Abbey Anne’s Blog

The Final Hitch

By Samantha Scott-Jeffries

The Final Hitch is the latest installment from Samantha Scott-Jeffries, and follows on from her preceding novel I Do, I Do, I Do. We join protagonist, wedding planner and soon to be bride Izzy Mistry on the journey to her very own wedding – which is not without its mishaps and adventures along the way.

From the off this charming read will have you dreaming of foreign soils and romance abroad; as Izzy renovates a neglected property in a small village in the Majorcan mountains.

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Queen of Babble

By Meg Cabot

Before I review this novel I must confess that Meg Cabot is one of my all time favourite novelists; she is a brilliant writer of chick lit and every one of her books is a page turner – I am pleased to say that Queen of Babble is no different.

History of fashion student and air head Lizzie Nichols had just graduated, (or so her friends and family think) from college and has decided to spend her summer with her long-distance boyfriend. There’s only one catch – they have only met once and she can barely remember what he looks like. From the off, her beloved Andy is not all he cracked up to be and she soon realises she had made a horrific mistake.

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Improper Relations by Janet Mullany

The cover of this enticing novel by Janet Mullany promises ‘a rakish regency romance’ and I must agree they have got it spot on! From the word go, the reader is given a delicious insight into the fraught mind of a single woman in an age where a successful marriage is everything.

Being a huge fan of Austen and other such authors, I loved the feeling of stepping back in time and experiencing historical England; and it makes you feel that women have always had the same ‘man troubles’ whatever the era may be! Improper Relations is told in the first person, alternating between the hero and heroine; this was an aspect of Mullany’s style that I loved and was unusual in that you are given both sides to the story – a refreshing change!

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This winter sees Giles Deacon, the most innovative and dynamic name in British fashion, present the Isklar Tote – a new twist on everyday affordable luxury that is inspired by the pristine world of Isklar Norwegian Glacial Natural Mineral Water.

At the very heart of London fashion, and renowned for his unmistakably flamboyant edge, Giles and his aesthetic vision has brought to life a dazzling limited edition bag that is destined to become the ultimate accessory of the Winter season. The Isklar Tote is designed to marry the opposing demands of style and practicality and bring them together in one perfect accessory. The design of the tote means it will grace the arm of only the most astute fashionista, whilst the bag’s spacious capacity and clever design, means it is also ideal for convenience and everyday use.

The Isklar Tote is as rare as it is special, as only 100 of the bags are ever to be made, so fashionistas will need to be quick off the mark if they don’t want to miss out on what is certain to become the most coveted handbag of the winter season.

The totes will be available to buy from www.gilesdeaconisklar.com from November – with one bag hand signed by Giles himself that will be purchased at random by one lucky fashionista. The totes will be retailing at £95 and come with two bottles of Isklar, with 50% of proceeds going to Oxfam, a charity chosen by Isklar and Giles.

Sunnyside Blues is not your average romance novel, filled to the brim with deadly snakes, religious cults and pyromaniacs it’s definitely not for the faint hearted!

The novel follows the adventures of two outsiders, trying to fit in and find the one place they can truly call home. A tranquil dock in sunny Seattle sets the scene, however the peace is quickly shattered when a building goes up in smoke and everyone suspects it’s the doing of a ten-year-old pyromaniac. Read more…

As much as I am loving spending a few weeks enjoying the RARE and beautiful weather we are having at the moment, I am also conscious that there are so many ways to get yourself known before having a job.

Social networking sites are a key tool in enabling you to find and contact famous and well known professionals, as well as getting your name out there.

Rather than using immeasurable updates make sure every single update is interesting, and lets people know a little about you or your work.

Here are my top tips for making the most of your free time:

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I have just finished Marian Keyes new novel This Charming Man, and I must say that I am wholly undecided whether I actually like this book or not?

The ‘charming’ or not so charming protagonist, Paddy De Courcy is an evil Irish politician and the embodiment of fear itself for all the women involved in the plot. He is a serial domestic abuser and the plot follows the relationships he has with various women, gradually revealing the violence behind the seemingly perfect façade.

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The term magazine is generally acknowledged to have come into usage with a publication in the 1730s of ‘The Gentleman’s Magazine’ by Edward Cave. Its aim was to entertain with stories of crime and romance, soon proving popular, not just for sale but for rental in public houses, coffee houses and barber shops. The Lady’s Magazine, a female counterpart, was quickly published, and from then on magazines began to establish themselves as demand for the new style of publication increased.

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Loch Fyne, Portsmouth – Restaurant Review

The port side location is perfect for The Loch Fyne Restaurant in Gunwharf Quays. Despite being slightly pricier than the other restaurants along the Quays, I found it did outshine them all in freshness and quality of ingredients.

The interior of the restaurant is naval themed; knotted ropes and wooden decking makes the atmosphere ideal for a seafood restaurant. I loved the fact that you could see the cooks in the kitchen; it added to the authenticity and revealed their simple approach to cooking fresh fish.

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Anyone in the City of London today was in for a shock, as ‘nudists’ embarked on London, as part of the much anticipated Peugeot 308 launch.

Passers by were shocked as people dressed in nude bodysuits took to the streets, seeming to be clad in, well, just a scarf!

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