Free Book Friday: Focus on Health

This Friday, I have two FREE books to offer, focusing on health issues:

Period Pain: Please Make It Stop:

Period pain: it can be the most excruciating agony and can really ruin your month, every month. Here then, from someone who has suffered from exactly the same problems as you do, is a list of tips and tricks on how to ease the utterly debilitating symptoms. 

The wisdom in this little book will enable you to manage the agony of period pain and diminish any future bouts as they occur. It will help turn your miserable months into magical ones!

Download this book for FREE here.



Atishoo and Bless You! The ABC of Mucus Management:

Sinusitis? Catarrh? That awful feeling of nausea? Yes, you've got the dreaded problem of mucus. It's nasty and debilitating and nobody seems to want to talk about it, but don't worry, as you're not alone! Written by a fellow-sufferer, The ABC of Mucus Management takes you through a series of suggested remedies, tips and tricks to manage your sinusitis and catarrh issues. It will help ease your discomfort, shorten your period of illness and prevent your next attack. Atishoo and bless you!

Download this book for FREE here.


Have a great and healthy weekend!

Anne Brooke Books
The Gathandrian Fantasy Trilogy
Gay Reads UK

Miranda's Big Mistake by Jill Mansell: an average romance

Miranda is thrilled when she meets Greg at a cocktail party. He's gorgeous, he's funny - and he's very keen. Just what a girl needs to put some sparkle in her life. Heavens, he's practically perfect! Greg likes Miranda a lot. She's young, she's pretty, and she never talks about babies. Of course he hasn't told her everything about himself - even the sweetest girls can be a bit funny about a man who's just left his newly pregnant wife. But there's no way she's going to find out - or is there? Luckily for Miranda men are like buses - you don't see any for ages then three come along at once. She just needs to catch the right one…

This started off well enough, though I did find Miranda faintly irritating from the start - she's just too ditsy and so terribly nice that I instantly took against her, as it were. However, that's not a huge problem, as her friends and colleagues provide a far greater level of interest and have a decent-ish amount of page space - so if you get fed up with Miranda, then you soon have Chloe (who is Greg's newly pregnant and abandoned wife) and Bev (the man-mad colleague) to look forward to and concentrate on.

Greg, of course, is the man we all love to hate - he blames Chloe for getting pregnant and breaking her word to him about not wanting babies and instantly leaves her. Because he's just a very nasty man, to be honest. He's also rather unbelievable as I simply didn't credit that Greg could be such a downright despicable cad and yet get two nice women (Chloe and later Miranda) to fall for him. He's really more caricature than character - and this is also the case with Chloe's dreadful boss and his wife. Both of these people are frankly so horrible that I just kept laughing at them, and I'm not convinced that was the reaction Mansell was intending. Oh well.

Never mind, as there are a couple of menfolk in the mix who are adorable in every way - Fenn, the definitely straight hairdresser, and Miles, the lovely and witty famous racing driver, are a delight and should have had far more page space here than they actually do. It's a bit of a lost opportunity for the men, to be honest. Also, something dreadful happens to Miles about three-quarters of the way through which I think was totally unnecessary and rather stupid - and this leaves the way free for journalist Danny to take the place of the dreadful Greg as Miranda's potential partner. Are you keeping up at the back? I do hope so!…

It's a shame then that Danny is so terribly shallow and unattractive - in fact at one point after the Miles Debacle, he thinks something so utterly prejudiced and unloving about Miranda's potential relationship with Miles that I wanted to beat him to death with his own laptop. What a horrible man! Really, he and the irritating Miranda probably deserve one another but they're definitely not going to be happy as they simply don't gel …

So there it is. A mixed bag of a book, with an unlikeable heroine and hero, but with some very good secondary characters we should have seen more of.

Verdict: 3 stars. Average.

Free Book Friday: Comic Romance Rosie by Name

Comic romance Rosie by Name is FREE at Amazon today and tomorrow, so hurry to download your copy while the offer lasts!

Rosie (AKA Alison) works at a high-class escort agency as a receptionist. When her boss asks her to be the special birthday present for his favourite nephew, she can't help but agree. The boss is the boss after all. 

However an evening of surprises, unexpected parents and even the odd spider awaits her. By the end of the night, will she have fulfilled her mission or is her potential pay-rise nothing but a distant dream?

Amazon Reviews:

"A light, easy read, and with plenty of Anne Brooke's original metaphors and similes to keep you entertained until the twist in the tale."

"Funny and tongue-in-cheek. Just what I needed. It made me smile and I laughed at the ending."

Happy reading and have a great weekend!

Anne Brooke Books
Gay Reads UK
The Gathandrian Fantasy Trilogy

Thirty Ways to Pray Without Really Praying

My newest spiritual book, Thirty Ways to Pray Without Really Praying, is now available on Amazon. And you don't have to be religious or even pray at all to get something out of it!

Thirty Ways to Pray Without Really Praying is a spiritual book designed to help you draw closer to your inner self, whether you pray regularly or not at all. It provides one activity for you to do every day for a month, and will help you focus on the things that are important to you. Happy praying (without really praying at all)!


Happy reading!

Anne Brooke Books
Biblical Fiction UK
The Gathandrian Fantasy Trilogy

Happy Valentines Day - FREE fantasy novel The Executioner's Cane!

Happy Valentines Day to all! As a special treat - and, yes, there IS romance in it! - fantasy novel The Executioner's Cane (Gathandria #3) is FREE at Amazon this weekend only! So pick up your copy today.

The Executioner's Cane is the final book in the Gathandrian Trilogy fantasy series. The first two books are The Gifting and Hallsfoot's Battle. 

