Am thrilled to be doing a blog tour! Please check out
www.bookclubmum.co.uk
www.novelicious.com
www.mamajhearts.co.uk
www.trotters.co.uk
www.onemorepage.co.uk
Friday, 29 March 2013
Tuesday, 19 March 2013
Join me for a special supper evening!
Enjoy supper with us and other book lovers, and chat with us about writing and romance.
Tickets are £25 each, which includes a two course supper and a glass of pink fizz on arrival. There will also be a cash bar and the venue is open till late.
You can book online now . Tickets are also now available from Waterstones and The Kings Arms on Berkhamsted High Street.
There's more information on the Book'd Out website .
There is limited availability for this special evening, so book now to avoid disappointment!
Friday, 15 March 2013
Your Favourite Fictional Family
Now I'd like you to let me know your favourite fictional family too. Do you agree with any of the answers below, or would you like to nominate a different family?
Please tweet your favourite family to @janey_fraser using the hashtag #favouritefamily! Or you can leave a comment below.
I will announce the results on the blog at the end of the month!
My own favourite fictional family is the Ewings in Dallas. I was so thrilled when they brought back a sequel. I watched the first series avidly when I was married to my first husband and now I am watching the second with my second, if you see what I mean. I think it’s a wonderful mixture of the old and the new. Something happens every few minutes and the characters grab you, whether you like them or not!
Trisha Ashley ( www.trishaashley.com )
My nominated fictional family are the Mortmain family from Dodie Smith's novel "I Capture the Castle".
Katie Fforde ( www.katiefforde.com )
I think mine are the Walkers from "Swallows and Amazons". They are supportive and love each other and have fun.
Della Galton ( www.dellagalton.co.uk )
That's easy - the Larkin Family in "The Darling Buds of May". Fabulous.
Fiona Gibson , author of Pedigree Mum ( www.fionagibson.com )
After watching virtually no TV at all during our first 10 years of parenthood (we have twin boys and a daughter), my husband Jimmy and I have re-discovered the joy of telly and are gorging on box sets of all the series we missed out on - like Six Feet Under, which we are obsessed with. The Fishers are wonderful - funny, sensitive, neurotic, messed up - we avidly follow the intricacies of their lives, about a decade behind everyone else!
Sue Moorcroft ( www.suemoorcroft.com )
The Moomins in the "Moomintroll" books by Tove Jansson.
Jo at Jaffa Reads Too
I think that my favourite fictional family has be the Bennet family from the Jane Austen classic novel, Pride and Prejudice. Just imagine how Mr Bennet must feel living with such a family of ladies!
A review of Happy Families
Here is a review of Happy Families by Sara Coleman (
https://sazzieloublog.wordpress.com/
)
Happy Families follows three main characters and their families, who all have a link with each other. These characters are:
Bobbie:
Whose son Jack aged 7 is a handful always getting into mischief and always trying to get the attention whether it be climbing up on shelves or running a mock in the supermarket. No matter how hard Bobbie tries Jack always chooses the wrong moments to play up making Bobbie look like a bad mother to those who witness Jacks behaviour.
Daughter Daisy who is 8 but acts more like she is turning 18 is very bossy and will often show Bobbie up by repeating things to others that she really shouldn’t.
Husband Rob who works long hours in London and often has dealings with clients who are abroad, is missing his children growing up as he does not usually get home until the children are in bed asleep. Rob does not see what Bobbie has to cope with and when he sees how the children behave he complains to Bobbie that she could try harder to control the children.
The family has just recently moved to Corrywood so they can have a better life. Rob's sister Pamela and her family also live in Corrywood and Bobbie and family go to a party held at Pamela’s house. Whilst Pamela’s daughters, who are older are well behaved, Jack and Daisy run riot and it is suggested to Bobbie that maybe she should attend parenting classes. Bobbie decides to go along to the local school where the classes are being held and is filled with dread when she sees one of the people taking the course is her sister in law Pamela, but luckily she is taking the other group. Bobbie hopes that if nothing else from this course she may make some friends. To start with Bobbie feels out of place on the course but she soon realises that her children are just as bad as others and in some cases other people’s children behave a lot worse.
