instead of being alone with Lauren, he would be an unpaid chauffeur for Damian and Bella.

‘You don’t mind, do you?’ said Damian.

‘No, no!’ said Gordy with sarcasm. ‘I’ll drive anyone who wants to come. We might as well stick Matilda in the back seat as well and really fill the car up.’

Suzie came rushing up to add to his woes.

‘Lauren tells me you’re driving her home, Gordy.’

‘Don’t tell me you want a lift as well, Suzie.’

‘I want to stop you getting in a car at all.’

‘I’m fine,’ he insisted.

‘You’ve drunk too much, Gordy.’

‘That’s what I told him,’ said Mark.

Suzie was firm. ‘I’ll ring for a taxi.’

‘No need,’ said Bella. ‘We’ve got one. Gordy’s car.’

‘He shouldn’t be allowed on the road.’

‘It’s my decision,’ argued Gordy.

‘And it’s not far to go,’ added Damian. ‘There won’t be much traffic around at this time of night.’

‘I still don’t like the idea,’ said Suzie.

Gordy was in a quandary. He was very fond of Suzie and didn’t want to upset her in any way. On the other hand, three people were depending on him for a lift and one of them was the girl he’d spent most of a very exciting evening with. It was Lauren who tipped the balance.

She came over to Gordy and slipped an arm around him.

‘Sorry to keep you waiting, darling.’

He made his decision. ‘Let’s go.’

As the four of them went out, Suzie was positively seething. She couldn’t believe Gordy could be so stupid.

***

To be in with a chance to have a character in the next "City Hospital" book named after you, simply email competition@greatstorieswithheart.com, with your name and the answer to the question - who writes the City Hospital series of novels?

 The deadline for entries is midnight on Monday 6th October. 

A winner will be picked at random and announced on Wednesday 8th October.

 Good luck!

 My thanks to Ian Skillicorn at Great Stories With Heart for the chance to

feature this competition.

*~*~*

Historic House Short Story Competition.....

Historic House Short Story Competition (#historichouseshortstory)

Publisher Corazon Books has partnered with the Historic Houses Association to launch a special short story competition with fantastic prizes. Writers are invited to submit a short story which is either inspired by or set in a historic house.

Ian Skillicorn, publisher of Corazon Books, says: "We are looking for a compelling tale with lots of atmosphere. It can take place in the past or present, in either a real or fictional setting, so writers can let their imaginations take them, and us, whenever and wherever they wish!"

The competition is being run to celebrate the publication of the The Property of a Gentleman by Catherine Gaskin. This modern classic by the bestselling "Queen of Storytellers" has recently been reissued by Corazon Books in ebook format, in time to celebrate its 40th anniversary. It is the first of Gaskin's novels to be published digitally. The Property of a Gentleman is a tale of intrigue, mystery and romance, set in a fictional earl's ancestral home, in the dramatic landscape of England's Lake District.

The competition's unique prizes are in keeping with its theme. The winning writer and a guest will be treated to a private tour and afternoon tea with the owners of Levens Hall in Cumbria. The winner will also receive a cash prize of £150, and a double Friends membership for the Historic Houses Association. Two runners up will each receive a double Friends membership to the Historic Houses Association. Corazon Books also plans to publish an ebook anthology of the best entries, with each writer receiving royalties for their published story.

Richard Compton, President of the HHA, says: "A HHA Member property will offer great inspiration for budding writers and will make a fantastic setting for a short story. We look forward to partnering with Corazon Books and reading the entries in this unique competition."

Susie Bagot of Levens Hall says: “The Bagot family is very pleased to be associated with the Historic House Short Story Competition and looks forward to welcoming the winner to Levens Hall and telling them the story of this fascinating ancient house and garden.”

The competition will run from March 10th to September 26th 2014, and the winner will be announced during National Short Story Week (17th to 23rd November 2014).

There is no fee to enter the competition.

ENTER THE HISTORIC HOUSE SHORT STORY COMPETITION HERE

Good Luck 

*~*~*

Review ~ The Property of a Gentleman by Catherine Gaskin

Corazon Books

2014

The Property of a Gentleman was originally published in 1974 and forms part of the extensive catalogue of historical/romantic suspense stories which were written by Catherine Gaskin during her forty years as a novelist, when she became known as “The Queen of Storytellers” and “The Girl with the Golden Pen.” 