Simon Hartstongue, accompanied by the mind-cane and the snow-raven, must travel back to the land he came from to offer support to the people he once tried to kill. From Gathandria, Annyeke Hallsfoot endeavours to help him but her attentions are focused on rebuilding the city after the wars. 

Alone and faced with the anger of his people and hindered by the fragility of Ralph Tregannon's leadership, Simon has to find a way to bring healing to a dying country and to renew his relationship with Ralph. But the odds and time itself are stacked against him.


Reviews:

"I was drawn deeper with each chapter til I couldn't wait to pick up the book at every spare moment. It was beautifully written." (From a 5-star review at Amazon)

"A great end to the trilogy." (From a 5-star review at Amazon)

Happy reading, and happy weekend!

Anne Brooke Books
The Gathandrian Fantasy Trilogy
Gay Reads UK

Happy Valentine Weekend: FREE Book Friday!

Happy Valentine Weekend to all, however you're spending your time! This week for Free Book Friday, it's the turn of quirky crime novel The Gangster's Wife which is FREE at Amazon today and tomorrow only!

When 53-year-old Elise Walker returns home after a day at the office to find her husband Gerald dead of a heart attack, she doesn’t expect a visit from the police with revelations about Gerald’s secret life. 

Soon, however, her own life takes a distinctive turn for the surreal, with missing loot, online crime and curious neighbours the least of her problems. Not to mention trying to deal with never-ending funeral arrangements and stay on top of her job. 

Thank goodness then for the support of her ever-reliable boss, Hugh. But will even he turn against her when she decides to contact Gerald’s former gang members to find out more? And what is the real significance of the note Gerald left her? Most important of all, if Elise ever finds the money, will she be able to keep it? 

Reviews:

"I loved the character developments in this story, and the character of Elise is exciting as well. I was engrossed in this one from start to finish, and would definitely recommend it." (From a 5-star review at Amazon UK)

"an excellent novel that keeps the reader entertained." (From a 5-star review at Amazon UK)

"I absolutely loved this book because it was engrossing, fast, and very realistic." (From a 5-star review at Amazon US)


Happy reading and have a great weekend!

Anne Brooke Books
Gay Reads UK
The Gathandrian Fantasy Trilogy

FREE book: dark fantasy Hallsfoot's Battle!

Hallsfoot's Battle (Gathandria #2) is FREE at Amazon today and tomorrow only, so don't forget to download your FREE copy today!

This book is the second in the Gathandrian Fantasy series and is the sequel to The Gifting. 

The battle for survival has merely begun and the Mind Executioner's defeat is only temporary. Annyeke Hallsfoot, Acting Elder of Gathandria, must join forces with Simon the Scribe in a tenuous alliance to fight for their survival. However, Simon is distracted by his own personal demons, giving Annyeke no choice but to plot a desperate strategy to defeat the enemy. 

When the Mind Executioner kidnaps Simon and raises an army from the dead, all hope appears to be lost. Both Annyeke and Simon, with the help of the mysterious mind-cane and the magical snow-raven, are determined to stay alive and, if possible, to win.

"a great trilogy that I couldn't put down."


Happy reading!

Anne Brooke Books
The Gathandrian Fantasy Trilogy
Gay Reads UK

FREE gay romance: Angels and Airheads!

Gay comic romance Angels and Airheads is FREE at Amazon until tomorrow, so pop along and download your FREE copy today!

Ricky has been secretly in love with his best friend Jez forever, but he's never dared confess his feelings because he thinks Jez is too high-class for him. One evening, while sharing a quiet evening with Jez, a mysterious angel, Madred, appears and tries to persuade Ricky to take a chance on love.

Too bad Ricky doesn't believe in angels. Madred is forced to take desperate measures in an attempt to show the reluctant Ricky the truth. When the angel leaves, can Ricky find the courage to declare himself to Jez, and what will happen to their friendship if he does? 





Reviews: 

"I really liked how romantic this story was. We don't get long with the men together on the page, but what is there is quite delightful. Their long friendship reflected the emotions and feelings but there was the fresh newness of the physical which added to that friendship and showed they were in for the long haul." [From an A-rated review at Brief Encounter Reviews] 

"There are none so blind as those who will not see. And sometimes it takes nothing less than a gigantic nudge from your guardian angel to get you to open your eyes and see the miracle that's been right in front of you all along … Angels and Airheads is a story of perfect love in an imperfect world, and what could be more sweet than that?" [From a 4-star review at The Novel Approach] 

"This is such a sweet short about taking chances; Ricky has been gently nudged quite a few times to put his heart out there to Jez. But he always thinks of something that always holds him back. This time Heaven means business and Madred is given the task of convincing him … I recommend this to those who love angel intervention, conflicted men, a sweet short story and a happy ending." [From a 4-star review at MM Good Book Reviews]

"Angels and Airheads is a short, endearing story of faith, hope, and love. I love how Anne Brooke incorporates faith in her stories and yes, I can do a happy dance. This is my first time reading a strong HEA from this author." [From a 4-star review at TWLIB Reviews] 

"I'm not much for divine interventions when it comes to books, but in this particular one I very much enjoyed it. I've found that Anne Brooke's style with her short stories suits me and romance is certainly her thing." [From a review at The Romance Reviews]


Happy reading!

Anne Brooke Books
Gay Reads UK
The Gathandrian Fantasy Trilogy

A Big THANK YOU to All Dryathlon Supporters!

Well, I did it! A WHOLE month without any drink at all(!) and £309 raised to help Cancer Research UK in their battle to beat cancer for good.

Thank you SO MUCH to everyone who donated to my page, and for all donations everywhere to support this very worthy cause.

For now, there's a bottle of wine cooling in the fridge for my lunch, so cheers to you all! Thank you.

Anne Brooke Books
Dryathlon January 2015