Bobbie soon becomes friends with Vanessa, a grandmother on the course who is looking after her granddaughter Sunshine. Daisy becomes good friends with Sunshine and helps her settle in to life and school in Corrywood. When Vanessa says she needs some help in her shop and would Bobbie like to help, Bobbie jumps at the chance and loves it.
However there are some big changes ahead for Bobbie and her family especially when she suspects her husband of having an affair. Is Rob having an affair? What changes are in store for Bobbie? Will her friendship with Vanessa last? Will a shock surprise bring the family closer together?
Vanessa:
Vanessa runs her own very successful second hand clothes shop. Vanessa has one wish that her personal life could be as successful as her business. Vanessa has a daughter who she has lost contact with and an ex-husband who turned out to be already married. Determined to get her life back on track she decides to give internet dating a go and she meets up with a really nice man called Brian who is local and used to be the headmaster of the local school.
As Vanessa and Brian’s relationship blossoms they start to reveal things about their pasts to each other and they find they have a lot in common. Vanessa feels that she can tell Brian anything and shares things with him that no one else knows.
Little does Vanessa know that her life is about to be turned upside down, when one night a mad arrives at the door with a little girl with him and tells Vanessa he has been told to give the little girl to her to look after. He hands the sleeping child over to Vanessa along with a note from the little girl’s mother. The little girl is 6 year old Sunshine, Vanessa’s granddaughter. Vanessa takes in Sunshine and vows to do her best for her, seeing it as a second chance to raise a child without the mistakes she made the first time round. Vanessa decides to go to the parenting classes that have been suggested to her by the head teacher at the local school as a way of getting to know others and to get any help she feels she may need. Vanessa becomes good friends with Bobbie and she asks her to help in the shop.
However things do not run smoothly for Vanessa as not only does she have to get Sunshine used to a new way of life there are also many other obstacles on the way including Sunshine having to have a DNA test to see who her father is, and the new found confidence and attitude of her granddaughter. Then some life changing news worries Vanessa and her relationship could also be on the line not to mention her friendship with Bobbie.
Will Vanessa’s daughter ever come back for Sunshine? What is the life changing news? Will her relationship with Brian end as a happy ever after and will her friendship with Bobbie last?
Andy:
Andy is Pamela’s husband and he has the perfect family or so he thinks. Andy’s past haunts him and even his wife does not know any of what has gone on in his past, he remembers how his stepfather used to treat his mother and how they both left him to fend for himself. Andy recalls how he was put in foster care but fell in with the wrong crowd and his behaviour led to him ending up in a children’s home. It was at that children’s home where the manager took pity on him and helped Andy make something of his life.
After a good investment when he was younger Andy had enough money to buy out a partner in the business he worked in making him very rich indeed. In the present day Andy sells his share of the company to spend some time at home with his family. Andy is soon thrown in the deep end of looking after his two teenage daughters Mel and Nattie whilst Pamela is off helping her mother after she breaks her arm. Andy is aware that Pamela was supposed to be leading the parenting class held at the local school, so when he is approached at the school gates by one of the teachers who has organised it he feels obliged to fill in for Pamela, after all it will only be for a week wont it?
Andy is very popular on the course, but Andy learns that his daughters are not quite the angles he thought they were and he starts to feel a fraud taking the classes when he could not even control his own children.
Pamela stays away for a lot longer than was expected and all sorts start going through Andy’s mind, so he goes to Pamela’s mother’s to see her, but Pamela looks different and is behaving differently too. Andy starts to think maybe she is having an affair but the truth is much harder to take and he is shocked by the revelation.
Andy gets close to Bobbie after the classes and confides in her but also develops feelings for her too. Andy feels he can talk to Bobbie but their closeness does not go unnoticed.
A blast from Andy’s past shows up at the parenting classes and causes Andy distress and could lead to trouble.
What is happening to Pamela? Will Andy’s past be exposed to all? What happens between Andy and Bobbie? Will life ever be the same again?