Sent from a London auction house, Jo Roswell, and her companion Gerald Stanton visit the stately home of the Earl of Askew, in the English Lake District. Their mission is to evaluate the historic contents with a view to a possible sale of antiquities. However, once at the house they become enthralled by the history, and also of the tragic story of the ill fated Spanish woman who  lived in the house centuries before and of the infamous diamond, La Española, which exerts a sinister curse over all who come into contact with it.

I half expected this story to have lost some of its charm over the years and whilst parts of it can appear a little out-moded, it is still a very good story and quickly draws you into the whole concept of the slightly dilapidated country house, the reluctant Earl and his enigmatic mistress, and the brooding gloom of the faithful old retainers who knows far more than they should about the history of the house and contents.

This story encompasses all that is great about Catherine Gaskin's writing, and even forty years on from its publication date ,The Property of a Gentleman remains as atmospheric and compelling as when it was first published. 

The Property of a Gentleman is available as an ebook for the first time - it is published on Thursday 5th December 2013

My thanks to Corazon Books for the opportunity to read this book in advance of its publication

***

Christmas with Heart Charity Competition

To celebrate the publication of The Property of a Gentleman by Catherine Gaskin, Corazon Books are running a Christmas competition for readers.

Our competition is one with a difference and, we think, in the true spirit of Christmas. We will send a donation of £50 to a charity of the winner’s choice, as a special gift from us and our winning reader!

To be in with a chance to win, simple email your answer to the question below to editor [at] greatstorieswithheart.com


Q) In The Property of a Gentleman, what is the name of the ancient house which is home to Robert, the Earl of Askew?

Clue: check out the link below! Please nominate your chosen charity and include a link to their website with your entry.


The deadline for entries is midnight on Friday 20th December. The winner will be notified by email on Monday 23rd December.

For full details, go to: http://www.greatstorieswithheart.com/christmas-with-heart/

My Guest on the blog is ....

I am delighted to have as my guest 

Sophie King

© Sophie King

Sophie ~ welcome back to jaffareadstoo and  thanks for taking the time to be our guest blogger today....

***

AM I THE ONLY ONE...

AM I THE ONLY ONE who wasn’t totally surprised by the recent survey in one of my favourite daily newspapers, which declared that only half of all couples have sex on their wedding night?

Apparently, the no-goers blamed their lack of performance on exhaustion and arguments during the reception. (Makes you wonder what happened during the speeches, doesn’t it?)

Now I’m not going to talk about my own two experiences in case the children read this. (Sorry!)  But it did get me thinking... What really makes a marriage tick? And is sex an essential part of it?

Now I don’t know about you but there’s nothing like a good cuddle to make you feel better. The wonderful warmth of someone putting their arms around you, combined with the smell of their skin, is better than any tonic in a bottle.

But that only works if you actually like the person in the first place – and liking is an important part of loving. “I love my husband but I don’t like him very much,” confided a friend a few years ago. Within nine months, they had separated. (And by the way, they hadn’t had sex for quite a while.)

Of course ‘quite a while’ can mean all kinds of things, can’t it? Two months; six months; a year; more...The thing is that none of us know what is ‘normal’ because not everyone wants to come clean in case they’re different from everyone else.

Maybe there should be some Government guidelines on this, rather like ‘five a day’. (I’m talking fruit and veg here, obviously.)

And what about some leeway here for couples with young children who are simply too shattered to  mumble, let alone fumble...

All this is actually quite important when you’re writing romantic fiction. If your hero and heroine are constantly making hay between the sheets, you might well turn off the reader who neither has the time or inclination to do the same herself (or himself).

On the other hand, a novelist might be providing exactly the kind of escapism that the reader wants...

In my latest Sophie King book, SECOND TIME LUCKY, Louise is a recently divorced mother of two. She falls hook, line and sinker for the one man whom her (unfaithful) husband doesn’t want her to marry. Does she find passion? You bet. But she also discovers companionship, understanding and humour – all of which are crucial to a marriage in my book.

Mind you, she has to go through some pretty big hurdles to get there – but then again, that’s life.

Meanwhile, I'm off to do a bit of research. Not in the bedroom department but in the wedding reception arena. I want to know about those arguments at the top table! It might make for a new novel...

© Sophie King

DO YOU HAVE A FUNNY STORY ABOUT YOUR WEDDING NIGHT? 

EMAIL Sophie 

at sophie@sophieking.info

You could win a print copy of her latest book.

www.sophieking.info

My thanks to Sophie King  for kindly providing this guest post and to

Ian at Great Stories With Heart.

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