Happy Families explores family life for three very different families, it picks up on the fact that you may think you have the best behaved and wonderful children but if you see them in a different light are they really any different from the children you think are ill behaved and rude? The parenting classes show that no matter how well off or how poor you are or even what social label you may have your children are more than likely to behave in the same ways and the problems you have others have too, you are not alone even if you think you are.
There are many events in this book that keep you hooked and wanting more, especially when you reach the end of a chapter and it ends with something major happening and then the next chapter is carrying on with another character and their story. It is good how all the characters are linked to each other as when you are following a chapter about Bobbie for example when you move on to the next chapter about Vanessa or Andy it just flows and does not jump around and confuse you.
I love the depth all the characters have you can picture all the families and the setting when you are reading this is all down to the great descriptive writing.
I thought it was really nice to see some of the characters from Janey Fraser's other books. Matthew and Lottie, Paula and Jilly from The Au Pair, also Gemma and Joe from The Playgroup. It was really lovely to catch up with these people and to have a glimpse of what they have done with their life.
A brilliant book that shows you that your family is what you make it and not what others think about it. Great story line that is easy to follow with some surprising revelations as well as tantrums and fall outs.
Happy Families follows three main characters and their families, who all have a link with each other. These characters are:
Bobbie:
Whose son Jack aged 7 is a handful always getting into mischief and always trying to get the attention whether it be climbing up on shelves or running a mock in the supermarket. No matter how hard Bobbie tries Jack always chooses the wrong moments to play up making Bobbie look like a bad mother to those who witness Jacks behaviour.
Daughter Daisy who is 8 but acts more like she is turning 18 is very bossy and will often show Bobbie up by repeating things to others that she really shouldn’t.
Husband Rob who works long hours in London and often has dealings with clients who are abroad, is missing his children growing up as he does not usually get home until the children are in bed asleep. Rob does not see what Bobbie has to cope with and when he sees how the children behave he complains to Bobbie that she could try harder to control the children.
The family has just recently moved to Corrywood so they can have a better life. Rob's sister Pamela and her family also live in Corrywood and Bobbie and family go to a party held at Pamela’s house. Whilst Pamela’s daughters, who are older are well behaved, Jack and Daisy run riot and it is suggested to Bobbie that maybe she should attend parenting classes. Bobbie decides to go along to the local school where the classes are being held and is filled with dread when she sees one of the people taking the course is her sister in law Pamela, but luckily she is taking the other group. Bobbie hopes that if nothing else from this course she may make some friends. To start with Bobbie feels out of place on the course but she soon realises that her children are just as bad as others and in some cases other people’s children behave a lot worse.
Bobbie soon becomes friends with Vanessa, a grandmother on the course who is looking after her granddaughter Sunshine. Daisy becomes good friends with Sunshine and helps her settle in to life and school in Corrywood. When Vanessa says she needs some help in her shop and would Bobbie like to help, Bobbie jumps at the chance and loves it.
However there are some big changes ahead for Bobbie and her family especially when she suspects her husband of having an affair. Is Rob having an affair? What changes are in store for Bobbie? Will her friendship with Vanessa last? Will a shock surprise bring the family closer together?
Vanessa:
Vanessa runs her own very successful second hand clothes shop. Vanessa has one wish that her personal life could be as successful as her business. Vanessa has a daughter who she has lost contact with and an ex-husband who turned out to be already married. Determined to get her life back on track she decides to give internet dating a go and she meets up with a really nice man called Brian who is local and used to be the headmaster of the local school.
As Vanessa and Brian’s relationship blossoms they start to reveal things about their pasts to each other and they find they have a lot in common. Vanessa feels that she can tell Brian anything and shares things with him that no one else knows.
Little does Vanessa know that her life is about to be turned upside down, when one night a mad arrives at the door with a little girl with him and tells Vanessa he has been told to give the little girl to her to look after. He hands the sleeping child over to Vanessa along with a note from the little girl’s mother. The little girl is 6 year old Sunshine, Vanessa’s granddaughter. Vanessa takes in Sunshine and vows to do her best for her, seeing it as a second chance to raise a child without the mistakes she made the first time round. Vanessa decides to go to the parenting classes that have been suggested to her by the head teacher at the local school as a way of getting to know others and to get any help she feels she may need. Vanessa becomes good friends with Bobbie and she asks her to help in the shop.
However things do not run smoothly for Vanessa as not only does she have to get Sunshine used to a new way of life there are also many other obstacles on the way including Sunshine having to have a DNA test to see who her father is, and the new found confidence and attitude of her granddaughter. Then some life changing news worries Vanessa and her relationship could also be on the line not to mention her friendship with Bobbie.
Will Vanessa’s daughter ever come back for Sunshine? What is the life changing news? Will her relationship with Brian end as a happy ever after and will her friendship with Bobbie last?
Andy:
Andy is Pamela’s husband and he has the perfect family or so he thinks. Andy’s past haunts him and even his wife does not know any of what has gone on in his past, he remembers how his stepfather used to treat his mother and how they both left him to fend for himself. Andy recalls how he was put in foster care but fell in with the wrong crowd and his behaviour led to him ending up in a children’s home. It was at that children’s home where the manager took pity on him and helped Andy make something of his life.
After a good investment when he was younger Andy had enough money to buy out a partner in the business he worked in making him very rich indeed. In the present day Andy sells his share of the company to spend some time at home with his family. Andy is soon thrown in the deep end of looking after his two teenage daughters Mel and Nattie whilst Pamela is off helping her mother after she breaks her arm. Andy is aware that Pamela was supposed to be leading the parenting class held at the local school, so when he is approached at the school gates by one of the teachers who has organised it he feels obliged to fill in for Pamela, after all it will only be for a week wont it?
Andy is very popular on the course, but Andy learns that his daughters are not quite the angles he thought they were and he starts to feel a fraud taking the classes when he could not even control his own children.
Pamela stays away for a lot longer than was expected and all sorts start going through Andy’s mind, so he goes to Pamela’s mother’s to see her, but Pamela looks different and is behaving differently too. Andy starts to think maybe she is having an affair but the truth is much harder to take and he is shocked by the revelation.
Andy gets close to Bobbie after the classes and confides in her but also develops feelings for her too. Andy feels he can talk to Bobbie but their closeness does not go unnoticed.
A blast from Andy’s past shows up at the parenting classes and causes Andy distress and could lead to trouble.
What is happening to Pamela? Will Andy’s past be exposed to all? What happens between Andy and Bobbie? Will life ever be the same again?
Happy Families explores family life for three very different families, it picks up on the fact that you may think you have the best behaved and wonderful children but if you see them in a different light are they really any different from the children you think are ill behaved and rude? The parenting classes show that no matter how well off or how poor you are or even what social label you may have your children are more than likely to behave in the same ways and the problems you have others have too, you are not alone even if you think you are.
There are many events in this book that keep you hooked and wanting more, especially when you reach the end of a chapter and it ends with something major happening and then the next chapter is carrying on with another character and their story. It is good how all the characters are linked to each other as when you are following a chapter about Bobbie for example when you move on to the next chapter about Vanessa or Andy it just flows and does not jump around and confuse you.
I love the depth all the characters have you can picture all the families and the setting when you are reading this is all down to the great descriptive writing.
I thought it was really nice to see some of the characters from Janey Fraser's other books. Matthew and Lottie, Paula and Jilly from The Au Pair, also Gemma and Joe from The Playgroup. It was really lovely to catch up with these people and to have a glimpse of what they have done with their life.
A brilliant book that shows you that your family is what you make it and not what others think about it. Great story line that is easy to follow with some surprising revelations as well as tantrums and fall outs.
Thursday, 14 March 2013
Save money off days out with the kids
I'm delighted to have this guest blog post from new mum money saving champion: Money Off Mum.
Now Spring is here and with the Easter holidays just around the corner, you're probably dying to get out and about with your little ones. But family tickets can be expensive and the cost of a family day out soon mounts up. And then there's the changeable English weather, which means plans for a day out in the sun can need to be changed at the last minute when the rain comes. Here are our favourite money saving family days out from family money saving webite www.moneyoffmum.com and a rainy day equivalent...just in case. Plus we have advice on how to save money getting there.
You're in the mood for a bit of green
Sunny family day out - try the National Trust
The National Trust has wonderful outdoor spaces and gardens which children will love and you can learn all about the plants and the history. It offers family membership for the first year for a little over £70.
Rainy family day out – visit the garden centre
Garden centres have loads of stuff that kids find cool: big plants, fish tanks and often a children’s play area. A good cheap morning or afternoon family outing.
You're in the mood for learning
Sunny family day out - go on a nature trail
has loads of free nature activities to download to help you get the most from your local park or woodland with your children.
Rainy family day out - visit a museum for free
All national museums in the UK are free days to visit and your child will be learning while having fun. Find out which free museum is nearest to you.
You're in the mood for a quiz
Rainy day out – charity hunt
Charity shops make a cheap and fun place to have a root around with little ones. Give them each a budget of a couple of pounds and you have the satisfaction of knowing that your money is going to a good cause. If you want to make it a completely free day out, make up a treasure trail: asking the children to find one blue item for example, something that's made of furry material etc. Give your child a gold star when he or she finds everything on the list.
You're in the mood for entertainment
Sunny family day out – take a bus tour
Kids love buses – particularly if they never go on one because you use your car. They can look at the driver, travel upstairs and you can point out all the fun stuff on the way. A really good value day out.
Rainy family day out - watch TV being filmed
Get free tickets for child's favourite TV shows. Apply for tickets for BBC TV shows , g et tickets to ITV shows or try Applause Store for tickets to all TV and radio shows.
How to save money getting there
Save 1/3 on adult fares and 60% on children’s fares with a family railcard . This will set you back less than £30 a year. A fabulous money saving if you make a lot of family trips by train.
Sometimes buying a return ticket for part of your journey and then a return ticket for the rest of it, can be cheaper than buying one return. Bizarre, but true. As long as the train you are on stops at the place your tickets join, it’s perfectly legal. Ask at the ticket office if there are any cheaper combinations you can try or visit splityourticket.co.uk .
Check with your ticket office whether two single tickets are cheaper than a return. Sometimes it can be.
Going on a longer journey for a day out? To get the best prices on tickets you have to book up to three months in advance. But who remembers to do that?. Ticketing website thetrainline.com has a handy little advance ticket alert system you can sign up for. Just enter details of your planned journey and it will send you an email alert when advance, cheap tickets for that journey come on sale.
Money Off Mum bonus money saving tip
The cost of a family day out can soar when your child wants to buy something from the attraction gift shop and won't take no for an answer. Avoid having to spend meg-money in the gift shop with this cheeky trick. Tell your children you have a treat for them while you're in the shop, steer them quickly out of it and then handover a funsize chocolate bar or other cheap treat you’ve bought from home.
For more money saving tips on everything from family days out and train travel, plus all the latest money saving offers from top brands, visit www.moneyoffmum.com
Tuesday, 5 March 2013
Look out for my next Janey Fraser novel HAPPY FAMILIES, which is being published by Arrow (Random House) at the end of March.
Here’s a brief outline!
Bobbie ’s children never listen to a word she says. Even worse, her mother has a new boyfriend: the notorious child expert Dr Know, who dishes out hard-line advice to the nation. Could parenting classes control her kids – and save her marriage?
Andy ’s wife is due to run a Perfect Parents course at the local school. But when she scarpers, he’s left to look after their two teenage daughters – and face his own childhood demons.
Vanessa has found love, second-time round. But one night, six year old Sunshine is deposited on her doorstep with a message from Vanessa’s estranged daughter.
Can the three of them really learn the secret of raising a happy family?
If you would like to win a copy, send your top parenting tip to by April 4. The five winners will have their tips published on the website.
You can order a copy of HAPPY FAMILIES now from your local bookshop or .
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